When I first became involved with the world of flowers over twenty five years ago carnations were frequently choosen for the guests buttonholes, white for the men and pink for the ladies accompanied by the usual piece of asparagus fern, sometimes the groom and bestman choose to use a red carnation which broke up the tedious job of wiring and taping a hundred or so identical flower heads. Thankfully nowadays brides tend to co-ordinate the flowers used for their buttonholes with the rest of their bridal flowers and are choosing to use a wider range of blooms in a variety of colours making this task much less tiresome than it once was, plus its no longer common for couples to supply buttonholes for all the wedding guests, most prefering to supply a buttonhole or boutonniere for the principle guests and allow the remaining wedding guests to purchase their own if they want to.
Who should I give buttonholes to and who traditionally foots the bill?
There are no hard and fast rules as to who you should give buttonholes to but in order of importance - obviously first on your list should be the Groom, then the bestman and ushers followed by the fathers of the bride and groom and the mothers who usually have a more elaborate design or corsage, and finally the remainder of your wedding guests if budget allows,
Usual wedding ettiquette stipulates that the groom foots the bill for the costs of buttonholes for the groomsmen as well as flower bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids and sometimes included in this is a gift of flowers for the mothers of both the bride and groom but nothing is set in stone and you should come to an arrangement that best suits yourself and your families individual circ*mstances.
What is the difference between Buttonholes and Boutonnieres?
Basically they are both pretty much the same thing, but when at college many moons ago my tutor differentiated between the two as below and I've always did like wise.
Buttonholes traditionally are simple affairs consisting of a single central flower either used alone or accompanied by foliage. Incorporating accessories such as pearl loops, beads or feathers are all popular choices at the moment.
Boutonniere is french for buttonhole and rather than a single centre flower consist of a small cluster of dainty flowers, herbs or foliage grouped together, the stems are often left natural and these can look very effective when finished with ribbon or twine and can look absolutely beautiful and the idea accompaniment in a rustic themed wedding
Should I choose Fresh or artificial flowers for my buttonholes ?
Preferences change over time and trends come and go but you need to keep in mind that what ever flowers you finally choose will have to withstand being out of water for a long period of time and tolerate the inevitable knocks and bumps received from being worn.
If choosing fresh flowers choose flowers such as carnations which hold up brilliantly, the traditional rose will also tolerate being wired and is still the most popular flower to use for buttonholes, take a look at dainty gypsophilia and waxflower with hardy foliage such as euculptus, soft ruscus or ivy. succulants and berries are very popular at the moment and would also be good choices.
Alternatively use silk flowers and you dont have any of the problems with bruised petals or wilting flowers associated with fresh blooms. Silk or foam flowers are a lot more robust than fresh blooms, dont bruise or get crushed like fresh flowers and if you want a cluster of artificial wild flowers you can rest assured they will see the day through without wilting, plus there is the added bonus that your guests can keep them as a reminder of your special day, they also tend to be slightly cheaper than their fresh counterparts especially if you are getting married in the winter months when fresh flowers generally are more expensive or you have set your heart on using expensive flowers such as lily of the valley or stephanotis. choose foam or silk flowers and you can rest assured they will look just as good at the end of the day as they did at the begining.
How to wear your buttonholes
Men should wear their flower on their left side and the flower head should be pointing upwards towards the left shoulder, Ladies on the other hand should wear their buttonhole or corsage on their right side with the flower heads pointing downwards. Why the difference? ladies have busts! and if the flowers are facing downward they lie better and dont pull on clothing and make it gape.
Finally at the end of the day its your wedding, just do your own thing and if you want paper flowers and toys incorporated into your buttonholes just go for it and if you decide to do away with buttonholes altogether thats fine too, but please at least get one for the groom.
How to wear your buttonholes. Men should wear their flower on their left side and the flower head should be pointing upwards towards the left shoulder, Ladies on the other hand should wear their buttonhole or corsage
corsage
A corsage /kɔːrˈsɑːʒ/ is a small bouquet of flowers worn on a woman's dress or around her wrist for a formal occasion. They are typically given to her by her date.
For the gents, traditionally, the buttonhole should be worn on the left-hand side, above the heart, and pointing towards the left shoulder. For the ladies, the buttonholes should be worn on the right-hand side. Alternatively, with the help of some ribbon you can create a beautiful wrist corsage too.
The boutonniere should always be placed on the left lapel, parallel to the edge outer seam, and right in the middle of the two seams. Formerly, jackets had a buttonhole on the left lapel solely to drop flower stems in.
Originating from ancient Greece, the wedding buttonhole is traditionally worn by the male wedding party members and includes a small arrangement of fragrant flowers and herbs which are pinned close to the heart to ward off evil spirits.
Whether used to add a flourish to your ceremony or reception space, your wedding flowers are certain to be a big expense. Traditionally, the groom would pay for any floral decorations, while the bride's family would cover the cost of bouquets and buttonholes.
The people who traditionally wear a boutonniere include: the groom, groomsmen, the bride's dad, the groom's dad, any ring bearers, ushers, all grandfathers, any male readers and you can even have one for your male officiant if you have one.
Traditionally, boutonnieres are wore by those who identify as male, but anyone who is wearing a suit may wear one. Here's a list of those who typically wear a boutonniere at a wedding, but really, anything goes.
Tradition calls for corsages to be given to mothers of the bride and groom. For a different approach, pin a flower in her hair or give her a small nosegay to carry. While lilies and roses are classics, incorporating each mother's favorite flower or one that complements her ensemble is a thoughtful gesture.
Although some people believe that boutonnieres are out of style, they are still seen at many weddings and can add a touch of elegance to the groom's attire. While boutonnieres remain a staple for traditional weddings, there are alternatives nowadays. Opinions vary on the current style status of boutonnieres.
The groom's family provides the person flowers involved in a wedding ceremony. That includes the bride's bouquet, the groomsmen and usher boutonnières, and the corsages and mini bouquets for the both mothers and grandmothers.
Traditionally, gentlemen wear their buttonhole on their left lapel while ladies wear a buttonhole on their right. Your buttonhole, stems and all, should rest on the outside of the lapel, over the top of the buttonhole, not through it. The flowers should point upwards towards the shoulder.
Thread-worked buttonholes can be one of three shapes: rectangular, oval, or keyhole. All three of these can be made by hand. Not all machines or machine attachments will offer all three shapes. Making a sample is an important step to insure the appropriate length of the buttonhole.
You are probably aware that (typically) the groom and groomsmen will wear a buttonhole. Some couples also choose to honour their parents, grandparents, close friends or relatives, ushers, celebrant or friends helping with the wedding by giving them a 'wearable' flower.
Groomsmen, as key members of the wedding party, commonly wear buttonholes that match the groom's. This cohesive choice adds a touch of elegance and unity to the overall look of the bridal party.
Traditionally, gentlemen wear their buttonhole on their left lapel while ladies wear a buttonhole on their right. Your buttonhole, stems and all, should rest on the outside of the lapel, over the top of the buttonhole, not through it. The flowers should point upwards towards the shoulder.
The simple answer is that a corsage is typically worn by the woman on her left chest(pin-on) or wrist(wristlet) while the boutonniere is worn by the man on his left lapel. There are several different styles of corsages and boutonnieres which can be customized to match the dress color.
Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making
Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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