How Many Bud Vases Do You Need for a Wedding Table? A Florist's Guide
- extragorgeousbloom
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
Bud vases are one of my favourite ways to style wedding tables. They are delicate, romantic and incredibly versatile, and they allow beautiful flowers to run throughout your wedding reception without overwhelming the tables.
But one question I am asked by couples is:
How many bud vases do I actually need for each wedding table?
The answer depends on the size and shape of your tables, the number of guests, how full you would like the flowers to feel and whether you are considering combing your bud vases with candles or other arrangements.
As a wedding florist based in Alton, Hampshire, I regularly use bud vases to create a relaxed, garden-inspired wedding tables, so here is my guide to getting the numbers just right.
How Many Bud Vases Do You Need for a Round Wedding Table?
For a standard round wedding table seating 8-10 guests, I would usually recommend approximately 5-7 bud vases per table.
Five bud vases can create a lovely delicate look, particularly when combined with candles, while seven gives you a slightly fuller and more abundant floral display.
Rather than placing them in a perfectly symmetrical circle, I love arranging bud vases naturally through the centre of the table, using different heights, shapes and flower varieties.
Adding a few votive candles between the flowers can make the whole arrangement feel even more romantic, particularly as the light begins to fade in the evening.
How Many Bud Vases Do You Need for Long Wedding Tables?
Long tables work beautifully with bud vases because the flowers can travel all the way along the table rather than being concentrated in one central arrangement.
As a rough guide, I would suggest approximately one bud vase every 40-60cm, depending on how full you would like the table to feel.
I wouldn't necessarily line them up at identical intervals. A natural approach is to create little groupings of flowers, interspersed with candles, leaving some breathing space between them.
For example, on a 4.5-5 metre banquet table, I might use approximately 10-14 bud vases, depending on the overall styling and whether other floral arrangements are being incorporated.
The most important consideration is leaving enough room for glassware, place settings, serving dishes and food.
This is particularly important if you are having family-style dining, where large sharing dishes need to be placed along the centre of the table.
What Flowers Work Well in Wedding Bud Vases?
Almost anything!
That is one of the reasons I love using them.
Depending on the season and your wedding style, your bud vases could contain flowers such as:
Roses and spray roses
Sweet peas
Cosmos
Ranunculus
Lisisanthus
Delphiniums
Scabious
Dahlias
Seasonal foliage and delicate grasses
I usually prefer each vase to contact a small selection of flowers rather than making every vase identical.
Some may contain one beautiful statement bloom, while others might have two or three smaller flowers with a little foliage.
When all of the vases are brought together, the different heights and textures create a lovely relaxed, garden-inspired tablescape.
Should All Your Bud Vases Match?
They certainly can, but they do not have to.
Using a mixture of complementary glass bud vases can create a more relaxed romantic feel.
Different shapes and heights also help give the flowers more movement.
For a cleaner, more contemporary wedding, matching vases can look beautiful too.
It is really about choosing the style that works with your venue and the overall feeling you want for your wedding.
Bud Vases and Candles
Flowers and candlelight are one of my favourite combinations for wedding tables.
Small votive or tealight holders can be positioned between your bud vases, creating a beautiful glow without taking up too much space.
For round tables, you could combine 5-7 bud vases with several votives around the centre.
For long tables, alternating small groups of bud vases and candles creates a gorgeous continuous tablescape.
Always check your wedding venue's candle policy beforehand, as some venues require flames to be completely enclosed withing glass.
Can You Mix Bud Vases With Larger Wedding Centrepieces?
Absolutely.
You do not necessarily have to choose one style of centrepiece for every table.
For example, some tables could feature a larger floral arrangement while others have groups of bud vases and candles.
You could also repurpose flowers from your ceremony.
Aisle meadow arrangements or ceremony flowers can often be moved into your reception and used on selected tables, while the remaining tables are styled with bud vases.
This is a brilliant way to create variety while also making your wedding flower budget work harder.
Are Bud Vases Good for Weddings on a Budget?
Bud vases can be a very flexible option if you are working to a particular wedding flower budget.
However, it is worth remembering that although each individual arrangement is small, creating lots of bud vases still requires flowers, preparation and design time.
Foe example, eight tables with seven bud vases on each would require 56 individual arrangements to be created.
This is why it is helpful to think about your overall look rather than simply comparing the price of one bud vase with one larger centrepiece.
Sometimes a combination of larger arrangements, repurposed ceremony flowers and bud vases gives you the best result.
How Much Do Wedding Bud Vases Cost?
The price of wedding bud vases varies depending on the flowers used, the number of stems, the vase style and whether vase hire is included.
Premium flowers will naturally increase the cost, while choosing beautiful seasonal varieties gives me more flexibility.
When I prepare a wedding flower proposal, I look at the tables as a whole rather than simply thinking about individual vases.
The aim is to make sure the room feels beautifully styled while also making sensible use of your flower budget.
How Many Bud Vases Do You Need for a Wedding of 80 Guests?
Let's imagine you are having approximately 80 guets seated at eight round table of ten.
Using 5-7 bud vases per table would mean approximately:
40 bud vases for a lighter, delicate look
or
56 bud vases for a fuller look.
You could also choose fewer bud vases on some tables and use repurpose ceremony arrangements on others.
There really is not one correct number, it is about creating the right balance for your particular wedding.
Don't Forget the Top Table
Your top table can be styles slightly differently from your guest tables.
A beautiful floral arrangement positioned in front on the couple can create a focal point, with smaller bud vases and candles continuing along the rest of the table.
Alternatively, flowers used during your ceremony can often be repositioned around the top table after you have said your vows.
It is another lovely way to enjoy your wedding flowers more than once.
Wedding Bud Vases in Hampshire
At Extra Gorgeous Blooms, I create romantic, garden-inspired wedding flowers from my home in Alton, Hampshire, providing wedding floristry across Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and West Sussex.
I love designing wedding tables that feel abundant and beautiful while still allowing guests to see and talk to one another comfortably.
Whether you are planning intimate round tables filled with flowers and candlelight or long banquet tables with bud vases running throughout, your table flowers can be designed specifically for your venue, guest numbers and wedding style.
Planning Your Wedding Table Flowers?
If you are currently planning your wedding and wondering how many bud vases you will need, don't worry about working every number out yourself.
Once I know your venue, guest numbers, table layout and the overall look you love, I can recommend the number and style of arrangements that will work beautifully in the space.
To get in touch, simply fill in the contact form here & I will be in touch.
Comments