TIPS

Exploring the DIY Route for Bud Vases: Unveiling the True Investment

Pro Tip: Don't DIY Your Bud Vases

In the world of wedding centerpieces, bud vases have emerged as a sleek and sophisticated trend, promising an elegant and cost-effective solution. As tempting as the DIY route might seem to save on costs, it's vital to look beyond the surface. While opting for DIY bud vases might save you a bit of money, a comprehensive set of considerations might alter the perspective. Before taking the plunge, let's dive into the intricacies involved in creating your own bud vases, and why the allure of saving a little money might come with a price of its own.

The DIY Equation: Calculating the True Investment Planning to assemble your own bud vases can initially seem like a practical way to cut costs. However, the true investment becomes apparent when you break down the process. Imagine handling 140 vases—sourcing, processing, and storing the blooms, delivering them to the venue, and meticulously arranging each one. Despite the seemingly straightforward nature of a few stems in a vase, there's an art and science to arranging them, a fine line that distinguishes DIY from a polished, professional appearance.

The Multifaceted DIY Reality:

  1. Sourcing and Shopping: Acquiring the perfect blooms requires careful selection, an eye for detail, and time spent shopping for the best quality. This process extends beyond simply picking flowers; it involves understanding which blooms complement each other and align with your vision.

  2. Blooms Processing and Storage: Once procured, blooms need proper processing and storage to ensure they're at their prime on the big day. This requires knowledge of how to condition and maintain each type of flower.

  3. Delivery Logistics: Delivering 140 vases to the venue might seem manageable, but consider the time, effort, and logistics involved in ensuring everything arrives safely and on time.

  4. Arrangement Expertise: Arranging bud vases requires skill and finesse. The science behind creating a visually appealing arrangement involves considerations like color harmony, bloom size, and height variation.

The Professional Touch: A Proven Solution Considering the complexity of creating your own bud vases, many couples find that the allure of saving a little money is outweighed by the stress and meticulous effort involved. This is where the wisdom of hiring a professional comes into play. Seasoned floral designers possess the expertise to handle every aspect of bud vase creation, from sourcing premium blooms to skillfully arranging them with an artistic touch.

Pro Tip: Trust the Professionals. While DIY projects can be rewarding, your wedding day deserves the touch of professionals who can ensure every detail is impeccably executed. Trusting a seasoned floral designer means entrusting your vision to those who understand the nuances of floral design, allowing you to focus on soaking in the beauty of the day without the added stress.

Elevating Your Vision with Professional Expertise As you consider the DIY route for your bud vases, it's essential to weigh the true investment of time, effort, and expertise against the potential savings. While the allure of personalization is enticing, remember that your wedding day is a celebration of love that deserves the touch of professionals who can transform your vision into a breathtaking reality. Choosing to entrust your floral arrangements to experienced designers ensures that your bud vases become more than just decorations; they become works of art that elevate the ambiance of your special day.

Embracing Bud Vases: The New Garland

Embracing Bud Vases: The New Garland

In the world of wedding centerpieces, trends come and go, and 2024 is no exception. The era of green garlands as the go-to "cheap" centerpiece option is gracefully stepping aside, making room for the rise of an elegant and cost-effective alternative: bud vases.

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Navigating Destination Wedding Florists: From Dream to Reality

Navigating Destination Wedding Florists: From Dream to Reality
Embarking on the journey of planning a destination wedding can be simultaneously thrilling and overwhelming. The allure of an intimate celebration in a cherished location, the personal ties you and your partner share with the chosen place, and the idea of a pre-honeymoon to your honeymoon are all enchanting factors.
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Expert Insights: Essential Questions to Ask a Florist for Your Event, Answered by a Professional


When hiring your florist for your wedding, gathering as much information as possible to ensure they understand your vision and can meet your floral needs is important. Here are some questions to ask your florist. Below are our answers.


  1. Can you show me examples of your previous work or a portfolio? Yes, the florist's website serves as an excellent repository to explore our portfolio. It's worthwhile to browse through their portfolio and peruse their blog for a comprehensive view of our work. For an even more extensive and diverse collection, I recommend delving into their Instagram profile. Their feed is where they showcase their finest creations but don't forget to also explore the tagged photos section and the highlights for a broader perspective.

  2. Are you available on my event date, and how many weddings do you take per day? Verifying the date is of utmost importance. It's advisable to secure your florist's services between six months to a year in advance of your event. Given the seasonal nature of our offerings, it's essential to recognize that florists often manage multiple events on the same date. While this might raise concerns when collaborating with a newly established florist, a more experienced professional with over five years of experience can confidently handle multiple events simultaneously.

