Point of View: You’re scrolling Pinterest and gathering inspiration for your wedding flowers. You see pictures of brides holding huge bouquets, elaborate arches, and tablescapes overflowing with greenery. But how many flowers and how much foliage was actually used? It can be hard to tell just by looking at a picture, and most of those wedding floral designs were probably done by a professional, who knows how to make the most of every stem.
If you’re a DIY couple, figuring out how many flowers you actually need to accomplish your vision can be daunting. Of course, you can Google things like “how many flowers does it take to make a bridal bouquet”, but the reality is that it totally depends on your style! While we can’t really tell you how many flowers you need for your wedding, here’s a sampling of the most common wedding flower components and how many stems it takes to create each and every one. Remember, these were all done by professional floral designers, so we’d recommend ordering a little extra so you can get that full and luxurious look (and make up for any oopsies!)
Bride: Stunner Bouquet size, ~35 stems
Bridesmaid: Sweetheart Bouquet size, ~15-20 stems
DIY Tip: For a more natural look, be sure to account for greenery in your stem count!
Mantle Accents - 1 greenery bucket (5 bunches), ~80 stems flowers
DIY Tip: Cut greenery pieces down and focus on embellishing the front edge. Use candles to give more depth and stretch your greenery.
Bud Vases: ~3 stems per vase
DIY Tip: Mix up the depth by having some vases with just one focal flower (like dahlias or sunflowers), and fill the other vases with clusters of three smaller flowers.
Arbor: 1 to 1-1/2 greenery buckets (5-8 bunches), 50-70 stems flowers
DIY Tip - When it comes to large installations, you can forage for “tonnage” foliage like willow or tree branches and embellish with deluxe greens and flowers. Be sure to test all foraged items first to make sure they’ll stay vibrant after they’ve been cut!
Large Compote Arrangement: 35 Stems 5-1/2” tall, 8” wide
DIY Tip: Florists can do this with 35 stems, non-professionals should definitely order extra to make large arrangements look fuller.
Medium Arrangement: 30 stems 7” tall, 3-1/2” wide
DIY Tip: Stretch your budget by using more greens and accenting with a few flowers.
Small Arrangement: 15-18 stems 5” tall, 3-1/2” wide
DIY Tip: If you vase is shorter, you still need the same amount of stems, you’ll just want to cut them shorter.
Simple greenery centerpiece: 1 bunch per 5 tables
DIY Tip: Cut the greens into smaller pieces and keep them tight to the container. No one wants a vine of greenery going into their dinner!
We hope this helps you wrap your brain around how many flowers you *actually* need for your wedding. If you’re on a budget, or just have a knack for do-it-yourself creativity, check out our DIY wedding flowers and local wedding flower packages!
Photo Credit: The Commoneer Photography, Mason Photography
