25+ Gorgeous Ways to Use Cherry Blossoms in Your Spring Wedding

Cherry blossoms, known as "sakura" in Japanese, are a symbol of spring and renewal, which is a lovely sentiment for a wedding! The trees, which offer short-lived blossoms that typically bloom in March and April, were first introduced to the United States in 1912 as a gift from Japan – and ever since, they've been a romantic addition to the country's landscape. For those couples lucky enough to live near them, the lush, flowering trees make for a wonderful site for an engagement shoot, day-of portraits, or even the wedding itself. Popular parks providing cherry blossom trees include: Balboa Park in San Diego, Branch Brook Park in Essex County, New Jersey, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Lake Balboa in Los Angeles, Sakura Park in New York City, and the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.

Even if you don't live near rows of stunning cherry blossom trees, the flowers can certainly be incorporated into your wedding décor. Cherry blossom flowers can range in color from various shades of pink to white and ivory, so they fit beautifully within most wedding color palettes and look lovely as both ceremony décor and reception centerpieces. If they're out of season or unavailable, faux cherry blossoms are a wonderful alternative, as well as using a cherry blossom design motif on paper goods, your bridal gown, or even your wedding cake decorations!

Take a look at the images from real weddings below, all of which feature cherry blossoms. To see more from these celebrations, be sure to click on each photo.