Reference

Stem & bucket calculator

Enter piece counts; get stems by role, a buffer, bucket count, and a rough design-time estimate. Pre-filled from your setup if you have one. The numbers use the mid-range counts from Module 7; overwrite them with your dress-rehearsal counts when you have them.

Bridal bouquets you are making Bridesmaid bouquets Boutonnieres Corsages Low compotes / bowls Focal stems or heads per low bowl Bud vases (dining + cocktail + stations) Medium station pieces (bar counter, cigar urn, charcuterie) Large pieces you build yourself (urns, big station pieces) Buffer %

Assumptions behind the numbers

Bridal bouquet 30 focal-equivalent + 8 secondary + 6 airy + 5 foliage; bridesmaid half that; boutonniere 1.5 focal + 1 foliage; corsage 2 + 1.
Low bowl: your focal count + 8 secondary/filler + 5 airy + 5 foliage. With hydrangea as the focal, 6 heads is a full 10-inch compote; with roses or dahlias, use 12–15.
Bud vase: 3 airy-or-scrap stems and half a foliage stem each. In practice most come from processing scraps.
Medium station piece: 22 focal + 10 secondary + 8 airy + 8 foliage. Large: roughly double.
Buckets: 25 mixed stems per 2-gallon bucket; 12 big hydrangea heads per 5-gallon bucket. Change the head count after you measure your own.
Design time: 18 minutes per compote, 5 per bud vase, 45 per medium piece, 90 per large piece, 60 per bridal bouquet, 30 per bridesmaid, 15 per bout, 20 per corsage. First-timers should double these until the dress rehearsal says otherwise.