Getting our Paper Crane On

When Brandon and I were planning our wedding, we thought it was important to incorporate our cultures to some degree. Being that we are both of mixed descent, we started looking into our backgrounds and finding traditions that were both unique and meaningful. While the money dance was out of the question, Brandon's mom told us we should fold 1001 paper cranes.

This was especially meaningful because Brandon's late grandmother would spend time with Brandon and his older sister folding origami cranes just for fun.

In Japanese tradition, you were granted one wish if you folded 1000 origami paper cranes. Brides in feudal Japan (according to origamihara.com), would fold these cranes in hopes that they would have a long and prosperous marriage.

While excited about this tradition, we put the idea on the back burner until we smoothed some other wedding details out (like firing our invitation artist two weeks before our invitations were supposed to go out). Nonetheless, when we stopped into a local Japanese store to purchase paper we were informed that not only were we supposed to fold 1001 paper cranes but we were also supposed to display them at the wedding and in our home for the rest of our marriage.

Whoa! Now how exactly do you not only fold 1001 paper cranes, but then display it after??

Mr. Toguri, the shopowner, recommended that we find a paper crane artist who takes the cranes and then folds them into a flat work of art. The artwork is then framed and easily displayed. We had never heard of such a thing!

During my search for 3 inch blue foil paper, I came across a lovely artist in San Francisco who just happened to be an origami artist herself. Since we just happened to be visiting an aunt in the city the following week, Brandon and I decided to meet with Linda Mihara in person. She's as beautiful as her artwork and we cannot wait to see the finished piece.

After 2+ months of folding cranes out of 3 inch foil paper, I would do it all over in a second. It's such a beautiful tradition, and it was amazing to have all of our friends and family come together and be a part of this gorgeous piece of art that Brandon and I will cherish forever. As soon as it's done I will post pictures!

Our amazing bakery!

Brandon and I had a plan. We were going to seek out THE best bakery in Chicago to make our dream wedding cake. So before we began our quest, we researched various bakeries on Yelp and through referrals. We then called around to set up tastings with the ones we had a good feeling about. But neither of us knew that our quest would end before it really began.

On Saturday, Jordan and Pam (our caterers from Jordan's Food of Distinction) surprised us with a sampling of Naomi Levine's (of Tipsy Cake in Humboldt Park) great work. We were left licking up the crumbs. Coincidentally, our first cake tasting was scheduled for the following Tuesday (yesterday) with none other than Naomi herself. 

We walked into our first cake tasting adamant that we were going to find the best baker in Chicago....and we did! Naomi's cakes were light and airy and her choices of fillings were absolutely amazing (try the peanut butter mousse, the raspberry infused chocolate mousse, the passionfruit...just try them all!) And her cakes look as good as they taste. She truly is an artist!

We had so much fun with her, that our tasting lasted almost two hours! She brought us out everything that we wanted, and after showing her my inspiration boards she came up with some really great ideas (our inspiration above). And best of all—her work is incredibly priced! 

If you're looking for a custom bakery to make the cake of your dreams (and believe me I dream of cake A LOT) be sure to give Naomi a call—just don't forget to tell her I sent you!