Boutonniere

A boutonniere is a floral decoration worn by men, and while they were once worn more frequently, they are now reserved for special occasions, like weddings and proms. The word boutonniere comes from the French word buttonhole, since they were worn by placing a flower through the lapel buttonhole and the stem was held in place by a loop at the back of the lapel. However, many suits made today do not have the required loop, and/or the buttonhole has not been cut open, so the boutonniere must be pinned on. It should be placed either diagonally or straight on the lapel, about 4 inches down from the tip of the left shoulder. Boutonnieres are normally composed of a single bloom or a small cluster of flowers. Some of the more traditional flowers worn were white carnations, red roses, and blue cornflowers, but now you see boutonnieres in all kinds of styles. From traditional to rugged, here are some of my favorites!

A boutonnière (French: [butɔnjɛʁ]) is a floral decoration, typically a single flower or bud, worn on the lapel of a tuxedo or suit jacket.

While worn frequently in the past, boutonnières are now usually reserved for special occasions for which formal wear is standard, such as at proms, homecomings, funerals, and weddings. (Women who wear jackets on these occasions also often may wear "buttonholes", but more typically a woman would wear a corsage.) Nowadays, a lapel pin is worn more often than flowers on business suits.

Traditionally, a boutonnière was worn pushed through the lapel buttonhole (on the left, the same side as a pocket handkerchief) and the stem is held in place with a loop at the back of the lapel. The flower's calyx, if pronounced such as those of a carnation, should be fully inserted into the buttonhole which would secure it tightly and flat against the lapel. Thus the buttonhole should ideally be at least 1⅛" long for there to be enough room to fit a standard sized flower's calyx. Otherwise, the calyx would not fit into the buttonhole and the flower head would hang freely and move about in the wind.

However, on many recently made coats and jackets, the lapel is made without the loop required, which would normally sit on the reverse of the lapel, beneath the buttonhole. Sometimes, the lapel buttonhole is in the "keyhole" shape, as opposed to the traditional straight cut,^[3] or is not even pierced through, in which case the boutonnière may be pinned onto the jacket lapel, although this may be considered unsightly^[1]and continued pinning could eventually damage the cloth or silk facing.

 

Styles

·         Billy Ball and Succulent Boutonniere. ...

·         Beachy Orchid Boutonniere. ...

·         Fern Boutonniere. ...

·         Anemone Boutonniere. ...

·         Calla Lily Boutonniere. ...

·         Herb Boutonnieres -

 

 

5 Classic Boutonniere Flowers

Here are five of the most traditionally used flowers in boutonnieres.

Roses

The universal symbol for love, the rose is the most requested boutonniere flower. It is often embellished with a sprig of green ivy and baby's breath. Traditional couples having a formal wedding tend to choose white for eternal love or red to represent passion, or they combine both to signify unity. Yellow roses are also commonly used to express the promise of a new beginning. A single rose of any color communicates gratitude in the language of flowers, making it the perfect design for all the other men in the wedding party.

Carnations

Considered less formal than the rose by Americans, the carnation is the preferred choice for the groom's boutonniere across the world.

The national flower of Spain, and offered as a sign of respect in Korea, the carnation is also favored by British royalty for formal events.

Inexpensive and hardy, the ruffled petals of this small flower work well for a wedding. Carnations are available in a wide selection of shades to match the wedding colors, although white and red are the most common.

Southern U.S. African-American men often wear white carnations in remembrance of their mother if she has passed away. Since the Victorian era, green carnations have been adopted by the GLBT community as a symbol of love and pride. The carnation is traditionally worn without greenery or embellishments.

Calla Lily

The clean lines of the elegant calla lily are attractive to contemporary grooms who want to make a sophisticated yet fashionable statement. Symbolizing purity of heart, the mini calla comes in dozens of shades as well as dual-tones, such as purple-tipped yellow flowers and red-tipped orange flowers.

Tulips

The quintessential spring flower, tulips represent perfect love. As the national flower of Turkey, they symbolize affection and happiness. With more than 100 species, tulips are inexpensive and available in nearly every color choice, including dual-tones, when in season.

Filler

Nearly any variegated greenery can be used as a backdrop to make the flower stand out, but ivy, ferns, herbs, leaves and baby's breath are among the most common filler flowers. Rosemary, thyme and mint are often tucked in to bless the marriage with good luck and health. Embellishments range from berries and ribbons to seed pods and twigs.

What you’ll need:

• Flowers
• Greenery or filler flowers (or both!)
• Green floral tape
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Pin

1. Gather your flowers and arrange them in a small bouquet-like design. A boutonniere is typically smaller in size than a corsage, so be selective. Go for one main flower with accompanying greenery or filler flowers. Cut the stems to about 2 inches.
2. Starting at the base of the flowers, wrap the length of the stems with green floral tape. Wrap tightly. You should have a good idea what the final product will look like at this point.
3. Use ribbon to cover the green floral tape and add some color. Add a bow if desired.
4. Make any last-minute touches and it’s ready to wear. Secure your boutonniere to the lapel of your jacket by inserting the pin from behind the fabric, through the flower stem, right just below the bud, and then reinsert back into the fabric to avoid any unfortunate prom night accidents.

Tips to make your boutonniere last longer:

🌹Choose sturdy flowers and greenery that can withstand your presumably killer dance moves. Roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums are good options.

🌹Keep your flowers in water prior to putting together the boutonniere, to keep them fresh and happy as long as possible.

🌹Give your flowers a spray of a life-extending mist, like Clear Life, to give your blooms a few extra hours.

🌹If you don’t want to worry about ending the night with dead flowers on your chest (or if you want to use an out-of-season flower) use faux flowers in your boutonniere.