During our wedding floral consultations we often get asked about boutonnieres and how to wear them. This blog post will give you all of the details on how to wear a boutonniere (or buttonhole as they say in the UK, New Zealand and Australia), how to attach it, as well as the different boutonnieres styles to choose from.
The shape and style of boutonnieres has changed throughout the years. Men no longer choose oversized boutonnieres like those seen in the 80s however, there are a number of options for men to choose from when picking a boutonniere style. Some men prefer greenery only boutonnieres and others decide to forgo them altogether. It's a very individual preference but we are here to help.
Boutonnieres with fully wrapped stems are best for more formal weddings or when the groom is wearing a tuxedo. We typically match the ribbon colour as close to the suit colour as possible, so the flowers are the focal point. Partially wrapped boutonnieres are a less formal option and are great for garden weddings or if the groom is wearing a suit.
Boutonnieres for women are called corsages. Pin on and magnetic corsages are worn the same way as we show you below for the boutonnieres. Most women opt for wrist corsages but pin on and magnetic corsages are still worn by women, we just make them slightly more feminine with ribbon tails or extra filler flowers.
For a unique look, pocket square boutonnieres are a great option and are perfect for a non-traditional wedding or a unique groom.
Traditionally pins have been used to attach the flowers in place on a suit, however they are slightly harder to attach and leave holes in the lapels. Recently, magnetic mechanics have become popular because they do not make holes in the suit and are easy to attach. However, this option only works if the suit jacket is not too thick and if the wearer does not have a pacemaker.
The boutonniere is always worn on the left lapel. Most suits have a small buttonhole on the left lapel which will help you to remember the placement. Place the boutonniere over the buttonhole on the left lapel with flowers pointing upward toward the shoulder. If you are wearing a pocket square boutonniere then place that in the left pocket as well.
Holding the boutonniere securely in place on the lapel; take one boutonniere pin and have it enter diagonally through the back of the lapel into the boutonniere stem, coming out again behind the lapel.
Then, take the second pin and angle it through the suit jacket behind the lapel in the opposite direction. The back of the lapel should look like an X with the placement of the pins. Make sure your florist has provided two pins which help to stabilize and secure the boutonniere.
The pins should not be visible from the front of the suit and should grab only a small part of the suit fabric. If the pin is showing or it feels loose, try re-pinning higher up on the boutonniere stem closer to the flower head where there is more weight. Keep in mind that you are always pinning through the boutonniere stem and not through the head of the flower.
If you are wearing a magnetic boutonniere, simply flip over the lapel and clip the magnetic back in place.
We hope you have fun wearing your boutonniere! Please remember to keep it refrigerated until you are ready to wear it so that the flowers stay crisp and look fresh!
