Image Source: Nate Bargatze Instagram
You might be shocked to learn that Nate Bargatze, a super funny comedian, met his wife, Laura, at an Applebee’s in Tennessee. Fans love how Nate turns their normal life into hilarious jokes. When he’s not on stage, Nate’s a husband and dad first. Check this out: their love story started in a simple restaurant and grew through laughs, love, and almost 20 years of marriage.
Their tale includes a romantic proposal in Central Park, a wedding on Friday the 13th, and awesome teamwork that helps Nate’s comedy shine. Nate and Laura share fun stories on The Nateland Podcast Episode #22, The Wife, with friends Brian Bates and Aaron Webber, talking about how they met and live together. It’s a real, funny, and steady love story!
Who Is Laura Bargatze
Laura Bargatze grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. She moved to Tennessee and went to Middle Tennessee State University. In 2005, she got a degree in business, which helped her start a career in marketing and planning events.
While Nate traveled to New York for his comedy, Laura built her own career. She worked in marketing and loved planning big events. On The Nateland Podcast, Laura said she enjoyed the busy travel and organizing parties. She even worked at Applebee’s corporate office, but that job ended when she moved to New York. Later, she worked at a finance company until it closed in 2008. Laura’s energy and hard work made her a star in her own way, even as Nate told jokes on stage.
Laura Bargatze, Nate Bargatze’s Executive Producer
Fans love how Nate Bargatze always thanks Laura for keeping him steady. She stays out of the spotlight, but her support shows up everywhere.
Laura cheered Nate on when he started comedy. Now she helps run his podcast as the executive producer.
You will be surprised to know that many fans call her his “quiet anchor.” She balances family life while Nate makes people laugh. Nate even jokes that it feels “weird” to have his wife as his producer, saying it’s “not great for business.”
After that, he always makes sure people say her name right. It’s “Laura,” not “Lara.”
Nate even used her real name in a TV show he tried to make. Laura’s independence helps when Nate travels for work. She saves money to keep things steady and calls Nate for help with their daughter, Harper, when needed.
How Nate and Laura Met at Applebee’s
Their love story didn’t start in a fancy place. Nate and Laura met at an Applebee’s in Tennessee.
At that time, Nate worked as a host, greeting people, while Laura served food as a waitress.
After work, Laura teased Nate and said he wasn’t fast enough to be a server. Nate laughs when he tells this story today.
You will be surprised to know that Nate found Laura funny when she swept the floor pretending the broom was a horse or a motorcycle. “It was cute and silly,” he said on their podcast.
They first met on Nate’s 21st birthday. They stayed together from then on, with just one short break.
One night, after work, Nate played songs from The Little Mermaid, singing loud and shushing his friends. Laura thought it was cool, even if a little nerdy, because he was so confident.
After that, Nate said the moment reminded him of his sister. Their simple start still feels special today.
Many couples meet at restaurants, but Nate and Laura turned their meeting into a story fans love. It shows who they are—two people who find fun in everyday life and make others smile.
From Dating to “Yes”: The Proposal
After meeting at Applebee’s, life quickly got hard. Nate wanted to be a comedian, so he moved to Chicago and later New York.
During this time, Laura stayed in Tennessee, focusing on her own job.
After that, they spoke on the phone every day and visited every few weeks. The long distance was not easy, but they stayed strong.
Laura cheered Nate on while he took comedy classes in Chicago in 2004. Later, she joined him in New York when he moved there to chase bigger dreams.
You will be surprised to know that Laura never doubted him. She felt his dream was real because he never gave up. Even when New York seemed scary, she found it exciting and supported him.
Nate and Laura’s Life in Chicago, New York, and LA
Nate and Laura didn’t settle into a quiet home like many couples. Instead, Nate chased his comedy dream, and they moved to new cities.
They lived in small apartments in Chicago, New York, and LA. Each move brought new challenges, but they welcomed the adventure.
After that, Nate started using those early struggles in his comedy. Fans still laugh today at the stories from those years.
