Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

John and I have been dating since July of 2016. After first meeting it took John awhile to convince me that he was a nice guy. But I quickly found out that he actually was caring, helpful, and would go out of his way to do anything for me I asked. He was also funny and I knew would fit in with my outlandish brothers and Dad.&nbsp;For the first 6 months of our relationship I was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri while John was still near Savannah,&nbsp;Georgia. It meant a lot of facetime calls, more texting then John wanted, and a lot of flights for me down to Georgia when I could get the time away from Army training.&nbsp;In February 2017 I was able to move down to Fort Stewart, Georgia where John and I moved in together. He was able to help me through some of the Army'isms since he had done 20 years in the Army and I was just starting to experience the Active Duty Army world. He made the first few months of my career much easier.&nbsp;The summer after I moved here John and I got our little boxer boy Charlie. He has made our lives so much more fun and we both love having him around. John's son Trevor also LOVES playing with Charlie. Charlie is a work mascot for me, a service dog for John, and a playmate for Trevor.&nbsp;Our family wouldn't be the same without him.&nbsp;That November my parents came down to help John and I host&nbsp;a great Thanksgiving.&nbsp;My Dad and John got along amazing, my Mom and I set up the Christmas tree, and Trevor fell in love with my Dad. It was much needed family time. It was also when John asked both of my parents if he could propose.&nbsp;In December John and I took a trip to Colorado and I loved seeing him interact and fit in with my family. It was clear he would fit in with the Butler clan. Dad even let Charlie stay at the Butler household!&nbsp;I got very busy at work when I got back from Colorado. So John and I planned our first out of town trip together, just the two of us, to Jacksonville, Florida.&nbsp;I bought tickets to see the Thomas Rhett concert. That night before the concert Charlie carried an engagement ring in his service vest until John pulled it out, got down on one knee, and proposed (with my full Ashton Fleetwood Butler name because he knows how much I love having Fleetwood in my name). That night we went to the concert celebrating our engagement. Trevor was so excited to hear we were engaged!&nbsp;Now we spend the summer before I deploy spending as much family time with Trevor and Charlie as we can and planning my dream wedding for when I come home!&nbsp;

Our Story

Details

Ashton & John

All Engagement Photos

Engagement Sneak Peek

Photos

JD has been John's best friend for the past few years. When I moved down to Midway, GA JD was our next-door neighbor. He is an amazing friend to both of us. He has always gone out of his way to be there for John and I.

JD Campbell

Shelby has been my best friend since high school. She has been more of a family member then a friend over the years. Shelby and I have experienced most of our huge life events together and always made one another a priority. Shelby has become a member of the Butler family and I have always been accepted as a member of the Clothier family. I cannot imagine any event in my life being complete without my best friend and sister by my side. She is an amazing friend. Brunches and concerts, tattoos and football games, New Years Eve celebrations and Gingerbread houses, swapping books and sharing stories. Shelby is who I call with good news, bad news, or even just gossip. Shes my go to for advice and she is a life long friend. The Vanessa to my Tonya &lt;3

Shelby Clothier

John and my Dad hit it off from the start (out drinking scotch with one another while Mom and I talked). There are many things about John that remind me of my Dad which is probably why they get along so well and why I know he is an amazing guy. It made me so happy to have John ask to have my Dad stand up with him.

Pete Butler

My aunt Tiffany has always been the prime example of a loving aunt. From the time I was little she always went out of her way to be involved in my life. However, when I moved back to the mid-west to attend college Tiffany and I have become so much closer. Tiffany's house became a second home to me and the closest thing I had to home in driving distance for four years. Tiffany would throw me birthday parties, make me cakes, drive me back to school, drive to see me commission, buy just the food I wanted, and always had an open door for me to come visit. Tiffany has become more like a sister or a best friend then an aunt. Indiana basketball games, long distance phone calls, a text or a call when I'm missing Papaw, or just jokes back and forth I always know Tiff is my go to. I am so thankful for the close relationship I have had the honor of building with her.

