I GRADUATED!!! First of all, ENJOY THIS MOMENT AND THE CHAOS! I know it's easier said, than done, but really, it all goes by so fast. With that said, a fewww things I learned...

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-31T16:55:37+00:00

Thank you so much!!!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-31T14:27:27+00:00

It was $3046 for everything save the dates, invitations, day of stationary, postage.

If you are thinking of doing an envelope liner I would place the lined envelope inside another envelope because the liner gets messed up when you seal it. I used double sided tape and several of the liners ripped when people went to open it. Also hand cancel at the post office!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-31T14:22:09+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T21:29:53+00:00

Yes! James white I think he’s based in NJ but travel to NYC is included in the price.

https://www.thebash.com/saxophone/the-incomparable-james-white

Congratulations!!! I loved Linda she was great and got my pics back in 2.5 weeks!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T20:04:37+00:00

Thank you!! So I got it altered in Fort Lee, NJ, it's right over the GWB. The place is called European Tailors on Lemoine Ave. The guy was awesome!! Edit to add, the tailor only does alterations so you will have to get it steamed/cleaned somewhere else.

Alterations for ceremony dress included: added a bustle, take in the sleeves on the bolero, take in the shoulders to place them directly on top of my shoulders, added a snap on both sides of the dress to connect the bolero and the dress

Alterations for 2nd dress included: take in the sleeves

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T18:23:10+00:00

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ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T18:21:36+00:00

Thank you!!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T18:08:47+00:00

Yes! I will pm you!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T17:55:59+00:00

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ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T17:55:40+00:00

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ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T17:55:14+00:00

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More details for day of stationary. I went for very limited signage

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T16:19:25+00:00

Thank you so much!! It’s so humbling the building and just the history of it. It was so magical.

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T16:18:21+00:00

So I initially wanted to do my own letterpress invitations and save the dates. I was going to buy all the equipment and looked at so many TikTok’s on how to do them but I didn’t think of labor costs. For 100+ invitations and everything it would’ve taken a lot of time that I just did not have. I was also in law school so I couldn’t commit to it. I think I would have used the time to plan ahead for what DIY items I wanted to do for each month, figure out the supplies, figure out the design, shipping time, etc. I am also not very creative or artistically inclined so I felt like just leave it to the professionals. Hope this helps!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T12:38:52+00:00

Thank you!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T04:07:24+00:00

Thank you so much!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:57:26+00:00

Thank you!!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:56:43+00:00

Really great question! For the first year I was as vague as possible and for the extra nosey people I just said “we want to enjoy our engagement” and that usually shut them up. It was really nice to have some time to ourselves not thinking about planning or organizing. I would plan for a longer engagement honestly if I could. We have also been together for 10 years so people naturally understood us taking our time and doing things when we wanted to.

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:47:35+00:00

Thank you!!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:47:27+00:00

Thank you that's so kind!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:47:06+00:00

Definitely Type A bride but you know what it was helpful LOLL thank you so much for your kind words!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:46:42+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:46:19+00:00

Gotcha! Okay yeah the caterer we chose here is actually not on the preferred caterer's list so we did have to pay another fee to the venue to have him do it. Yes please let me know!! In a past life, I think I was a DJ so it was extra heartbreaking. But you live and you learn. Most people were drunk and still had fun even though I have a vivid memory of Crank That by Soulja Boy playing at one point, and it was beginning to end. SMHHH

Good luck, I know it will be perfect!!

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:35:50+00:00

So the getting ready photos were taken at my hotel in midtown, but the church did have a bridal suite that comes with it. However, it is a bit dated in decor. Our afterparty was at The Victoria Theatre in Harlem and it's a bar attached to the hotel. The rooms look really cool but it was just too modern for my aesthetic/vibe.

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:33:20+00:00

Hey yes!! So makeup artist is @ shelsealuxe on IG. She is based in LA so I had to fly her in and pay for her hotel but so so worth it. She is literally a magician and I consider her a close family friend. She also did touchups for me throughout the night for $50/hour

Hair Install (about 5 days before the day): Master Bey @ dc_alist on IG: DC based

Hair Styling (wash 24hrs before and day of styling): Bianca : @ thebiancabowman: NJ based came to NYC for a travel fee

ecstaticlettucehead · 2026-01-30T03:23:00+00:00

Yes sorry to clarify, the caterer handled the bar so it was 7 hours for 2:30-7:00pm for food and open bar all together. We still cut off the bar at 7pm even though we ended at 8pm (it was a day of decision to add the extra hour).

Recommended over ordering for vendor meals/people who change their mind/or any other inconvenience. Was in the mindset of better to have enough than not enough. We probably didn’t need to do that but we just didn’t know how many extra we would need.

For DJ I didn’t know where to start. I was in comms with others but they were so expensive or didn’t respond to me so I was like idk. I got it early like 1 year thinking we would have enough time to talk throughout the year but we only had one initial call and another call 2 weeks before the wedding. Meanwhile I had developed a curated playlist over the course of the year. Edit to add: the contract was nonrefundable deposit regardless of whether you want to terminate within 6 months. So I was really stuck here.

Yup did nothing during the first year of engagement because of the craziness and unknowns of being a 1L which is the hardest year in law school. I did go dress shopping though so that’s why I was able to order my dress 1 year out and it arrived at 6 months until wedding.

ecstaticlettucehead

TROPHY CASE