Ever wondered if you can really pull off a gorgeous wedding reception without blowing the budget? Turns out, designing your own reception bud vases and tablescape isn’t just doable—it can be surprisingly easy (and fun), not to mention seriously cost-effective.
Why Make Your Own Reception Bud Vases?
Reception bud vases are one of those little details that can easily rack up costs fast when you go the traditional rental or florist route. By going the DIY way, you’re not just saving money—you get to inject loads of personality into your day. Plus, there’s something special about looking around your venue knowing you put it all together yourself.
Here’s what really makes the difference with DIY:
- Budget control: You decide where to splurge or save.
- Sustainability: Reusing or repurposing items cuts down on waste.
- Personalization: Pick colors and styles that feel like “you.”
- Bonding time: Great excuse to gather with friends or family before the big day.
How We Sourced Our Tablescape (& What It Cost)
Let’s talk numbers—because saving money is half the fun! For our tablescape and reception bud vases, we aimed to keep things beautiful but affordable. Second-hand stores were our best friends. We hunted down candle vases and votives from local thrift shops and online marketplaces. Sometimes you’ll even find treasures at garage sales.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Candles + holders (all in): $200 CAD
- Buds & flowers (including vases): $400 CAD
That’s around $600 Canadian dollars total for everything! The best part? Even though some of the candles had seen two previous weddings, they still had tons of burn time left—talk about getting your money’s worth.
The Step-by-Step Process for DIY Reception Bud Vases
You don’t need floral expertise or tons of time to pull this off. Here’s how we did it (with some help from my mother-in-law):
- Gather supplies: Collect all your vases (mismatched is charming), candles, votives, and flowers.
- Plan ahead: Sketch out your table layout or snap inspiration photos so others can help set up later.
- Bouquet assembly: We filled about 55 bud vases in just an hour and a half. Keep it simple—one or two stems per vase looks delicate and elegant.
- Packing up: Store everything in labeled boxes by table so setup is a breeze on the day-of.
- Leave clear instructions: Our venue staff used our visual guide to get everything just right without us lifting a finger on the big day.
It was actually super relaxing—the kind of pre-wedding activity that calms nerves instead of creating stress.
A Real-Life Anecdote: More Than Just Decor
Here’s something that doesn’t show up in Pinterest tutorials: putting together these bud vases became its own unforgettable memory. My mother-in-law and I spent the afternoon before the wedding arranging flowers together—it only took about an hour and a half for all 55(ish) vases! It was such nice bonding time before things got busy.
Watching our guests admire each table setup made every thrifted find feel extra special. And knowing we did it ourselves brought this wave of pride—and relief—especially when we looked at how much we saved compared to hiring out.
Would We Do Anything Differently?
Honestly? The whole process went smoother than expected. If anything, next time I’d start gathering second-hand items even earlier just to have more selection—but otherwise, wouldn’t change a thing.
If you’re thinking about making your own reception bud vases or tackling any part of your tablescape yourself, go for it! Not only will you save money (and probably some sanity), but you’ll end up with decor that feels truly personal.
What part of your wedding are you most excited to personalize?
Leave a Reply