  3. How many weddings or events have you done in the past? We have successfully executed hundreds of weddings since we have been in business for 10 years and design 25-35 full-service weddings yearly. However, if you add our elopements and intimate weddings, we may be close to 1,000. A typical florist will take anywhere between 15-75 weddings a year, depending on location, how long the season is (it varies based on location), the size of the event, and personal preference. A florist in their first year or two may have 30 or fewer weddings under their belt since it’s hard to book weddings when you first start out.

  4. Do you specialize in a particular style of floral design? We possess a comprehensive understanding of diverse floral design styles. Our particular aesthetic is characterized by its light, modern, airy, and natural essence, infused with a touch of whimsy. We pride ourselves on staying abreast of current trends and continuously evolving our approach. While many florists focus on mastering a single style, we stand out by seamlessly transitioning between multiple styles. It's crucial to align your preferences with the florist whose designs resonate with you. Keep in mind that a traditional florist might not excel in crafting a garden-inspired, airy bouquet, and vice versa. Choosing a florist in accordance with your preferred style ensures a harmonious match.

  5. Can you work within my budget? How do you handle pricing? We fully appreciate the significance of adhering to a budget and are dedicated to crafting floral arrangements that align harmoniously with your financial considerations. It's worth noting that while we aim to accommodate your budget, our pricing remains firm. The world of flowers entails both expense and indulgence, embodying an artistic process that demands immense talent, time, materials, and expertise to transform your floral vision into a reality that enhances your special day.

    We maintain transparent pricing information on our website and Instagram platform for your convenience. We extend detailed proposals to serve as a point of reference. Should you entrust us to leverage our expertise and creativity, we're more than willing to explore budget-conscious alternatives. By doing so, we ensure that your investment yields the utmost value.

    Our pricing structure is meticulously established, founded upon the floral selections we employ and the costs associated with impeccably executing your wedding vision. To realize our distinctive aesthetic, we curate floral arrangements with a specific caliber of blooms that exude quality and refinement. We do provide an à la carte package that retains our signature style and atmosphere while employing more cost-effective blooms for those seeking a more budget-friendly option.

    It's important to acknowledge that some florists might offer lower pricing, but they often utilize more economical flowers, potentially altering your arrangements' overall ambiance and feel. Similar to various retail businesses, including restaurants and clothing stores, we, too, incorporate a standard markup in our pricing structure to account for the expertise and personalized service we deliver.

  6. What flowers are in season during my event date, and can you recommend alternatives if my preferred flowers are unavailable? We stay up-to-date with seasonal flower availability and can guide you on the best options for your event date. If your preferred flowers are unavailable, we will suggest suitable alternatives that complement your desired aesthetic. Please note our industry is based on Mother Nature, and sometimes she throws in dry, rainy, or unusual weather that may cause the season to shift a little, so please understand not every flower in your exact color is always available. Please be flexible.

  7. How do you source your flowers? Do you offer organic, locally grown, or sustainable options? We prioritize sustainable practices and offer various sourcing options. We strive to work with local growers and can provide organic or sustainably grown flowers when available. During off-season (winter) local farming is far and few. We care about the environment, our health, and yours. The chemicals on flowers from non-organic or other countries contain harmful chemicals we don’t want you and your guest breathing. Note that not all florists buy locally or organically. We are lucky to be based in California, where many blooms are grown due to our perfect weather. A lot of florists have to source from all over to have access.

  8. Can you create a sample centerpiece or bouquet to help visualize the final result? Absolutely! We can create sample centerpieces or bouquets for you to visualize the final result. This allows us to fine-tune the design according to your preferences, but we charge for the meeting and cost of the blooms. Most florists charge for this; if they include it, you may still play for it within your proposal. We charge the total cost of the centerpiece plus a delivery fee to the meeting and a flat rate for the time spent.

  9. Do you provide other décor elements, such as vases or candles? In addition to floral arrangements, we do not provide decorative elements such as candles, table numbers, and similar items. Regrettably, our studio's limited space prevents us from offering storage for these additional items. Including these elements in your floral budget might exceed your preferred expenditure for floral arrangements, excluding table decor. The expenses associated with these items can accumulate rapidly and demand significant labor for proper execution. We are enthusiastic about assisting you in making design choices and can provide you with a list of rental companies that specialize in such items. While many florists do offer these elements, it's important to note that they often come with considerable costs. Exploring second-hand purchases or acquiring these items yourself for later resale might potentially offer a more cost-effective solution.

  10. Will you be personally setting up and arranging the floral arrangements on the event day, or will someone else handle it? Our experienced team will personally handle the setup and arrangement of the floral pieces on your event day. We take great care to ensure everything looks perfect and aligns with your vision. If you order from our a la carte package, these items may be dropped off depending on your order.

  11. Can you accommodate specific color schemes or themes? Absolutely! We are adept at working with specific color schemes and themes. We will collaborate with you to ensure that the floral designs seamlessly align with your vision. However, our style is our style. We are not rustic or traditional so if your theme is not on brand, we are not the right florist for you.

