Inspired by a Japanese custom, ask guests to tie their sentiments to tree branches with ribbons. Here, stems are adorned with crepe-paper buds and blossoms and placed in a porcelain vase. Expressions like "Prosperity" and "Good Marriage" are written in Korean and Japanese and hung ahead of time to decorate the branches.

Diminutive gum-paste birds, their markings painted with petal dust, search for treats -- flecks of vanilla bean used to flavor fondant snow. Birch twigs circle the cake, their tips wrapped in floral tape. A cake board concealed by fondant sits between the bottom tier and tree-trunk base. Make sure to remove birds and twigs before serving.

Millinery birds perch on branches blooming with handmade paper blossoms. Blue vases (positioned between seats so conversation can flow) match the color of the plates, which also have a blossom motif. A crepe-paper bloom decorates each place card.

Silvery garlands of satin ribbon festoon walls and the reception table. In the center of the table, a large footed vase filled with river rocks holds bejeweled branches; their beads were attached by hand.

Ready to be plucked from the branches of a quince "tree," dragees grouped in glassine bags are a delectable snack. Keep branches in water; arrange additional favors alongside.

The blue-gray of juniper boughs and deep green of arborvitae boldly replicate the cool colors of winter; the branches themselves determine the dramatic shape of the bouquet. Delicate, graceful snowdrops are tied onto the branches, tiny blossoms cascading as they would in nature.

In this centerpiece, painted manzanita branches stand in for real coral.

Let guests' well-wishes take flight on paper doves. These birds are traditional symbols of love, happiness, and harmony. Anchor bare branches (these are manzanita) in a large, sturdy vessel filled with stones or gravel. Use wire to secure nests, available from crafts stores, to branches. Set dove cards -- available precut -- in a dish. Place pencils alongside your tree with a sign asking guests to inscribe a card and to place it in a nest.

This couple married under a huppa made from a veil worn by the groom's mother and grandmother that was suspended from branches.

Wonderful for an afternoon wedding, perhaps one held outdoors, this display is inspired by seasonal fruits and is reminiscent of a farmers' market, right down to the handwritten labels. In a galvanized vase, branches bearing tiny crab apples convey a natural theme.

In Bermuda, couples top their wedding cakes with tiny saplings, which they plant to grow as their marriages do. The flowering quince branches used on the topper were painted with chocolate (choose pesticide-free foliage).

Greet guests with a heart made of twigs arranged on the ground in a clearing.

Manzanita branches, with berry clusters attached, were sprayed gold and hung from ribbons. Threaded over them are wide ochre ribbons that hold calligraphed seating cards in place. The contrasting gold ribbon is anchored at intervals with fabric glue. Glittering millinery flowers add the final touch.

Calligraphy by Maria-Helena Hoksch.

Nests made of twigs and filled with speckled quail eggshells and lisianthus are perfect for an outdoor decoration.

Wed under a canopy of oak branches topped with an oversize bird's nest.

Tie clothespin escort cards to twine lines hung between pine saplings.

This flowering cake uses a branch motif around each layer.

Illustrated cards listing the ingredients of each drink served are hung from branches to inform guests.

You wouldn't want to gild the lily, of course, but a leafy branch? An altogether different matter. "Gold can add glamour, but it's easy to go over the top with it," says designer Matthew Robbins, who created the arrangements here. Juxtapose opulent gold branches (in the form of faux bay-laurel twigs) with the humble grace of wood (apply gold Rub 'N Buff and drill holes) for a decadent yet simple centerpiece.

Even the most delicate branches exhibit an inherent strength hard to find in flowers. Whether you're looking for limbs dainty enough to form the backbone of a bouquet or boughs robust enough to stand artfully alone, there's a branch to fit your needs and match your mood.

Spiraea branches curved into a heart give a nod to the ancient traditions of topiary shrubs. Sure to be a conversation piece at the guest book table, it's both romantic and refined. Cold-weather brides may also want to consider evergreen boughs such as boxwood or juniper.

Adorned with vintage fabric flowers and dried protea leaves, the manzanita branch makes for a bold "chandelier," especially when spray-painted gold, perfect for highlighting a particular area in a large room (wedding cake over here!).

Pear branches peek through the tree peonies, sweet peas, and lxia for a composition reminiscent of "an electric autumn day, all wild and windswept," says Robbins. As the leaves fall, they miraculously turn to gold.

Limbs from a Japanese maple tree inserted into a tall vase are almost as good as the real thing. Keep branches tall and stems visible, and place a leaf beside each name card for pure visual poetry. (Crab-apple branches are another option for fall; use quince and birch in winter and olive branches in summer.)

Decorate an entryway with a blooming branch, regardless of the time of year. Here, a leafless dogwood limb provides the base for a "Just Married" sign and gardenia blossoms that have been wired.

Download our "Just Married" sign

Japanese maple twigs (keep in mind the leaves are more orange in fall) frame a painterly bouquet of gold tree peonies, yellow kangaroo paws, pink ranunculus, and ivory astilbe that refuses to be an autumnal cliche.

What could be more romantic than saying "I do" beneath a tree? Bring the garden fantasy indoors with urns filled with arching Bradford pear branches; gold leaves here and there add a fairy-tale sheen. A cluster of lily of the valley secured with gold double-faced satin ribbon speaks the same language: nature's beauty.

Consider a monogram, like the simple option shown here, that can continue in different forms from the reply card to the reception.

Tiny terra-cotta pots with a dome of velvety moss are spare yet elegant against a pristine white table. To make, start with a two-inch-diameter terra-cotta pot, place a small piece of crock, fill with potting soil, and top with a mound of moss. Insert a birch twig into center of mound. Secure a name card to the twig: Slip the card behind a twig node, or make a horizontal slit in the twig with a utility knife, and slide in the bottom edge of the card.

A twig propping up a place card is crisp, organic, and so easy to execute.

Decorate your bar with an iron urn that takes center stage with the help of breathtaking hyacinths and lichen branches.

Blossoming branches paired with French tulips makes a statement when displayed on tables at your cocktail hour.