“How many flowers do I need for my arrangement?” is the most common question we hear from our customers! The number of stems you need depends on your budget, the types, size, and number of arrangements you’re making, and the varieties of the blooms and greens you use.
What is your flower budget?
Like all other aspects of wedding and event planning – from dresses to desserts – you’ll need an idea of how much you have to spend on wedding flowers. It will help you decide how many and what kinds of arrangements you’ll make and what kind of blooms and greens you should use.
There are many ways to stretch your flower budget. Making your own arrangements is a great start. You can also substitute less expensive varieties in some or all of the arrangements. It’s smart to let your arrangements do “double duty”: Transfer your ceremony décor to your reception to display there, or set out the wedding party flowers in containers at the venue.
Keep these ideas in mind as you start planning your arrangements!
What kinds of floral arrangements do you want?
Now that you have a budget in mind, it’s time to compile a list of all the arrangements you’ll need.
Bouquets
Besides wedding party bouquets, sometimes small bouquets are made for flower girls, mothers, grandmothers, or special guests. These “nosegays” or “posies” are small enough to be held in one hand.
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Boutonnieres
Boutonnieres, or “bouts”, are small arrangements usually pinned to wedding party lapels. In addition, parents, grandparents, pageboys, ring bearers, and other special guests may wear boutonnieres. They don’t have to all be the same – usually the wedding party may have larger or more elaborate bouts.
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Corsages
Corsages are very small, flat-back arrangements – usually 4-5″ high and 3-4″ wide – that are pinned on a dress or shirt or worn on a wristband. Some people will attach them to a clutch or purse. Corsages are a great way to honor special guests, parents, and grandparents.
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Flower Crowns
Flower crowns are easy-to-make stringed blooms and or greens worn on the head. They look very sweet on little girls but really can be worn by anyone in a wedding party.
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Ceremony Decoration
Flowers can be featured in several ways as ceremony décor. Sometimes small arrangements are hung on the chairs or pews on the aisle seats. There may be grander arrangements alongside the brides and grooms. Floral or greenery arches over the couple can create an intimate feel.
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Centerpieces
Centerpieces for dining tables come in many shapes and sizes. Traditional round, low-lying arrangements can be placed in the middle of the table, allowing guests to see each other. Garlands of greens and florals can be placed down the middle of long tables, or try using groups of small vases with just a few stems each down the center. You don’t have to be limited to flowers and greens, either. Add in fruit, photos, or anything else that captures your style.
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Other Types of Floral Arrangements
There are other places you may want to add floral accents. Think about co*cktail tables or places where you are displaying photos, guest books, seating cards, or food or drink. Small flower arrangements placed around the venue help to create a cohesive look.
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Now that you have a list of the types of arrangements and the number of each that you’ll be making, you can move on to thinking about what kinds of flowers and greens you want to use.
What kinds of flowers and greens will you use?
This is where your personal style meets your budget. Here are some things to consider when choosing what kinds of florals you will use in your arrangements:
Color Palette
Besides color combinations, also think about saturation and vibrancy. Are you going with pastel or jewel tones? One easy way to play with flower and color combinations is our Blooms Board tool, which lets you create and save boards with different options to consider.
Event Date
Some varieties are just not available all year round. If you’re having a September event in the U.S., it will be difficult if not impossible to get peonies. Make sure to check our Flower Availability Chart before you get your heart set on a specific variety.
Wedding Style
While some flowers work in many different arrangement styles, others have distinctive features or textures that evoke certain styles. Fillers and novelties like mum balls, asters, limonium, and thistle can give off a rustic or whimsical vibe. Draping red amaranthus says “vintage” and “romantic”. Browse different flower styles to help pin yours down and help guide your flower choice.
Budget Friendly Flowers
Some varieties of flowers and greens are less expensive and more readily available than others. Mums and carnations, for example, are quite easy to work with and are a lower-cost option. For roses, smaller 40cm roses are less expensive than large 60cm varieties – save the large ones for the bridal bouquet! Garden roses are extraordinarily beautiful, but are pricier than standard roses.
There are many ways you can choose to “save or splurge” in floral selection. Substitute less-expensive flowers with similar color, texture, and size as a more costly variety, like groupings of carnations instead of peonies, football mums for garden roses, or tulips for ranunculus. You can also use varieties with larger blooms, like hydrangea or football mums, to create fuller bouquets and arrangements with fewer stems.
How many bunches and stems do I need?
