family tree love

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I have several tricks up my sleeve to honor our families on our wedding day, but my favorite and most challenging project will be a family tree themed escort card table- a literal translation of the family tree part of our theme.

It has evolved from a throw-away joke: a table with some pumpkins, a map of our genealogy, and a boom box playing TV on the Radio's Family Tree on loop...

(I like to imagine this song as the soundtrack to our day. Besides the fact that it's beautiful, moving song, the themes resonate with an interfaith marriage. The song seems to talk about an interracial relationship and one side's family tree stemming from Civil War era evils- which we are far from as a couple. But we are indeed a product of the melting pot of America, and I believe we're the first interfaith marriage for both sides of our family. Which is really cool. Thanks for listening, you may continue.)

...to a full out tree with the escort cards as the blooms and leaves. (Sans song on loop. That would be weird).

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I had been looking for an excuse to incorporate crocheted and felt flowers. I adore felt flower bouquets but I couldn't see myself DIYing enough little faux blooms for my whole bouquet and 6 bridesmaids. Not to mention that I had already fallen head over heels for some real floral trends. So these crafted pretties inspired handmade blooming escort card tree-buds.

{Felt bouquets by Princess Lasertron, crochet flowers and garland found here and here, rosettes on etsy, and family tree quilt found here}

They'll be attached to what I hope will be a wood silhouette of a tree shape (this is where I'll need a jigsaw... so maybe it'll be a more creative and less dangerous "tree") in some semblance of our actual family trees. Where will we write our guests' names and table numbers? Why not on seeded paper leaf cut-outs to keep the tree blooming when our guests go home?

{Martha Stewart}

I still need to iron out the details, but this project is one reason to look forward to my upcoming "between jobs" summer. Do any of you have a wedding project you're itching to get your hands on?