Tiffany Seaman

Charlie is our adorable, goofy, and lovable boxer! Anyone that knows John and I knows that we treat Charlie as another kid in our family. I'm so thankful that Vanessa Meadows made it possible for us to get this perfect dog. Plus he has become the unofficial mascot of my unit the Black Diamonds.

Charlie Surfield

Many people have been surprised to hear that I am having my mom in my wedding party. But to John and I the choice was obvious. I call my mom every day.&nbsp;She is someone I can talk to about anything and always know she won't judge but is supportive and gives advice. Remembering back to the time before my mom married my dad I&nbsp;always remember how much I loved having her all to myself. I am always so proud of the way that she raised me and even on her own. She has always been the shining example of a woman who is independent, driven, hardworking, and resilient. My mom loves people, is thoughtful, and cares for people in a way that few other do. She has always been the example I looked up to. I love how she connects with my best friend Shelby and how she welcomes Shelby as a member of our family. She is not only a great friend and an amazing mom but the most amazing person.

Tonya Butler

I have always said that one of the best parts about my mom and dad getting married is that I got to have 3 siblings. Katie is a great sister. When I was in high school Katie is the one who took me to get my driver's license and spent my first day of driving around with me celebrating my 16th birthday. That year Katie and I spent Saturdays together going on adventures. Once she made me an aunt she let me babysit Payton every weekend so she and Reed could go out on a date. I always love my time catching up with my sister, decorating cookies, laughing (and making fun of Dad). Having a sister has been one of the most amazing things and even better she has made me an aunt to two amazing boys and the sweetest girl.&nbsp;

Katie Butler

Trevor is John's 8 year old son. He is an AMAZING kid. A funny, smart, and most of all loving boy. We both love getting any time that we can get with him. I love that he has allowed me to become a mother figure in his life and I love watching him grow-up. He is one of the best things to ever happen to either of&nbsp;us.

Trevor Surfield

Wendy is soon to be my sister-in-law and I couldn't be more thrilled. Wendy has been like a sister to me for the last few years. I will always love Wendy for the way that she appreciates my love for my big brother (often more than Clayton does). Wendy could tell early on that I idolized my big brothers. So when she and Clayton started splitting Christmas between their two families Wendy asked me what time of day on Christmas was important for me to have him there. I told her Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning and ever since she has always made sure he was there for me at those times. When Clayton and Wendy moved to Tennessee and Clay sent me a Moonshine T-Shirt, Wendy made sure to text me and let me know he had picked it out himself (since she knew I'd assume she did it and it would mean more that he had). When Clayton FINALLY proposed to Wendy, she made sure that I always felt included in the wedding planning even though I couldn't be at the wedding. The Butler family couldn't be getting a more loving, caring, and fun member to the family. I always love having Wendy at family dinners and family events. I am so happy that in a few short months she will officially be my sister, even though I already love her like one.

Wendy Stubbs

I have always idolized my two big brothers. Having them be a part of our wedding was a given for both John and I. Clayton has always been one of my favorite people. As my Dad says I've always been chasing after my big brothers and looking up to them. That is still as true today as it was when I was 8. I love that my big brothers go out of their way to spend time with me when I am home and no big event in my life would be the same without them.Clayton always makes sure to make time for me when I'm home. He takes me shooting and makes time to hang out around the house during the holidays.&nbsp;

Clayton Butler

I have always idolized my two big brothers. Having them be a part of our wedding was a given for both John and I. Andrew&nbsp;&nbsp;has always been one of my favorite people. As my Dad says I've always been chasing after my big brothers and looking up to them. That is still as true today as it was when I was 8. I love that my big brothers go out of their way to spend time with me when I am home and no big event in my life would be the same without them.Andrew is always the first to text or call me out of the blue, to make time to hang out with me when he is home, to check in on me, and to be the big protective brother. I loved growing up with Andrew and have so many amazing memories running around with him as my big brother.

Andrew Butler

Cassidy is my awesome, funny, and crazy friend from college. Cassidy was my friend's roommate when I met her. We spent my first ISU Homecoming together and absolutely bonded over each other's craziness. From that day on Cassidy became one of my best friends. I could always count on Cassidy to hang out on the nights when I was alone or bored and needed a friend. I always knew that Cassidy would come to any and every big event I had from the ROTC dinners to my commissioning. She even provided her bed a couple times to keep me from getting into trouble after a night out.&nbsp;Cassidy is often one of the first people I call with news or for advice or even just to vent. She is an absolute amazing friend who would move heaven and earth for her friends. A selfless loving person that I'm honored to have as a friend.

Cassidy Hermann

Reed is my sister’s husband and the amazing father to my niece and nephews. He has been a great addition to the family! We love having him around and it’s been great to me to have another “big brother” around. So happy Reed can be a part of our big day.

Reed Palmer

I met Eve at BOLC when I was first went to Fort Leonard Wood. I made friends with Eve quickly and we even spent our first long weekend driving to the airport together for the same flight to Savannah. Eve and I "slept" in the St. Louis Airport through an absolutely AWFUL night. But as with everything Eve and I found a way to laugh about it. Eve and I have bonded over a love for coffee, an independent woman mindset, and our absolute LOVE&nbsp;for not only our dogs but all dogs. When Eve and I both got stationed at Fort Stewart she was one of my only friends for awhile. It was amazing working with someone I genuinely enjoyed being friends with and she was always there to understand my work problems. Even though Eve and I realized we have very different views on some things, it has always been so easy for us to build a strong friendship based on mutual respect and the many many things we do have in common. From morning Starbs dates to puppy dates to Savannah shopping and brunches to making me ruck and run and workout more. Eve is always there to give me my much needed social and girls time! Even though she's a Slytherin I absolutely love her and am so thankful for such a wonderful friend.

Eve Sampson

When I first came to Fort Stewart there were not many people that I knew. However, I immediately saw some officers that were clear examples that I wanted to follow. Lauren was one of those officers. One of the first opportunities I had to interact with her she was running a station in a Castle Ride and I found out that she too loves FRIENDS. A few months later I found out that she was going to be the XO&nbsp;of the Company I was going to be in. I couldn't have been happier to have the opportunity to work with and learn from her. (I secretly copied a lot of stuff of hers as a brand new LT before we were really friends). Lauren has constantly been an amazing example to me as an officer a year group ahead of me. She has been a mentor in my career and is, I believe, one of the reasons I am having the opportunity to move up in my career the way that I want to. What is GREAT about Lauren is that all the things I admired in her as a coworker, she is an even more fantastic friend. She is always there whenever I need someone to vent to, a Starbs date, advice, girls time, shopping help, someone to snuggle Charlie, motivation, or even just social time. Lauren is a friend that I can rely on no matter what and I absolutely love that I have made such an amazing friend on this Army journey.

Lauren Ng

Payton is my amazing nephew. The little dude who made me an aunt, loves his dirt bike, loves trucks and cars, and is always full of energy. Love our little man.

Payton Palmer

Carson is the most lovable person you'll ever meet. Always smiling and laughing. He loves superheroes and making his big brother mad.

Carson Palmer

Sweet Emerson is full of spunk and personality. She loves her BB and dancing and especially her puppies.

Emerson Palmer

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

This is where John and I will be staying as well. We will be able to hang out in the hotel room after the reception, get ready in the rooms near to the ceremony, and it keeps people from having to drive after the reception. The block code is 0928BW. 

Abe Martin Lodge

Travel

Brown County Winery

This is where the wedding will be held but the State Park is huge and truly beautiful during the Fall months. If you get the chance to explore some of the park I highly recommend it.

Brown County State Park

The Big Woods Pizza in Nashville is a great restaurant. They also have a brewery with some great beer to taste.

Big Woods Pizza Co

This winery is really amazing. If you have the time to make the trip to Bloomington this is a great stop.