Creating The Perfect Wedding Boutonniere: A Step-By-Step Guide

A boutonnière is a small but tight bouquet with a flower and a couple of sprigs. It is traditionally displayed on the lapel of a jacket and is a great way to make your floral design entirely cohesive. Making your own boutonnière is a great way to save money on your wedding and ensure your design is entirely unique. It is also a fun and simple project that can be completed in a few easy steps.

Choosing flowers and colours

Select Hearty Flowers

When choosing flowers for your boutonnière, opt for hearty blooms that can hold up without a water source. This will ensure that they stay fresh and vibrant throughout the wedding. Some popular options include spray roses, pansies, ranunculus, tulips, mums, calla lilies, billy balls, and carnations. You can also add small accompanying flowers or greenery such as baby's breath, ivy, eucalyptus, heather, Italian ruscus, Queen Anne's lace, or wax flowers.

Consider the Colour Palette

It's essential to choose colours that complement your wedding theme and floral arrangements. Try to stick to two to three colours to create a cohesive look without overwhelming the eye. You can either match the colours exactly or choose complementary shades that work well together. Consider the colour of the groom's and groomsmen's suits as well, to ensure the boutonnière stands out tastefully.

Add Greenery and Filler Flowers

When creating your boutonnière, don't forget to include some greenery and filler flowers. These elements will add texture and interest to your design. For greenery, you can use flat green leaves, ivy, eucalyptus, or Italian ruscus. For filler flowers, consider options such as baby's breath, statice, heather, or Queen Anne's lace. These smaller blooms will fill in any gaps and add depth to your arrangement.

Choose a Statement Flower

The focal flower of your boutonnière should be something special that stands out. A single statement flower, such as a rose or lily, can make a bold and elegant impact. You can also choose two smaller flowers as your focal point and tape them together to create a unique base. Just remember to select flowers that are not fragile and won't wilt easily, ensuring they remain fresh throughout the festivities.

Play with Different Combinations

Don't be afraid to experiment with different flower and colour combinations. Try layering the flowers and greenery in various ways until you find an arrangement that suits your vision. You can also add extra touches like ribbons, pins, or wire twists to enhance the overall design. Remember, the boutonnière is a fun and creative way to showcase your style and add a personal touch to your wedding attire.

Materials needed

The materials you will need to make a boutonniere depend on the type of flowers you choose and the design you want to create. Here is a list of the essential materials:

• Flowers: Choose hearty flowers that can hold up without a water source. You will need a statement bloom and 1-2 small accent blooms. Some popular options include spray roses, pansies, ranunculus, tulips, mums, and carnations.
• Greenery: Baby's breath, ivy, eucalyptus, heather, Italian ruscus, and wax flowers are great options to add interest and texture to your boutonniere.
• Floral scissors or stem cutters: These are used to cut the flower stems to the desired length.
• Floral tape: This is a must-have item, as it helps to seal the flower stems and prevent wilting.
• Ribbon (optional): If you want to cover up the floral tape, you can wrap a ribbon around the stems.
• Pins: These are used to affix the boutonniere to the lapel of the wearer's jacket.
• Wire (optional): If you are using thin flower stems, you can create a thicker stem by grouping two or three stems together and securing them with wire.
• Flower preservative spray (optional): This can help to keep your flowers looking fresh, especially if you are making the boutonniere ahead of time.

Once you have gathered all your materials, you can start creating your boutonniere by following the steps outlined in the various online guides.

Preparing flowers

Firstly, you will need to decide on the types of flowers and greenery you want to use. Flowers with small, dainty faces that are not too fragile and can hold up without a water source are best. Good options include spray roses, ranunculus, anthurium, pansies, tulips, mums, calla lilies, billy balls, and carnations. For greenery, you can use baby's breath, ivy, eucalyptus, heather, Italian ruscus, Queen Anne's lace, or wax flowers.

