Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
The dinner bell had chimed. Our guests had picked up their escort cards and were led into our reception space, which had been expertly flipped during our cocktail hour.
Once our guests were seated, our DJ assembled our wedding party and our family once again outside the French doors. He went over the pronunciation of each of our names and lined us up for the grand entrance.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
One of the great things about having a wedding in Clearwater is the fact that, on a good day, you can take advantage of photo opportunities by the water! During the cocktail hour, Mr. Buttons and I posed for a few shots to take advantage of the gorgeous weather we were having!
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
There was another installation involved in our cocktail hour that I haven’t mentioned yet: the photo booth!
In the weeks before the wedding, I started to realize that some of the projects I had intended to complete were just not going to happen. I had a list about a mile long of things I wanted to accomplish, but realistically I wouldn’t be able to pull them all off. So, what did I do?
I made a list.
I took out a piece of paper and listed each and every wedding-related task that I still needed to complete. Then, I re-wrote it in order of importance, with the most important tasks at the top…all the way down to the least pertinent items. High on my list was completing the wish tree guest book and painting the mailbox that served as our card box. Our photo booth landed about 3/4 of the way down the list. I really wanted to have one, but I came to the realization that if it didn’t get set up it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Our guests would probably have thought nothing of it if a photo booth wasn’t set up somewhere at our venue…it would just be something that I would miss. So…it sat on the list…and wasn’t completed. Read more…
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
Once my bustle was properly fastened, it was time to join our guests for cocktail hour! However, as most brides will find: there are always some distractions in the way. As soon as I exited the powder room, I was met by friends and family who wanted to give their congratulations once again.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
Woo hoo! We were married! It was time to make our way back down the aisle. As we did so, the song Love by Matt White started playing as our recessional.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
And now: part 2 of our ceremony. Need to get caught up? Click here to see part 1.
These rings are an outward sign of an inward and invisible grace that unites two hearts in love. That’s what has brought us here today. They are especially significant because the circle of these rings symbolizes an unending and enduring quality of love that you two are sharing today. There is no beginning and there is no end. It is the same love that God has for each of us.
“I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness”
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
On behalf of Justin and Katie I would like to welcome you all to this place. At this moment, Justin and Katie express their love for each other and their desire to live from this day as husband and wife.
Marriage is a gift of God, sealed by a sacred covenant. God gives humans love. Through that love, husbands and wives come to know each other with mutual care and companionship. God gives joy. Through that joy, wives and husbands may share their new life with others, as Jesus shared new wine at the wedding in Cana.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
Everyone but my dad and I had made it down the aisle. It was time to join everyone else and get this show on the road!
And guess what? One of our fabulous wedding guests, K, was kind enough to send me the ceremony video she shot on her iPhone. Since we didn’t have a videographer, it is lovely to be able to catch a glimpse of some live action!
For my walk down the aisle, I selected the song “In These Arms,” by The Swell Season. A friend of mine edited the song so it sounded perfect (I only wanted the chorus of the song to play, as well as the musical interludes).
Click on the video below to hear how the song turned out/scroll along with the photos. It isn’t much to watch, but my entrance is at the 1:00 mark. Read more…
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
I’m taking a break in my regularly scheduled wedding recaps to share a recent project with you!
Once the wedding was over, I found myself wondering what to do with all of the “leftovers.” My parents’ house was replete with about 50 centerpiece vases, ceramic birds, and the like. And one of the largest leftovers? My wish tree guest book.
My parents and I had created a beautiful wishing tree out of manzanita branches, spray paint, moss, and a pretty blue ceramic pot. It looked fantastic sitting in the front entryway of Carlouel before our ceremony/reception. See?
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
It was show time. Our guests were seated, and the doors to the ceremony space were about to be opened.
I do want to take a moment to bring up an aspect of our ceremony that was very important to me: the music. Music, in general, is so important to me, and I wanted to make sure that from the moment our guests arrived until the moment the recessional song played, our ceremony music would be cohesive and set the appropriate mood.
30 minutes before the ceremony began, our DJ started playing the following songs:
Wedding Dress – Matt Nathanson
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Jason Castro
Everything – Michael Buble
You & Me – Dave Matthews Band
I’d Rather Be With You – Joshua Radin
When the last notes of Joshua Radin’s song faded out, our DJ transitioned into the song I had selected for our parents and family to be seated to: When You Come Back Down by Nickel Creek Read more…
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
Before I went into hiding, an extremely important (and wonderful) delivery was made to the venue. The cake. Oh, the cake. Now, I realize that I am not the first bee to get insanely excited about her cake…cough cough…Mrs. Hamster…cough cough…but I seriously almost lost it when our cake baker arrived with my three tiers of gorgeousness…
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
Picking my favorite post of all-time was really a difficult task for me; my blogging experience with Weddingbee has been so spectacular that selecting a singular piece of writing to look back on seemed impossible. However, after much deliberation, I want to revisit one of my earliest posts.
After getting engaged, I found it very enlightening to hear the comments that other people made regarding Mr. Buttons and me. My husband proposed to me after a [relatively] short time period, so we had a few skeptical comments shot our way. I really loved this post because I not only was able to explain my relationship, but I was also able to hear back from readers regarding their courtship stories. In the end, everyone is different: you can be dating someone for 8 months or 8 years before getting engaged…love is beautiful and mysterious that way!
Mid-October marked the one-year anniversary of the Buttons’ first date. Ah, so if you begin to do the math you realize… Mr. Buttons and I have only been together for a little over a year at this point, and we’ve been engaged for 6 of those months. So yes… we dated for only 8 months before he proposed!
I suppose you could say that we had a whirlwind romance, but nothing about it was rushed. Read more…
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
When we arrived at the venue, it was time to take a few family portraits, as we had allotted about an hour for group shots before the ceremony. I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful stone fireplaces and the mantles that Carlouel constructed just for us! First we posed with Mr. Buttons’ parents.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
It has been 7 1/2 years since I graduated from high school. Wow…time flies, right?
Truth be told, the high school Mrs. Buttons was very different from the current one. But, then again…I’m still quite the same. Confusing much? I’ll explain…
Academics:
Then -
Nerd alert! Yeah…I was a big bookworm in high school. I graduated with a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA. The thought of receiving a grade other than an A was absolutely terrifying to me. Yeah…I was special.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