In New York, their friends Big Jay Oakerson and Carla helped them find an apartment. In their podcast, The Nateland Episode #22, The Wife, they mentioned a gas leak, which happened to make Laura hospitalized.
You will be surprised to know that Nate was in Nashville at the time. Their friend Big Jay, who calls her “Laura Bar,” drove her to the hospital.
Laura recovered quickly. Later, she and Nate had to deal with a noisy neighbor in their building. “It was hard, but we handled it,” she said on The Nateland Podcast.
After that, Nate performed late nights at comedy clubs, trying to make a name for himself. Laura built her own career in event planning and marketing.
When Nate told her he wanted to be a comedian, Laura felt relieved it wasn’t something odd like his dad’s magic shows. She smiled and told him, “Go for it.”
Nate always said Laura’s support was huge, unlike people who doubted him.
He had written in high school about performing at Zanies, a comedy club in Nashville, showing he had big goals early on. Laura never complained. Instead, she kept her worries quiet and cheered him on.
At first, Laura earned more money, which helped them stay steady.
After that, a listener on the podcast once asked about Nate’s “no backup plan.” Laura explained that she always backed him, even moving back to Nashville when it felt right for the family.
Teamwork kept them strong. “It’s our career, not just mine,” Nate said.
You will be surprised to know that Laura’s family mostly supported Nate too. Her dad enjoyed his humor and even liked Nate’s dad’s magic shows.
Her mom wasn’t sure about Nate’s style but kept her opinion private.
Later, her cousin Scott told her mom, “Laura’s okay.” Her stepbrother-in-law Joey also saw Nate perform and said, “He’s really good!”
Laura once joked that if comedy didn’t work, Nate would have started a moving company because he’s so hardworking.
Becoming Parents: Harper Steals Their Hearts
When Harper was born on July 8, 2012, Laura and Nate’s lives drastically changed. They swapped late nights at comedy clubs for late nights rocking a baby to sleep.
Instead of applause, they heard baby giggles and dealt with sleepless nights. Harper became their world. Nate shares funny stories about her in his comedy, but deep down he is just a dad who loves watching his daughter grow.
Raising a child while Nate tours isn’t easy. Laura keeps their home steady. They make family time special, like reading bedtime stories or eating breakfast together on weekends. Sometimes Harper travels with Nate. Traveling with a child is hard, but with one kid, they manage.
They moved to Nashville to make life easier. Goodbyes are tough for Harper. At age two, she packed her own suitcase, sad that other dads stayed home. Nate and Laura thought about having another child but feel too busy. “One lets us focus on Harper,” Laura said on The Nateland Podcast. She stays calm and doesn’t get stressed.
Nate’s comedy feels real because it comes from family life. He jokes about school projects or conversations with Harper. Fans love it. “Family’s my heart,” Nate said. “It’s who I am, on stage and off.”
Laura’s Role in Nate’s Comedy
Laura plays a big part in Nate’s career. She works as the producer of The Nateland Podcast. She books guests and runs things behind the scenes so Nate can focus on jokes. She also plans his tours and shows, using her event skills. In 2023, they started Nateland Entertainment, their family-friendly company.
Laura doesn’t mind when Nate spends time golfing. “It’s better than him wanting to fly planes,” she joked. She says having one child makes life easier; two would be harder. On the podcast, she told a listener, “Support your partner early, whether they’re good or bad. Be independent, earn your own money, and don’t expect handouts.” She once said she’d even deliver pizzas if that’s what it took to support Nate.
When Nate made a TV pilot called Stevie, an actress named Katie Aselton played Laura, using her real name. Nate wanted it that way, after Jerrod Carmichael suggested it. Laura admitted it felt strange. “It gave me a lump in my throat,” she said. She only asked that they not pick an actress who looked “too pretty.”
Red Carpets and Big Wins
In 2022, Nate and Laura walked the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. It felt unreal for two people who once worked at Applebee’s. Nate called it a huge moment in his career, and Laura stood by him with her quiet smile.