  12. How far in advance do you need the final order and any necessary changes? Ideally, we would appreciate receiving your final order at least a month before your event. However, we understand that changes may arise and will do our best to accommodate them within a reasonable timeframe.

  13. Are there any additional fees or charges I should be aware of, such as delivery or setup fees? We will provide a comprehensive breakdown of all costs, including applicable delivery, setup, or breakdown (strike) fees. Transparency is important to us, and there will be no hidden charges. However, things may pop up over time if you choose to alter your proposal or your venue requests items that may take more labor or equipment.

  14. Can you work with any specific venue restrictions or guidelines? We are experienced in working with various venues and are familiar with their unique restrictions or guidelines. We will adapt our designs to comply with any requirements. Please understand some installations may have to vary from inspo based on venue restrictions.

  15. What is your cancellation or refund policy? Our cancellation and refund policy will be outlined in our contract. We understand that circumstances can change, and we will work with you to find a fair resolution in such cases.

Embracing the Latest Wedding Trend of 2023-2024: Intimate Weddings

Embracing the Latest Wedding Trend of 2023-2024: Intimate Weddings

Discover the charm of intimate weddings in 2023-2024. Say goodbye to expensive venues and hello to unique locations. Save money, reduce stress, and focus on the love that matters. Capture stunning photos and create lasting memories. Explore the top reasons why intimate weddings are our favorite trend.

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THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

Family Style Food + Tons of Tiny Table Arrangements

Designing a functional wedding table that delivers on style goals

For the last few years, farm tables + family style dinner service have been at the top of most bride’s lists. Long farm tables create an elegant look in any venue, and the popularity of family style serving can be attributed to the fact that it isn’t as fussy as plated, but feels more elevated than a traditional buffet.

Family Style Food + Tons of Tiny Table Arrangements Wedding Tips From Ash + Oak San Francisco's top wedding florist

Despite the popularity of this combination, there are multiple design challenges that this pairing represents. Farm tables are usually longer than they are wide, while family style dining requires multiple large platters on the table at the same time, which eats up table real estate. While ordering larger farm tables is an option – this results in higher costs as larger farm tables aren’t standard at most venues or rental companies.

If you’re “married” to the idea of family style serving, traditional vase arrangements usually have to be made smaller in order to compensate for the number of dishes on the table or are sometimes removed altogether once food service begins. This is a major bummer for both the bride and the florist after all the time we’ve both spent working on the vision for the wedding.

Family Style Food + Tons of Tiny Table Arrangements Wedding Tips From Ash + Oak San Francisco's top wedding florist San Francisco Top wedding florist ASH + OAK

At Ash + Oak, we’ve solved the family style conundrum – so you can have your (wedding) cake and eat it too. Multiple small arrangements dotted on the table provide visual impact and still allow space for plates, serving platters, and cutlery. On a long farm table, each cluster of guests can admire the unique arrangement placed in front of them – as well as be wowed by the sheer number of arrangements in the room.

Photos by The Allens Photography + Olivia Richards Photography

LISTENING

When I started Ash + Oak I had no idea what I was doing. I briefly looked over the flower department at a co-op in my early 20's. So when I started Ash + Oak 5 years ago, I used my customer service skills to grow my business. For today's tip, I am writing about asking questions and listening. 

I take pride in any work I do and as a result, I take every job I have very seriously. When I was in the restaurant industry, I was always one of the best servers. I'm not tooting my own horn, but I was damn good.  One day I had a guest explain to me why they loved me. It was eye-opening. They felt I truly listened to their wants and needs. I read their body language, predicted most of their wants and listened to each individual at the table. If you have ever eaten out, you usually ask the server what the most popular item is. Most servers will list off a few of their favorites or the house special, well I asked questions about the guest. I would find out if the guest had food allergies, what they loved and hated to eat at home. Once I asked enough questions and listened to their answers, I would narrow down what they would love. 

I took this same concept and brought it to the floral world. I ask clients what they loved about other weddings they attended, what the couple or close relatives were allergic to and what means the most to them. I love to bring in elements that tell a story about the couple through flowers or accent decor.

Last year, our favorite wedding was for a groom that was in a band and the bride who owns a vintage clothing store. They live on a lemon farm in a beautiful mid-century modern home in Fresno. We used a combination of mid-century vases, stardust gold decor pieces, and records as table accents. We had a calligrapher design the welcome sign on a guitar. Every guest that walked into the venue mentioned they felt as if they walked into the couples house but better. Asking the right questions and listening (truly listening) to the answers will deliver the best results. 

Danger + Devon's wedding was featured in the New York Times. Visit to view their love story.

Established 2014 in Oakland, California