Weddingbee Blog
I’ve got a shabby chic fetish. From decorating the house to planning the wedding… I am obsessed. I found this picture of a cake canopy from good old Martha and fell in love! It’s so shabby chic!
I do have a slight conundrum. One of my mom’s friends offered to make me a thousand cranes to string as a canopy of sorts over the cake. It would look something like this but made out of pink and cream cranes and strung on brown sting.
I was born in Hawaii and lived there for some time, so it has sort of a special significance to me. However — it is not shabby chic! I’m so torn! 
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Wedding Cake Canopy
oooh… it could be… if it was more spread out and depending on the color and texture of the paper 
Shabby Chic or Shower Curtain .. you be the judge! That “cake canopy” is a little too close to Pier One Mosquito Netting for my tastes. I’d choose the more personal, unique option.
i’m from hawaii too! could you keep the origami tradition and use it in another way at your wedding?
That is an idea! Just don’t know how else!
I think that it’s great that you have a theme and I love the shabby chic look. However, I am struggling with the same thing with my wedding–I LOVE my little icon, but can’t put it on everything. The way I am approaching it is trying to remember that there is a fine line between “theme” and “theme park.” The personal touch is beautiful, and even though it isn’t “shabby chic,” it represents love, hardwork, devotion–all the things that go into a wedding. I say go for the crane option. No one will think “hey, that’s not the ‘look’”–they’ll just be amazed by the work that went into it.
I really like the idea of something so personal and unique. Maybe in less of a circular format and more linear. I have seen strings of gerbra daisies or other flowers used as curtains and backdrops. It would be a similar idea.
i’m actually a fan of the cranes than the curtain. i’m with deco…it does look a bit like a shower curtain. maybe your mom’s friend will be able to position the cranes in a way to flow around the cake like the netting would
Maybe they can be used as a backdrop for the ceremony instead? We might be doing that for ours. Or hung from the ceiling in the reception area?
I’d actually use the cranes differently; scatter tham around your cake table and use them in your centerpieces, or make something like a chuppah for your cake table, and drape strands of cranes around that like garlands. You could even drape a sheer fabric over the top of the frame, letting the sides hang down to the ground, then add the crane garlands. That way you could have the drapey background shown in the first picture (although in more of a canopy bed way) and the cranes too!
I love the cranes I wanted to make some, but Mr. Blueberry pointed out that they have no real cultural significance for us (so what?!) hehe. I think those could fit with your shabby chic theme by using a rustic or vintage thread to connect them–maybe a pretty twine?–and by using carefully-selected colors for the paper. Don’t forego what you want for sticking with the “theme”–itll all come together at the end
I’m with Miss Blueberry: I was going to suggest asking your Mom’s friend to make them all in cream or a pale colour- it would have a similar visual efect as the canopy but be waaay more personalised
We used origami cranes at our wedding! We didn’t really have a theme per se, but I wanted to incorporate cranes in our wedding because in Korean culture (later found out in most Asian cultures) cranes are pretty sacred. They represent fidelity, longevity, and all that good stuff. My husband and I probably made close to a thousand cranes if not more. We stopped counting after a while. I was very pleasantly surprised he loved the idea and insisted only two of us make them. My sister offered to help. We used variety of papers in different sizes and strung them on monofilament. Let me tell you that folding cranes was the easiest part. Transporting and hanging them was a logistical nightmare but the end result was simply spectacular. It wasn’t even exactly as I had envisioned it but it turned out fantastic! We also enclosed the cranes in our thank you cards afterwards. We’ve heard many great comments about that.
You can also scatter them around your table centerpieces or put two cranes on each setting. We were going to do this but ended up doing something else.
Or what if you use both? Both the canopy and the crane “curtain” are round, so put the cranes overtop the canopy, spread the strands evenly, and pinn them at the bottom.
I like the canopy. I like the idea of putting the cranes elsewhere or hanging them behind a table or the sweetheart table, etc.
I agree no one will notice it’s not part of your theme.
If anyone wants to see the floral strings, I have many posted in my knot bio, wsukarebear (Katie mentioned them, above).
maybe the curtain of cranes could be used for the cake of another part of the reception? guest table?
You could also have the cranes mounted and framed, I’ve seen that at weddings in Hawaii before (I’m from there too). That way it’s more like something on display rather than a part of the decor.
I really like the cranes. It’ll make your wedding even more unique - and special to you and your aunt (and family). Not *everything* has to be shabby chic With all of your other ideas for a shabby chic wedding, the theme will definitely come across as you want it to. And maybe you can acknowledge somewhere that your aunt made the cranes and why they have a special meaning to you! People gush over that kinda stuff. Good luck!
I’m on crane number 630, I think. Umm . . . as for your quandary, the way I’m displaying mine is in a design of flying cranes, a river, and a moon, all in a big frame. If you’ve lived in Hawaii, then I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. There are a few pics of some crane displays here: http://www.hawaiibride.com/customs.html#anchor116394. When I went to decide on ours, I saw lots of non-traditional displays, even cranes in pink and silver paper, instead of gold. I think it’s possible to incorporate the cranes with the theme, but I admit to not having any specific idea of how.
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Mrs. Strawberry, Seattle Age and Occupation: 25, Radio DJ, Advertising Sales, Day of Wedding Coordinator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Engineer Engagement Date: 07/04/2006 Wedding Date: September 1, 2007 Venue: Lake Union Cafe, Seattle About Me: I'm a Navy brat that has lived all over the world. I love reality shows that are in poor taste, going to new restaurants, and trying to be crafty. Emphasis on trying!
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