The Button Pin Badge

The one-inch button has enamored me for quite a long time now. A staple of any fanboy convention scene, they are used to proudly decorate and describe oneself without the need of words.


But are they out of place at a wedding?

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I haven't sported the button pins on a regular basis since I left college and joined the professional realm, and as fun as they are, I'm pretty sure Sak would give me a eye roll and a two-letter word starting with "n". Especially when the price tag for a button machine is over $200. That's not exactly a purchase one makes on a whim.

But then I see things like these -

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(source) This one is cool since each button is personalized for the respective guest!

(source)Even Martha gives the button pin a nod!

And I think, "Hey - why not?"

However, I'm not sure what our non-twenty-and-under crowd would do with them, even if they were the coolest or cutest of designs. They might wear it for the night, and then toss it the next day. And that would make me sad. I know my mom would probably pin it to her favor backpack, but that's only because she's cool and hip. Would others do the same? Most of our friends are conventioneers themselves, so I know they would appreciate a good badge or two. My sister, I know, would be ecstatic, seeing as she single-handedly blew all her allowance on button pins at last year's anime convention.

While I'm at it, let's just pie-chart our possible guests -

It seems to be a pretty even split. And I automatically gave a "no" vote to anyone I don't really know (like some of Sak's extended family). Overall, I think most guests would be down with the buttons. Maybe they'd even keep them if I kept the designs versatile enough.

Now, to find a happy medium I could always just have buttons made and skip the up-front cost of machine buying. Etsy has some pretty affordable options. But if you know me at all by now, you know that part of me wants to own the whole process. And I know I would use the machine post-wedding - so it wouldn't be a wedding-only splurge. It is on my master wish list of tools to own in the future. Right next to the laser cutter and 3D printer (a girl can dream, right?). Comparatively, this is a more affordable option. Re-fill costs are fairly low, which is a plus.

I guess it just comes down to - am I justifying unnecessary spending by using the "wedding" excuse? It certainly sounds like it. I'll have to sit on this one I think.

Anyone else having some hot-button-action at their wedding? And does anyone know where I can find a cheaper 1-inch machine?