This is one of the top wedding questions we get as wedding planners, and we don’t blame you because we’ve wondered this too! We asked our florist friend, Meg, from The Florista a few questions that we know will help you decide whether or not bud vases will work for your wedding. Let’s jump in!
When are bud vases a good idea and when are they not ideal?
I think bud vases are ideal on smaller tables and as accent pieces! I love when a bud vase is used as a satellite piece to fill a table paired with a larger piece! I think this really looks nice as a way to elongate a table design without going heavy on compotes or table runners, but I don’t love them as the primary focal point. Sometimes I feel like a runner of bud vases or a cluster of bud vases looks messy as a standalone centerpiece on a table- it’s hard to differentiate height on them and make any particular item shine.”
Are bud vases actually cheaper than centerpieces?
Are they actually cheaper, not really! We use the same formula for pricing out bud vases as we do our other arrangements, it’s just truly that you are getting less product per arrangement, so the idea that they are “cheaper” is a little misleading!
How many bud vases are needed per 8ft table or round?
To make the table not look “sparse” I would put 10-12 bud vases on an 8ft and 5-7 on a round (72 inch) but I would also do heaavvyy candles with this to give the fullness I desire which would increase the cost of a candle rental as well! (so I truly think it ends up being comparable prices as other centerpiece options)
If you want my true down to the numbers opinion, I think if you LIKE the look of a compote- a compote which is usually around $175 with (3) votives ($15 candle charge) is way more impactful than (7) $17 bud vases and like (5) taper candles and (5) votives ($60 candle charge) just go with the compote!! It will look better and is basically the same price, it just looks more expensive on paper.
Are there certain types of vases that work better than others?
I like a bud vase with about a quarter width opening! When you get smaller than that it’s harder to put more than like 2 stems in the vase, but much wider it gets this kind of weird in between sizes where it’s almost like a vase size but still a bud vase… I have also been liking colorful glass bud vases because I think they’re more fun than just a standard glass bud vase!
As Planners, we’ve picked up A LOT of fallen bud vases. Give us some alternative arrangement ideas for couples wanting the bud vase look but who are having an outdoor reception.
This has been my year of “let’s ditch the outdoor bud vase” all together- it’s painful to see tipped bud vases on my end too at outside receptions because there’s ultimately nothing we can do to keep them up on those windy days! And as much as I don’t want to upsell, I think a $35 option is worth it if the the $17 option is inevitably going to tip over and leave your beautiful upgraded linens drenched in water (bummer)
Lately I have loved using little 4×4 cylinder vases and making a smaller sturdier arrangement, an ikebana (pin frog arrangement) or a mossy table meadow!
Any other advice for couples choosing between bud vases and centerpieces?
I think the last thing I would like to add is that if you LOVE the bud vase look- i think it’s a great option! But I feel like I often get brides who look to the bud vase because they have been led to believe that it is the only budget friendly table option for florals- which I think is totally incorrect!
Instead of just resorting to the bud vase, show your florist what you like and tell them what you like about it, it’s likely that there is an option out there that is comparable to what they want and also won’t break the bank.
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