That same year, they went to the CMA Awards in Nashville. Surrounded by country stars, they stayed warm and friendly. Laura doesn’t chase fame. She just shows up proud, happy to share Nate’s big moments.
In 2023, Nate hosted Saturday Night Live. He felt nervous but did great. Laura knew how hard he worked. “She’s my rock,” Nate said. Her quiet support means everything.
They also enjoyed fun times together, like riding on a boat with Paul Allen, going to a New Year’s party with DJ Walter, and meeting stars like Eric Stonestreet at a football game. They even went to an Emmy after-party with Chris Martin. Laura enjoys these moments, even though they’re new to her.
Life in Tennessee
Nate and Laura chose a home outside Nashville. They didn’t want something fancy, just a comfortable place for family. Harper plays in the yard while Nate rests after tours.
They like living near Nashville because it has music and fun, but their neighborhood feels quiet and friendly. Unlike many stars, they didn’t move to Los Angeles or New York. They chose Tennessee so Harper could grow up in a simple, family-centered life.
Tennessee gives them balance. After big shows, Nate comes home as a husband and dad, not a star. Laura enjoys their routines: school mornings, family dinners, and quiet nights. “Home is our real stage,” Nate said on the podcast.
Marriage Lessons
Laughter keeps Nate and Laura’s marriage strong. “Even on tough days, a joke makes it lighter,” Laura said. At home, Nate is more serious than funny. Laura calls his silly times “30 seconds of fun.” She enjoys being around comedians but doesn’t need constant jokes.
Laura doesn’t mind when Nate jokes about her. “It pays our bills,” she laughed. His jokes show love and stay lighthearted. Some are true, like her habit of saving every bit of lotion or shampoo. Others, like the bed-wetting joke, are made up.
Fame doesn’t change their marriage. After shows, they go back to being husband, wife, and parents. “We stay real,” Nate said.
Money was tight early on, and Laura earned more at first. She watched every dollar, even joking about Krispy Kreme costs. Now things are easier, but she still saves where she can. Nate teases that Laura eats like “a horse” but never gains weight. She once admitted she could eat up to eight Krispy Kreme donuts. On the podcast, she even agreed to a donut-eating contest with Nate.
Criticism or Controversies
From what everyone can see, there really aren’t any public criticisms or controversies about Nate Bargatze’s wife, Laura. She seems to stay out of any kind of drama.
What People Know About Her
Most people know about Laura from Nate’s own comedy shows. He loves to tell funny stories about their life together, their daughter, and the silly things that happen in their family. She’s a big part of his act, but always in a loving and funny way.
She’s In On the Joke
Nate has said many times in interviews that his wife is totally cool with the jokes. He says she has a great sense of humor and thinks the stories he tells on stage are funny.
Basically, all the news and talk you’ll find about Laura Bargatze is positive. People see her as a very supportive partner in a strong, happy marriage.
FAQs
How long have Nate and Laura been married?
They married in 2006. That’s almost 20 years together.
Where did they meet?
They met at an Applebee’s in Tennessee. Nate worked as a host, and Laura was a server.
Do they have kids?
Yes. They have one daughter, Harper. Nate often tells funny stories about her in his shows.
What does Laura do for work?
Laura started her career planning events and working in marketing. Now she helps Nate as the executive producer of The Nateland Podcast. She books guests, runs the show, and makes sure things stay on track.
Does Nate joke about Laura in his comedy?
Yes, he does. Fans love it. Nate tells stories about Laura, but most of the time he’s teasing himself. It’s his way of showing their everyday life in a funny way people relate to.
Wrapping It Up: A Love Story That Lasts
Nate and Laura’s journey began at Applebee’s and led all the way to red carpets. Their story shines because of their humor and teamwork. Nate tells the jokes, but Laura keeps him grounded and cheers him on. Their life proves that behind every great comedian is someone who believed in them first. For Nate, that person is Laura.