In Defense of the Bud Vase
Love them or hate them, bud vases are a useful addition to any wedding or party. They can make an exceptional impact for those looking for floral abundance with a small DIY budget. The flip side is that it they require some thoughtfulness in order to make them look elegant and not flimsy. We have all seen sad versions of bud vase arrangements at restaurants. Here are my tips as a florist and flower farmer on how to make bud vases look abundant and luxurious while on using a few stems.
Lets start with the basics. What is a bud vase?
What usually comes to mind is bottle shape but any small vase can be called a bud vase. Usually they have narrow opening that can only accommodate a few stems (or small stems, ie buds). There are millions of choices out there. But as you make choices about colors and material, I’m going to encourage you to think outside the box and not just order them new from China. In fact, choosing a variety of sizes and shapes found with vintage or secondhand bottle often bring more visual interest to a table. You can read more about my ideas for vintage vase options here.
Scale and Proportion
One thing to consider when choosing a bud vase is scale of the room, size and busyness of the table setting. Are you offering a buffet, where the tables mostly empty as guest arrive? Those 8’ rental tables will need a lot of bud vases to look abundant. Conversely, if you are offering a plated dinner and there are place settings at the table, just a smattering of bud vases will suffice. Similarly, a small cocktail table is the perfect scale for a single bud vase.
Also, consider the backdrop of your event. Bud vases usually give way to meadow-inspired arrangements due to their tiny diameter for stems. Think grasses, seed pods, delicate spires and dainty flowers. If your event is being held in a garden or outdoor space, these textured, detailed silhouettes can get lost. If you are hosting in a barn, a terrace or indoor space with a relatively blank canvas of walls, these dainty delights will be in focus and more readily enjoyed.
Here are some tips for designing luxurious, abundant bud vases:
Since you see each stem in a bud vase with almost specimen-like detail, don’t skip on the quality. Buying a bulk bucket of flowers from local flower farms means you will be getting the most fresh quality as well as the more delicate varieties that don’t make it to the wholesale market. Make sure to ask for flowers with thin stems and with some height and funky shaped stems.
Steer clear of anything heavy-headed or too large in diameter, like a big blousy rose or a sunflower. These end up looking out of scale with a bud vase. Also avoid anything with a thick stem. They won’t allow for more than one stem in a bud vase. Go for skinny stems so you can have more than one stem in a vase.
Choose a variety of shapes of flowers that lean towards umbels, spikes and textural seed pods. Make sure to include an element of foliage and only one variety of disc shape flowers. I love poppies for this purpose as they have a slim stem and often bend in funky shapes. This can add so much whimsey to your bud vase arrangement!
Vining and climbing flowers that spill on the edge of a bud vase can be a wonderful addition that help make a collection of bud vases look more abundant. Think nasturtium, hops, love in a puff, jasmine etc.
Vary the height of the stems in each bud vase as well as when you arrange bud vases next each other on a table.
Be bold! Why not choose just one color or one flower for your event? What a charming (and might I say affordable) way to make a statement. Just make sure you vary the height and positioning of the stems for maximum bang.
Here are some common bud vase pitfalls to avoid:
Don’t choose really small or short vases, especially with wide mouths. These are very tricky to work with and will most likely leave you frustrated. Plus you need a million of them to bring any impact.
If your event site is windy, think carefully about the heft and weight of your bud vases. They can get blown over quite easily. Vintage is often best in this case, as they were made with some more weight in the base.
If you are interested in renting bud vases from Fabled Flora, you can see our collection here. We also offer DIY bulk flower buckets for weddings and events with our farm grown flowers. Good luck with those bud vases, buds!