Reception decor; ceremony sake

Posted Monday, January 29, 2007 4:03 AM

So, inspired by the recent find of cheap mitsumata branches, I went looking yesterday for a vase to house them in-- or, possibly a pair of vases (so we could replicate the Scandinavian tradition of giving a pair of trees to the newleyweds to wish for future children).  I found one very plain looking ivory vase, but then was able to dress it up by giving it a "collar".. I used some blue bookbinding cloth (I had for another purpose), some natural color raffia (I braided it into a cord) and one of the feather butterflies.  In the end, it turned out like this:

I was very happy with it, and I'll see if I can find a second coordinating vase for more branches, but I am now trying to decide whether to hang the "bookmarks" I made on the branches or not... or what to do with these bookmarks altogether.  They were an attempt to re-use materials I had too much of as well as DIY accidents... these are the pictures with and without:

In front of the trees, there will be a navy blue bowl for collecting wishes.  I'll have a stack of blank plain color business cards for people to write their wishes on, and then they can put them in these baby envelopes I made using the Paper Source baby envelope kit and some decorative paper:

Also, here is a picture of the chopsticks that are 1/2 of the favor package-- they are two different patterns, but I think it should be ok... at least the patterns on the top of the handles are matching color & pattern (picture is dark but the top is a walnut colored wood):

The other project for this weekend (besides more work on the aisle runner and finishing off the photobooks we're sending the parents), was lining the trays that we are using to serve parents sake with during the ceremony.  I used this blue bookcloth, but now I think I need to change to another color because there isn't enough contrast.... I'm going to play around with photoshop first:

So, now it's back to work.. other DIY upcoming projects include starting the invitations, making an altar table runner, making pew decorations, painting the table runners, making mock up OOT baskets, assembling the items for DIY flowers... lots (and lots) of projects... I'm sending the ring pillow off to my mom to finish.. this is the top piece of the pillow I embroidered, and I have instructions for some finishing touches (I just figured this out..)  I'll post pictures of the final once it is done...: