One of the biggest DIY challenges is figuring out how many stems to order. Order too few and you're scrambling; order too much and you're over budget. Use the tables below as your starting point — then add 10–15% extra as a buffer for stems that don't open perfectly or get damaged in conditioning.
Stems Per Arrangement
| Arrangement Type | Typical Stems | Notes |
| Bridal bouquet (round) | 18–30 | 8–12 focal, 5–8 secondary, 5–10 greens |
| Bridesmaid bouquet | 10–16 | 4–6 focal, 3–5 secondary, 3–5 greens |
| Low centerpiece (6–8" vase) | 15–24 | 6–10 focal, 4–6 secondary, 5–8 greens |
| Tall centerpiece (16–24") | 30–45 | 12–18 focal, 8–12 secondary, 10–15 greens |
| Bud vase / small accent | 5–8 | 2–3 focal, 1–2 secondary, 2–3 greens |
| Boutonniere | 2–3 | 1 focal bloom, 1–2 sprigs greenery |
| Corsage | 3–4 | 1–2 focal blooms, 1–2 sprigs greenery |
How Many Stems for My Wedding?
Rough estimates based on typical wedding setups. Arrangements vary by flower size and personal style.
| Wedding Size | Tables | Est. Total Stems |
| Intimate (25–50 guests) | 4–6 | 150–250 |
| Small (50–100 guests) | 7–12 | 250–450 |
| Medium (100–150 guests) | 12–18 | 450–700 |
| Large (150–200+ guests) | 18–25+ | 700–1,200+ |
How to Calculate Your Own Order
- List every arrangement type you need and how many of each.
- Multiply quantity × stems per arrangement for each type (use the table above).
- Add all totals together to get your gross stem count.
- Add 10–15% buffer for waste and damaged stems.
- Convert to bunches — our flowers are sold by the bunch. Check each product listing for bunch size (e.g., "10 Stems" or "25 Stems").
Example Calculation
Small wedding: 1 bridal bouquet, 3 bridesmaid bouquets, 10 low centerpieces, 6 boutonnieres.
| Item | Qty | Subtotal |
| Bridal bouquet (24 stems ea.) | 1 | 24 |
| Bridesmaid bouquets (13 stems ea.) | 3 | 39 |
| Low centerpieces (18 stems ea.) | 10 | 180 |
| Boutonnieres (3 stems ea.) | 6 | 18 |
| Gross total | 261 | |
| + 10% buffer | ≈ 290 stems |
🌿 Have questions about quantities? Call us at (503) 445-2967 — we're happy to help you plan. ← Back to How-To Guides