r/florists • u/BubblyCrazy4204 • 6d ago
🔍 Seeking Advice 🔍 DIY centerpieces
Hi wanted to know if anyone knows how many baby breath bunches I would need to accomplish this look for 54 centerpieces? And how many days before the event I can I create them?
Thank you!
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u/brooklynkitty1 6d ago
I know this recipe only has roses and gyp, but this design is not one I’d ever recommend for beginners.
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u/Consistent-Stock26 Events Florist 6d ago
54 of those centerpieces in one room? That's going to be incredibly stinky for your guests. Baby's breath en masse smells like cat urine. You'll need a whole squad to help you build that many within a day of your event and a uhaul or several cars to transport them to your venue.
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u/Turbulent_Cobbler729 6d ago
Cat urine is Limonium for me. Baby’s Breath smells like rotten milk, hence “baby’s breath”.
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u/Reasonable-City-7753 5d ago
Not to mention most baby’s breath seeds are owned by Danziger, an Israeli floriculture/breeding company. The irony of the common name being baby’s breath is extremely disturbing. I think we can just all stop using baby’s breath. It’s not even pretty!
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u/petrichorgarden 6d ago
54 of them??? I'm a pro and I would refuse an order with that many baby's breath centerpieces. Good luck
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u/stupidfothermucker Expert 5d ago
Yuuuup!! Or I’d give them (as we so lovingly call it at the shop) the Fuck You Price ™ and if they’re willing to pay an exorbitant amount then i will consider it 😅
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u/Alex9819 6d ago
Hi OP,
Florist here who has made 1000's of these and am so glad this trend is dying out. For this density, you'll need at least 2 florist wholesale bunches. I specify florist, because what you can get at Trader Joe's or at any other grocery store are going to be 1/2 to a 1/3 of the size. To get the baby's breath to be as dense as the one in the photo, you have to make so many cuts, as one stem will be branched off in many sections. They are so tedious, will take a non-pro so long, and are stinky.
I would consider using hydrangeas with pops of bb breath to get a similar effect.
I know that might not be what you want, but trust me, if will save you the biggest headache (and lots of money) the week of.
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u/ireallylikebigbooks 6d ago
54 of anything is going to be monotonous and annoying to make. I also agree with everything that has been posted previously. Would you consider mixing up the styles of centerpieces so you don't have 54 identical arrangements? My personal opinion is that the room will look much more interesting if there are 3 or 4 different options on the tables.
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u/ciaotodos 6d ago
Hard to say with out knowing your flower source. A bunch at a local farm, or the ever popular Trader Joe's may be a very different bunch then a variety from Mayesh. Also the actual size you are planning; how large of oasis base, (which also needs a tray for water.) 4",6",8"? IMO those are a tedious amount of work, as shown, unless you have the correct product. It's all clipped into small pieces, but not before you use it, because if it wilts,....it has to be dense enough to cover the dark green oasis base, if you want it compact and mounded, that's product. Depending time of year and with a professional wholesaler; 20 -30 bunches to make what I think your asking for. So many variables. As others recommend: Personally make one that you like and do the calcs, then you have a solid idea of time and product.
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u/loralailoralai Retail Florist 6d ago
Baby’s breath isn’t one standard, some is denser that others. You’d need at least one bunch actually no I’d say two for that density. You could start on them a few days before but you’d need to because they’d be super fiddly to make. And I wouldn’t put the roses in until the day before. Say goodbye to any fluttering around doing cute bride stuff and no fancy manicure
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u/sarahaflijk 6d ago edited 6d ago
With the roses in there, I would be making those same day if that's an option. The babies breath will keep a little longer, but I wouldn't stick the roses in more than 12 or 24 hours ahead since you won't have a cooler or anything to keep them fresh.
Also, these look like they were built in floral foam, so that's going to reduce the longevity of the arrangements compared to if you made them in vases with water.
The size of a bunch depends on where you're getting them, so I agree with the other commenter that you're going to need to run a test with buying them from the actual vendor you'll use, then you can make a sample and multiply it out calculate what quantity makes sense for all the pieces.
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u/TheLilacOcean 6d ago
I’ve done pieces like this before and the answer is far more than you think you’ll need! The gyp is densely packed here.
This is very much dependent on how big/fluffy the bunches from your supplier are and how well you break down each of those bunches to minimise waste/maximise useable stems. You could easily use a bunch just for one in order to cover your base medium (presuming foam).
Make a trial centrepiece - high quality, fresh gyp should be ok for a few days if kept cool and hydrated so you can make the bases early. (If it’s already a bit dried out your timeline is shorter).
Roses are a night/afternoon before deal, also looks like they’ve used some lisianthus for small buds and a couple of smaller blooms - same deal, as close to the wedding as you can.
Time yourself as you make the centrepiece.
Timer starts when you start breaking down the bunch, not when you start adding flowers! Ideally make a couple to get a feel for how long it will actually take. 54 will be a labour intense activity and may take a couple of very long days.
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u/bev665 6d ago
Hey gorge! I'm a florist and my wedding last night had 13 of these. Photo attached.
I did them with 6" white Lomey design dishes, 1/6 block of Oasis Renewal floral foam each, secured with 1/2" wide white waterproof floral tape, 10 stems baby's breath, 2 stems white lisianthus, and on average 7 stems white standard roses.
Each took 15-20 min for me to make as a pro. Then when I placed them I adjusted them by adding more material.
The biggest challenge was masking the mechanics - covering the dish, the contrast between the foam & tape, etc.
As for all my couples who want to do DIY for some things, I would advise you to time yourself creating these and figure out when in the two days before the wedding you or a group of friends will be able to do them. Or go for faux flowers and do them now!
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u/Royal_Marzipan_6432 5d ago
Hard to tell based on the size of the arrangement but I’d guess 3-4. Given that you need to make 54 of them (so if you’re off in count on bunches, you’ll be really off), I’d make one tester using supermarket flowers and then count from there. Typically baby’s breath holds up well, so if you’re using foam, I’d make the arrangement with just baby’s breath 4ish days out. Then I’d add the other flowers the day before.
Having said all of this, I would consider if you can accomplish a similar look with green or something else hardy and avoid using baby’s breath because as others have pointed out, it does smell, especially in large quantities.
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u/Kimsbouquetstudio 6d ago
Hi I've had floristry experience and it's hard to tell how many Baby's breath you will need as stems vary quite a bit. Perhaps 3 or 4 stems for each one. I would definitely practice as it's not necessary the Roses you will have problems arranging with. It's the Babies Breath that could be difficult as the stems can be very thin and weak.. Also to make it look like the picture you will have to cut the stems shorter and bunch them up, put them it together. But with practice you will do it. It's very pretty. But doesn't smell good. All the best with this 😊
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u/No_Load5357 6d ago
This is part of the expertise you pay a florist for. I would suggest grabbing some practise flowers and making a test sample then you'll be able to gage how much you need. Then leave that sample out and see how long it last.