Cherry Blossom-Inspired Wedding Ideas

July 27, 2011

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Escort Card Display

Yes, the life span of cherry blossoms is short, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider them for your wedding motif. To make our escort card holder any time of year, insert a few leafy branches (we used quince) into a vase and, using map pins, attach blossom-shaped confetti, each bearing a name and table number.

Confetti, Artistry in Motion.

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Flower Girl Wands

Think of the joy this scene would evoke: flower girls skipping down the aisle, bearing beribboned wands that mimic the fluttering and falling of cherry blossoms. We wrapped a dowel in ribbon, thumbtacked on ribbons of various lengths, and finished off by gluing on confetti flowers. (To make the flowers, gather a bunch of the confetti petals together and start gluing.)

"Blossom" flower girl dresses, Ash & Robbins, matthewrobbinsdesign.com.

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Bridal Bouquet

A combination of flowers large (peonies and ranunculus), medium (sweet peas), and petite (jasmine and 'Hally Jolivette' cherry blossoms) gives this bouquet dimension.

Silk organza "Ennise" dress, Rivini.

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The Reception Scene

Set against a grove of 'Kwanzan' trees in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, these reception tables were kept purposely informal (complete with mismatched white chairs) and intimate (tables of no more than 10 seats for conversational ease) as a counterpoint to the formality and expansiveness of the garden.

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Table Setting

Anchored by a centerpiece that echoes the bouquet (except that this features 'Kwanzan' cherry branches), our tablescape is awash in pink. To introduce even more softness, we layered organza over a pink silk tablecloth scattered with white cherry-blossom confetti. Single sheets of pink confetti, calligraphed with white ink, serve as place cards.

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Signature Drinks

Continue the theme at the bar with these pinkalicious ideas: Rhubarb Shochu Martini, Arnold Palmer with Cherry Blossom Tea, Rose Champagne with Cherry Brandy, and pink sugar cubes in the shape of blossoms.

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Cookies

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A few handfuls of our fluttery tuiles, made with floral cookie cutters and dipped in pink chocolate, make for a delightful (and delicious) favor.

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Wedding Dessert

Pay homage to the place of origin of many a cherry tree -- Japan -- by serving mochi. We positioned the treat on cherry-blossom confetti placed along a flowering branch. Then, using a stencil, we sprinkled confectioners' sugar on each bite to create a floral imprint.

"Sakura-Sakura" Mochi, by Bubbies, from Whole Foods Market.

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Wedding Cakes

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The traditional princess cake, an old Swedish wedding standby, is normally covered in green marzipan. In our decidedly floral interpretation of the confection, we cloaked the dome-shaped cake in pink fondant and topped it with a smattering of real cherry blossoms, some of which have been coated with sugar. If you're having a sizable wedding, consider serving a trio of cakes on stands of varying heights for an especially striking display.

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A Slice of Cake

Inside this beautiful cake, luscious layers of almond-flavored genoise, cherry jam (a nod to the sakura theme), pastry cream, and whipped cream in -- what else? -- pink await guests.

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Wedding Favors

It doesn't get any easier (or cuter) than this. Put dragees in notched-petal favor boxes. Arrange five of these unusual shapes together in a circle, and voila, you've got a classic five-petaled cherry blossom.

Custom favor boxes, Denise Sharp. Dragees, Pecou, from Crossings, 800-209-6141.

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Glasses of Flavored Gelee

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Poured into simple, modern glasses, these graphic layers of flavored gelee (rosewater, ginger, lychee, and rose Champagne) elevate the childhood staple to wedding-worthy haute cuisine. Top them with a single cherry blossom.

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Tiered Cake with Edible Blossoms

Credit: Sang Ann

This cake reflects a dreamy springtime moment amid the cherry trees, when a breeze scatters the dainty blossoms into the air. Here they seem to drift from the top of the cake, where they are densely massed, down to the bottom, where the pink petals break apart as they would in nature.

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Glossary

There are hundreds of different types of cherry trees. These classics are all indigenous to Japan but can be found here in the United States.

Clockwise from top left:

  • The flowers from the 'Hally Jolivette' cherry tree start off pale pink, then turn white.
  • The star of many a cherry blossom festival in the U.S. -- among them the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's, as well as Washington, D.C.'s -- the 'Kwanzan' tree's pink flowers are full and frilly.
  • The Yoshino's perfect, slightly fragrant, five-petaled blooms can be pink or white.
  • Popular with amateur gardeners, the 'Higan' takes on the appearance of a fountain of delicate pink flowers.
  • The flowers of the 'Mount Fuji' cherry tree are known to have a longer life span than those of other varietals.
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