Once you have selected your flowers and greenery, gather all the materials you will need, including floral scissors or stem cutters, pins, floral tape, and ribbon (optional). If you are using real flowers, make sure to purchase them the day before or the day of the wedding to ensure freshness. When you get home, trim the stems on an angle about one inch from the original end and submerge the ends in cool water. Store them in a refrigerator until you are ready to start assembling your boutonniere.

Before assembling, clean your blooms by removing any dead or brown petals, thorns, or excess foliage. Leave about one inch of stem on each flower so that you have something to attach the boutonniere to the suit. If you are using real flowers, you will also need to wire and tape the stems to strengthen them and create a new, narrower stem. Cut an 8-inch piece of wire and stick it straight through the top of the stem of the flower. Fold the wire down and wrap it with tape, stretching the tape as you go to activate its stickiness.

Now you are ready to start assembling your boutonniere! Decide on one or two statement blooms, two to four smaller accent blooms, and your greenery. Cut all the stems to your desired length, usually around two to three inches. Make sure the stems are clean and remove any leaves from the lower parts. Start with the statement bloom and add the additional accents and greenery behind it. Play around with the arrangement until you are happy with the design.

Once you have settled on your design, wrap all the stems tightly with floral tape. Neatly trim the stems to the one-inch mark. If desired, wrap a ribbon around the floral tape, starting at the bottom and continuing until the base of the flowers. Secure the ribbon with a knot and a pin.

Arranging flowers

Choosing the Right Blooms

Select flowers that are not fragile and do not wilt easily. Hearty flowers that can hold up without a water source are ideal. Consider the overall floral design of your wedding and choose blooms that complement your colour palette and theme. You can opt for statement blooms like roses, ranunculus, anthurium, pansies, or tulips, paired with smaller accent flowers and greenery.

Preparing the Flowers

Before arranging, clean the stems by removing any excess thorns, damaged petals, or foliage. If there are any green leaves that can be used, set them aside. Cut the stems to a length of approximately 1-3 inches, depending on the size of your boutonnière. The ideal starting length is 2-3 inches, as you will need to trim the stems again once the arrangement is complete.

Creating the Arrangement

Start by placing the statement flower(s) first, then add the accent flowers and greenery behind or in front of it. Play around with the arrangement until you achieve the desired look. Remember, you can always rearrange the flowers until you find the perfect composition.

Wrapping and Trimming

Once you're happy with the arrangement, it's time to secure the stems with floral tape. Wrap the stems tightly, then neatly trim them to the desired length, usually around one inch. If you don't want the floral tape to be visible, you can cover it with a ribbon. Wrap the ribbon around the stems, starting from the bottom and moving upwards, then secure it with a knot or a small dab of hot glue.

Storing the Boutonnière

If you've made the boutonnière the morning of the wedding, keep it in a cool, dry place until it's time to pin it to the lapel. If you need to prepare it the night before, leave the stems exposed and place the boutonnière in a shallow cup of water, stored in a cool, dry place, but avoid the fridge. Some flowers may hold up better without water for 24 hours, so it's best to prepare delicate flowers on the day of the event.

Finishing touches

Once you've assembled your boutonnière, there are a few final steps to take to ensure it looks perfect and stays fresh.

Firstly, if you've used ribbon to decorate your boutonnière, you can secure it with a small amount of hot glue at the back. You can also use a pin to secure the ribbon and to affix the boutonnière to the lapel of the jacket. If you're using pins, you'll need around two to three pins, depending on the weight of the boutonnière. Push the pins through the base of the boutonnière and into the lapel of the jacket.

If you're making the boutonnière the day before, place it in a short glass with a shallow amount of water and store it in a cool, dry place. Avoid putting it in the fridge, as the gases emitted by produce can cause the blooms to wilt. If you're using more delicate flowers, it's best to prepare your boutonnières on the day of the event.

To add some extra flair to your boutonnière, you can leave some excess wire that's a little longer than the stems and twist it with a pen or pencil. You can also make a ribbon bow and secure it with hot glue.

Finally, always make an extra boutonnière or two in case one gets damaged or falls apart.

Frequently asked questions