Thanks @Roots&Wings
I've kinda let the yard go since we bought it in 2014, cutting the grass less and less frequently, which ended up being a mistake. The quackgrass REALLY took over. Two years ago I took a 50'x50' patch and turned it into a garden with 5" of compost. I didn't have the time to take care of it, and weeds took it over (currently tarped until the spring). I also planted some buckwheat in another 20'x10' patch, as many had said it would act as a cover crop and choke out the weeds (it didn't work). Last year I broke down and roundup'ed another 50'x50' patch (I despise the use of chemicals), waited a week and did it again, waited another week and applied a mixture of creeping thyme and white clover. I never noticed a difference, and the quackgrass and weeds just came back. Every attempt I've tried to use some type of cover crop or herbicide has failed miserably.
That's when I started reading permaculture articles and youtube videos, got lost, and reached out to a few permaculture experts. I thought $1,500 was crazy too. I was able to get one person that was willing to do 2 hours for $450, but I still couldn't justify it, especially when that doesn't come with a plan or anything. Just someone walking the property throwing out plant suggestions. I can get that off youtube.
So I think I'm going to have to lay cardboard and cover it with 5-6" of compost and topsoil and plant on top of it. Which would make for roughly 20,000 cubic feet of compost and topsoil if I did the whole front and back yard . . . we'll have to come back to that issue later . . . But after that's where I kinda get lost. Every youtube video and online article I've read just throws out 50 or so possible plants that you can use. I'd spend a fortune sorting through all the possible varieties to find out what grows well. I just haven't found a good, logical lawn alternative guide, and wasn't sure if someone else knew of anything.