Deborah Chan
Wedding buttonholes are small flower arrangements worn on the lapel of a suit jacket. They are usually worn by the groom, groomsmen, best man, ushers, fathers of the bride and groom, and page boys. While buttonholes are traditionally worn by men in the bridal party, they can also be worn by women, including the bride, mothers, grandmothers, and other female relatives or guests. The colour and type of flowers in a buttonhole arrangement are typically selected to complement the bride's bouquet and other floral arrangements at the wedding, but they should also stand out against the groom's outfit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who wears a buttonhole | The groom, groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers, page boys, and other male guests |
| In some cultures, female guests may also wear buttonholes, which are called corsages | |
| In the past, all guests wore buttonholes to distinguish the bride's and groom's sides | |
| When to wear a buttonhole | During weddings and other formal events |
| Where to wear a buttonhole | On the left lapel of the suit jacket with the flower head pointing upwards |
| How to attach a buttonhole | With a pin that pierces through the suit's fabric and is secured behind the lapel |
| The pin should not be visible unless it is decorative | |
| The hole at the left side of the suit is usually sewn shut, so it is not necessary to cut it open | |
| Align the stem of the buttonhole with the hole and secure it with the pin | |
| Ask your florist to assist in attaching the buttonhole | |
| Ensure the best man has extra pins | |
| Types of buttonholes | Flowers, silk flowers, fabric, feathers, buttons, charms, and other nick-nacks |
| Buttonholes can be customised to suit the wearer's taste | |
| They can be matched to the wedding's colour scheme or the bride's bouquet |
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What You'll Learn
Who should wear a buttonhole?
While buttonholes are not compulsory at weddings, they are a stylish accessory traditionally worn by the men in the wedding party, such as the groom, groomsmen, best man, fathers, grandfathers, ushers, and page boys. The groom typically wears a buttonhole that matches the bride's bouquet or the wedding's colour scheme and floral arrangements.
Female buttonholes, also known as corsages, are traditionally worn by women in the wedding party, including the bride, mothers, grandmothers, and other close female relatives or friends. Corsages can be pinned to the right side of the outfit or tied with a ribbon around the wrist.
In the past, buttonholes were used to distinguish certain guests at a wedding, with carnations representing the bride's side and red flowers representing the groom's side. Today, the couple can decide whether to include buttonholes for only the groom, the entire wedding party, or all guests. Ultimately, the decision to wear a buttonhole is up to the individual, and it can be customised to suit one's taste and style.
When wearing a buttonhole, it is typically pinned to the left lapel of the suit jacket with the flower head pointing upwards. It is recommended to have extra pins on hand, as they may come loose during the festivities.
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What is a buttonhole?
A buttonhole is a small flower arrangement worn as an accessory on the lapel of a tuxedo or suit jacket. It is typically worn by the groom, best man, ushers, fathers, grandfathers, page boys, and ring bearers. The mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom often wear a similar floral decoration, known as a corsage, pinned to the right side of their outfit or tied with a ribbon around their wrist.
Buttonholes are usually secured by a pin that pierces through the suit's fabric and is secured behind the lapel. The pin should not show unless it is decorative. The hole at the left side of the suit is usually sewn shut, and the stem of the buttonhole is aligned with the hole and secured with the pin. It is important to consider the weight of the buttonhole to ensure it is correctly attached and does not cause the lapel to flop over.
The colour and flowers of the buttonhole arrangement are typically selected to complement the bride's bouquet and other floral arrangements. They can also be chosen to match the wedding's colour scheme or the groom's suit. For example, a pink buttonhole can be worn with a deep blue suit, or a dark blue buttonhole can be worn with a light blue suit.
Buttonholes are not compulsory and couples can decide to have only the groom or all guests wear one. In the past, buttonholes were used to distinguish certain guests at a wedding, with carnations indicating which side of the wedding party the guest was on.
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How to attach a buttonhole
Wedding buttonholes are small arrangements of flowers worn on the lapel of suits at weddings. They are usually worn by the groom, best man, ushers, father-of-the-bride, father-of-the-groom, and page boy or ring-bearer. The mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom often wear a similar floral decoration, a lapel or wrist corsage, pinned to the right side of their outfit or tied with a ribbon around their wrist.
Now, onto the main question: how to attach a buttonhole. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Buttonholes are typically attached by a pin. The pin should be pushed through a small piece of fabric on your lapel, near or beside your buttonhole. Ensure that the pin is secure, but that most of its length is still free.
- Slide your buttonhole, with the flowers facing forward, onto the pin.
- Florists often tape and wire buttonholes to make them last longer and to give them a more traditional look.
- It is ideal to have one person attach all of the buttonholes to ensure consistency in placement.
- The ideal placement for a buttonhole is over the heart, so it should be attached lower down on the lapel.
- If you are sewing a buttonhole, it is important to be patient and carefully mark and measure beforehand.
- You can thread a needle and tie a knot, bringing the needle up from the backside of the material.
- Loop the thread through the buttonhole and back up through the material.
- Pass the needle through the loop and pull it snug.
- Repeat this process at close intervals, continuing around the perimeter of the buttonhole slit until all raw edges are covered firmly and smoothly.
- You can roll the raw edge slightly as you stitch if desired.
There you have it! A step-by-step guide to attaching a buttonhole for a wedding.
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Choosing the colour of your buttonhole
The colour of the buttonhole flowers is usually chosen to match the bridal bouquet or the rest of the wedding flowers. However, you may also want to consider how the buttonhole will complement or contrast with the suit it will be worn with. For example, a grey suit with a lilac cravat could be complemented by a deep purple tulip or anemone, or contrasted with a silvery 'metallica' rose or a sprig of lavender.
If you want a uniform look to your wedding, you can coordinate the corsages with the men's buttonholes. A white rose, such as an 'Akito' or 'Bianca', will complement most outfits. You can also add embellishments such as foliage, wire, beads, or ribbon to give your buttonholes a unique finish.
If you're looking for something more imaginative or modern, you can choose buttonholes made from seasonal blooms, aromatic herbs, or even artificial flowers. You can also incorporate your own personal style, whether that's through colour choices or unique designs. For a rustic or country-style wedding, using berries in your buttonhole is a great option.
Ultimately, the choice of buttonhole colour is up to you and can be tailored to your preferences and the overall theme of your wedding.
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Alternatives to flowers
While the buttonhole is a long-standing wedding tradition, it is not a requirement. If you are looking for alternatives to flowers for your wedding buttonholes, there are plenty of options to choose from.
One option is to use aromatic foliage such as rosemary or lavender, or sprigs of olive, which will add a pleasant scent to the day. You could also use pampas grass, feathers, or thistle-like blooms like echinops or eryngium. Mini-succulents can also make a unique buttonhole, and will last long after the wedding. For a more rustic look, dried wheat is a good option, and won't wilt throughout the day.
If you want to add a personal touch, you could use book pages or patterned paper, or add a Scrabble tile with your initials. For a fun twist, you could include Lego or fantasy figures, or for fans of darker alternative culture, there are plenty of quirky options available on Etsy, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Dr Who-themed buttonholes.
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Frequently asked questions
No, a buttonhole at a wedding is not compulsory. However, they are traditionally worn by the men in the wedding party, such as the groom, groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers, and page boys.
Women in the wedding party can also wear buttonholes, which are commonly called corsages. These include the bride, mothers, grandmothers, and other female family members or guests.
Buttonholes are typically attached to the left lapel of the suit jacket with a pin, with the flower head pointing upwards. The pin should be secured behind the lapel and should not be visible unless it is decorative.
