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Perhaps I’m just a giant pessimist, but I didn’t think it would really all come together as nicely as it did! The week before our wedding was incredibly stressful for me. We had two huge projects at work due, forcing my dad and I to work around the clock just to get everything done (I work with my Dad). The pressure was on for me especially, because we were leaving for our honeymoon on the Monday following the wedding, which meant that any leftover work would be dumped on my dad.
Despite the fact that we had family in town from halfway around the world, we were stuck in the office from 8AM to midnight every day, and I worked right up until the minute we had to hop into the car to the rehearsal! Needless to say, a lot of DIY just kind of got half-assed in the middle of the night, when I probably should have been sleeping. Mr Penguin was such a trooper that week! He absorbed my craziness (read: me screaming like a banshee) like a good fiance, and kept reminding me how exciting it was that our wedding was so close!
Alas… It really did come together just fine! Some DIY details…
Little Birdies my friend Jenny Louwheeeeze made me for the top of our cake!
Doubled as fans… Sacramento is sweltering in the summer!
Aisle Runner
My first DIY project as a Bee! 
…and my last DIY project as a Bee! 
All under one tent! The chair sashes pulled the color scheme together nicely. We almost went with plain white, to save $50. I hate to say this about $50 bucks down the drain, but colored chair sashes… so worth it! Sometimes, you gotta splurge on the totally unnecessary!
The DIY was definitely worth the money we saved. Most of it cost very little money, even though it took a lot of time to execute. I really had a great time doing the projects and sharing the experiences!
Your DIY…is it worth all the work, or do you sometimes wish in secret that you would have just hired more vendors?
Relive the day of the Penguins…
1. Morning, Sunshine! | 2. Ready, Men? | 3. Formalities | 4. We’re Hitched! | 5. Thai Time
All photos by Sarah K. Chen Photography
Wow… seeing it all together again, it’s amazing how much work you did… Those escort charms - so tedius! Pomanders, good grief. Aisle runner, gorgeous… even Shawn, who never notices anything aesthetic, loved the chair sashes. He actually said so after the wedding! Congrats on such a great event accomplished… your hard work definitely paid off! Worrrrrth itttt!
Lover the DIY!!!
Penguin How many tables/people did you put under that tent and what was the size?
So awesome! I meant to comment how much I loved the chair sashes…I am usually a chair-cover hater fo’ sure, and I absolutely love that you did it with just a knot…and in that beautiful grey color…it’s so much more elegant than any chair sashes I’ve ever seen before. Great job!
@Jenny Louwheeze: Thank you, as always, mah Beeeeatch. I love that Soupy said something about the chair sashes. He is my main woman.
@Gery: it was a 120 person wedding, and unfortunately I have no idea on the tent size…its a permanent tent at the winery. It was really big though, since it was permanent.
I love how you can see the palm fronds reflected on the top of the tent - or what that printed? Nevertheless, it’s like another free accent - like daytime gobo! Everything turned out amazing - just as I figured. 
I think the colored sashes made a huge difference!! All for 50 bucks? Pshh… a drop in the bucket for such a big difference. Love the details!
I absolutely love the little bird cake toppers!! I usually hate any kind of cake topper but those are cute and quirky!
What a great post, all the links to your amazing DIY projects in one place! You’re an inspiration.
Thank you so much! I’ve already been really inspired by your short centerpieces, and it’s great to see all of this come together.
seeing the big picture, that was $50 well spent. it seems almost a pittance at that. you did a great job pengy!
*tears* they are all so wonderful! seriously you should blog forever on your wedding! please! *more more more* argh.. i wanted that chair sash knot on mines too! the chair sash lady sashes were too long! boo! they look so elegant that way. wahhhhh!
Gawd I love your details. It’s so, so clean looking. Love!
BEST WEDDING EVAR.
The DIY is definitely worth it to me (although in 3.5 weeks when I’m crying because my place cards aren’t done, I might be singing a different song, hehe). Anyone can pay a professional to make their wedding beautiful, if they really want to…. but I think it will mean more to me (and my guests) that I put my heart, soul, time and talent into all of those details. There’s just something to be said for putting your personal stamp on such an important day.
You are the DIY queen, Pengy!
Um, it depends if my DIY ends up looking hot like yours or a hot mess like I fear . . . .
[...] responses Ever since I saw The Penguins’ cake topper, made by her friend Jenny Louwheeeeze, I wanted birds on top of our cake! Hello, I love birds and [...]
[...] golden chairs” guests occupy during the ceremony? Sound like chivari chairs to me! And avian cake toppers make a [...]
[...] since I saw The Penguins’ cake topper, made by their friend Jenny Louwheeeeze, I’ve wanted birds on top of our [...]
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Mrs. Penguin, Northern California Age and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in Chief Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical Therapy Engagement Date: January 29, 2007 Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 Blogging Since: September 14, 2007 Venue: Winery in the Gold Country About Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
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