Weddingbee

Our wedding took place on a beautiful, breezy June evening. What a wonderful feeling it was to know that everyone there that night was there for the two of us, supporting our relationship, welcoming us into this new phase of our lives. While admittedly I became quite the planning maniac (Two-friggin-thousand tissue poms? Totally necessary.), Mr. Penguin and I tried our best to keep the wedding focused on what mattered most that day to us: love for our family, our friends, and our love for each other.

Our engagement was long and amazing. While at times we were ready for it to just be over, we both took away so many moments from our engagement period that we’ll never forget. Between all the showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and all the other excuses the wedding made for our family and friends to get together, we were able to see everyone we love more this year than we have been able to in a long time. Are two, three showers totally extravagant and unnecessary? Absolutely not. Embrace the time you get to spend together with the people you love.

The whole night went by in a virtual blur. Only in pictures do I now realize just how much smiling and laughing we all did that day.

I admit to not really feeling overwhelmed with emotion on our wedding day. I thought there would be far more tears and touching little moments. But in the end, as evident from our 600 pictures, I had a smile plastered on my face as big as the moon. I probably caught flies in my yapper that day, because my mouth hung open in a perma-laugh all night long. Taking the advice from all the brides who went before me, I committed to living in the moment as much as possible. The planning ended when I laid my head on my pillow the night before, and the only emotion I recall from that day is pure, unfiltered joy.

If I had to pick one favorite part of the entire day, it had to be Mr. Penguin’s thank you speech. Mr. Penguin, while confident, is shy and soft spoken. Never before that night had I heard him speak publicly with such a proud, projecting voice. It made my heart melt with adoration for him that he was my new husband. He was so far out of his comfort zone, yet he was speaking with such eloquence and joy. It was almost as if he had practiced his speech a million times in his head, even though I know he only thought about it briefly the night before.

If there was any major disappointment for me that day, I’d have to say it was that Mr. Penguin and I didn’t take time out with each other to just take it all in. Whether it be in the form of a sweetheart table, a planned escape, or simply stepping aside for a moment, remember to share a few minutes alone with each other after the ceremony has happened, but before the reception concludes. I often try to guess what we might have said to each other, or what we both were possibly feeling on our wedding day. Unfortunately, I draw a blank. I have no idea. I don’t remember what ran through my mind in the first few hours after we wed. I feel like if we were able to say it out loud to each other, in private, maybe that memory would have remained.

In the end, love is what really makes your wedding day not just a party, but a momentous event. Thank you for sharing your journeys with me, and letting me share ours with you. So many of you readers have touched my life, and I’m excited to follow each and every one of you down your road to Mrs.!

’Cause “get over weddings”? NEVER! Pengy will rove weddings rong time.

Relive the day of the Penguins…
1. Morning, Sunshine! | 2. Ready, Men? | 3. Formalities | 4. We’re Hitched! | 5. Thai Time | 6. Detailing | 7. Dance. Cut. | 8. More? Seriously?

All photos by Sarah K. Chen Photography

• A Prima Donna in My Back ...
• Southern Wedding Recap