Now that you know how many and what types of arrangements you want and the flowers you hope to use, follow these simple charts to plan your shopping list:
Bouquet and Arrangement Stem Counts
| Arrangement | Stem Count for Small Arrangement | Stem Count for Medium Arrangement | Stem Count for Large Arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Bouquet (Focal Flower, Secondary Flower, Filler, and Greens) | 10 stems | 18-20 stems | 25-30 stems |
| Peony or Garden Rose Bouquet | 3-4 stems | 6-9 stems | 10-12 stems |
| Hydrangea Bouquet | 2-3 stems | 4-5 stems | 6-8 stems |
| Rose Bouquet | 8-12 stems | 18-20 stems | 21-25 stems |
| Baby's Breath (Gypsophilia) Bouquet | 1/4 bunch | 1/2 bunch | 3/4-1 bunch |
| 4 x 4 x 4" Square Vase Centerpiece | 10 stems | 15-20 stems | 25-30 stems |
| Mason Jar Centerpiece | 6-8 stems | 10-15 stems | not recommended |
Boutonniere and Corsage Stem Counts
| Arrangement | Focal Flowers | Filler/Secondary Flowers | Greens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boutonniere | 1 stem | 2 stems | 1 pruned stem |
| Corsage | 2 stems | 2 stems secondary 2 stems filler | 1 pruned stem |
Wedding and Event Arrangement Recipes
If you need more guidance, look at our DIY Flower Recipes for inspiration and specific stem counts for different kinds of arrangements. You can swap out the flowers in the recipes with the varieties you’ve chosen for your event.
Other Resources for Planning Your DIY Floral Arrangements
There are many resources at BloomsByTheBox.com to help you plan, purchase, and create DIY flower arrangements like a pro! Check out hundreds of step-by-step Floral Design Video Tutorials and DIY How To Tutorials. You can also see more examples of flower counts on our flower quantities page.
Joan
Joan is one of the founding partners of BloomsByTheBox.com. She holds degrees in both commercial design and business administration/marketing. One of her earliest jobs was in the retail flower business. For the past 30 years she has consulted a wide variety of clients - many in the wholesale florist industry - in marketing, design, and business operations. In 2007, she and partner Larry Fox joined forces to combine their talents and knowledge to create BloomsByTheBox.com to bring the beauty of the growers' fields directly to customers' doors. Joan is frequently asked to contribute to popular publications to discuss all aspects of the flower and floral design, including MarthaStewart.com, WeddingWire.com, Wedding Planner Magazine, Yahoo!Life, and The Wedding Academy's The International Wedding Trend Annual Report" among others.
I'm an experienced floral designer and enthusiast, deeply familiar with the intricacies of planning and creating stunning arrangements for various events. With a background in commercial design and business administration/marketing, I've spent over 30 years consulting clients in the wholesale florist industry, providing expertise in marketing, design, and business operations.
My involvement in the retail flower business and the founding of BloomsByTheBox.com has allowed me to contribute to popular publications such as MarthaStewart.com, WeddingWire.com, Wedding Planner Magazine, Yahoo!Life, and The Wedding Academy's The International Wedding Trend Annual Report. My commitment to bringing the beauty of growers' fields directly to customers' doors has shaped my understanding of floral arrangements, from budget considerations to flower selection and DIY design.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the article about planning floral arrangements for weddings and events.
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Budget Planning:
- The article emphasizes the importance of determining a flower budget for wedding and event planning, similar to other aspects like dresses and desserts. Understanding your budget helps in deciding the number and types of arrangements.
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Stretching Your Flower Budget:
- Suggestions are provided for budget-friendly options, such as making your own arrangements, using less expensive flower varieties, and repurposing ceremony décor for the reception.
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Types of Floral Arrangements:
- The article outlines various types of floral arrangements, including bouquets (wedding party, flower girls, mothers), boutonnieres, corsages, flower crowns, ceremony decorations, centerpieces, and other floral accents.
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Choosing Flowers and Greens:
- Factors like color palette, event date, wedding style, and budget-friendly flower options are discussed. The article recommends considering flower availability based on the event date and matching flowers to the overall wedding style.
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"Save or Splurge" in Floral Selection:
- The article suggests ways to save money by substituting less-expensive flowers with similar characteristics, allowing for creativity in arrangements while staying within budget.
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Determining Stem Counts:
- Detailed charts are provided for different arrangements, helping readers plan the number of stems needed for small, medium, and large arrangements, including bouquets and centerpieces.
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Boutonniere and Corsage Stem Counts:
- Specific stem counts are provided for boutonnieres and corsages, including the number of focal flowers, filler/secondary flowers, and greens needed for each.
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Arrangement Recipes:
- DIY flower recipes are offered, providing inspiration and specific stem counts for different kinds of arrangements. The article encourages readers to customize the recipes with the flower varieties chosen for their events.
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Additional Resources:
- The article directs readers to additional resources on BloomsByTheBox.com, including floral design video tutorials, DIY how-to tutorials, and examples of flower counts on the flower quantities page.
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Author's Expertise:
- Joan, one of the founding partners of BloomsByTheBox.com, shares her wealth of knowledge and experience in the floral industry. Her background in commercial design, business administration/marketing, and extensive consulting roles adds credibility to the advice provided in the article.
