Salute the Spring with a Cherry Blossom Wedding

The cherry blossom theme's a bit of a find (much like that man of yours). You won't find it dominating back-to-back receptions from June to August — yet it draws on color and thematic trends that couldn't be fresher.

Cherry blossoms are beloved: by the Chinese, the Japanese, fashionistas, home decorators, girly-girls and poets. They stand for virtue and new beginnings. Even more, they stand for ephemeral things: our lives, our joys, and those all-too-brief times on cloud nine, like your wedding day.

Chocolate brown and strawberry pink: these two are still going very, very strong for weddings, and look great together. The cherry blossom theme lets you not only draw on those lovely colors (or spin a new set altogether), but bring a sophisticated Asian flair to your reception without having to wade in too deep.

Setting the Scene

People journey from all over the globe, East and West, from Tokyo to Washington, D.C. to see the cherry blossoms peep out in spring. What makes everyone gasp (and return year after year) is the sensation of being surrounded by a snowstorm of flowers: overhead, the "cloud layer" of flowering branches; below, the thickly-laid "snowflakes" of individual petals.

Bring a similar feel to your own wedding by celebrating the outdoors. If your climate and date will play along, marry outdoors with a thick layer of flower petals carpeting the aisle like a mini snowstorm. For centerpieces, use compact flowers that suggest cloudy skies, like hydrangeas or peonies in delicate colors. Group them with crystal-beaded willow for dramatic height, and scatter petals generously down the table runners.

Pink Blossom treePink Blossomwedding cake up closeOur wedding cake!Sukura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom) FestivalOur InvitationCandid wedding shoots bornholmer str.kirschenkirschen

Then, re-create the sensation of snow clouds overhead with tall bare branch arrangements, wired with silk flowers or string lights. Or simply swag tulle or organza from the ceiling, sprinkled abundantly with flower petals.

Finally, take a page from celebrity planner Jo Gartin's playbook, and give your venue a scent dimension. Have a helper spray around the room with something slightly Asian, slightly sweet — but not too overpowering — before your guests arrive.

More ways to give your affair that Pan-Asian flair

Hand your bridesmaids pink oil-paper parasols, or sandalwood fans.

Instead of the usual flat satin, coordinate all your gowns with beautiful, rich brocade sashes.

Candy's sweet, like spring — and love — so consider a candy buffet, stocked with heaps of pink and chocolate treats. Set out personalized pink take-out boxes for guests with a sweet tooth.

Take advantage of the sumptuous, you-could-frame-this papers designed to celebrate the cherry blossom. Use these to design absolutely one-of-a-kind invitations, save the dates, paper fans or favor tags. Lightly spray your invites with that special signature scent to get guests in the mood.

For jewelry, look to lacy, filigreed silver pieces — or pearls.

Libations are an important part of any blossom-viewing party, so mix up a special drink: champagne with a candied cherry, or a custom cosmopolitan.

To add a bit of glow, hang round paper lanterns from the ceiling, and place shoji-style lanterns on the tables.

Pink Cherry Blossoms Chopsticks / Pack of 10 Pairs
Hand-Painted Silk Cherry Blossom Fans
Cherry Blossom Hand Fan (Set of Six)
Midori Favor Bags w/ Ribbon & Tag (Set of12)
Cherry Blossom Wedding Invitations: Signature
Midori Favor Boxes (Set of 25)
Sugared Cherry Blossom Spray (Set of 12)
Falling Cherry Blossoms Personalized Mint Tin
See All Cherry Blossom Wedding Favors ...

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20 Comments

  1. Misa Says:

    Thank you for the tip Sakura! I will definitely check into that option. Does anyone have any good ideas on where to get Bridesmaids dresses other than bridal stores. I live in Calgary, Alberta but can travel around and am willing to order online as well. Local stores are my first preference though. The color scheme for my girls is pink and brown to go with the cherry blossom color scheme i have picked for my wedding. I am thinking brown dresses with a hint of pink. i am totally open to any suggestions people have as i am new at this whole wedding process! thanks

  2. Sakura Says:

    Misa,

    I am also doing cherry blossoms for my wedding. Mine is in August 2009 so unfortunately I cannot incorporate real cherry blossoms but my florist is willing to order me silks and fashion them into my bouquet. I will also be using silks in my centerpieces. You are lucky though, they may still be in bloom for your wedding especially if next year is like this again.

  3. Misa Says:

    I just found this website and it is fantastic! I have just decided on a cherry blossom wedding theme for my May 2009 wedding and i am now sooo excited!Does any know if you can do a cherry blossom bridal bouquet? I love all the ideas below! Hey Mistty where did you get those invites? They are beautiful!

  4. Dawn P. Says:

    Deb those invites are gorgeous!

  5. Mistty Says:

    Thanks Deb, those are beautiful invitations and I actually found some with red cherry blossoms on Exclusively Weddings. Thanks for tip!!:)

  6. Deb Says:

    Try Stephita

  7. Mistty Says:

    I am trying to do a cherry blossom theme but with the red and black colors shown above instead of the pink and brown….I am wondering if anyone knows where to get invitations with that color scheme? All I can find is pink and brown ones…..:( Thanks!

  8. Blake@FavorIdeas Says:

    I just found this amazing album full of cherry blossom wedding ideas by wickedrice on Flickr. SO inspiring! Check it out (click on the pic to go there) …

  9. Jesse Flibotte Says:

    Please help me:x I want to have my ceremony outside in A Cherry Blossom Orchard. Or at least somewhere there are some Cherry Blossoms. Then I would like to have the reception inside preferably next to the ceremony location. I live in Mass and I can’t find what I’m looking for Please help.

  10. Alyssa Says:

    I found this cute pic of a cherry blossom reception but don’t remember where now.

    Anyway I need lots of ideas … pls help!

  11. Joy Kendricks Says:

    I need hhhhhhelp looking for the perfect wedding theme. I really do like the cherry blossom but I don’t want to have to chane the color I picked out to use this theme. My color is royal blue, pewter, and white Do you think this a good theme to go with my wedding and color? :-?

  12. Sil Says:

    Hi!!

    My wedding is in March, 2008 and my theme is cherry blossoms!… Do you have photos of wedding receptions with this theme???

    Thanks

  13. natalie Says:

    I am looking for cherry blossom center piece ideas also!!!!!!

  14. pam Says:

    Can anyone tell me where I might find cherry blossom designed paper or plastic plates?

  15. Jessi Says:

    Can anyone tell me where I might find fake cherry blossom branches…

    Lyndsy, check out www.doltonehouse.com.au pyrmont. They have a wedding theme called “drama” :)

  16. Shannon Says:

    Gwen had the dress dyed that fadded pink on the bottum. I love it too. I was going to go all hot pink for my dress, however my mom talked me out of it. You’ll have to get a white dress specially dyed if you want it red fadded on the bottum like that.

  17. gracie tawil Says:

    I need a cherry blossom money box (big).

  18. Amber Says:

    Please,Please,PLEASE……….Can someone tell me where I can get Gwen Stefani’s Wedding Dress????? (But with RED on the bottom NOT hot pink!) Thank you!!!!!

  19. Jenn Says:

    Who makes those invitations?

  20. Lyndsy Says:

    Just was wondering if anyone may have pictures of cherry blossoms centrepieces?

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