Creating Wedding Corsages And Boutonnieres: A Step-By-Step Guide

Corsages and boutonnieres are small flower arrangements that hold significant meaning and are traditionally worn by VIPs at weddings. Making your own corsages and boutonnieres is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your wedding. This guide will teach you how to make these flower arrangements, including the materials you will need, the steps to follow, and expert tips for creating beautiful and long-lasting floral pieces.

Choosing flowers and greenery

Corsages usually consist of a single or multiple-flower bouquet, with anywhere between 1 to 5 flowers being used. They can be attached to a clasp or ribbon and tied to the wearer's wrist, or they can be pinned directly to the dress. When choosing flowers for a corsage, it is important to consider the colour of the dress it will be paired with. You don't want to pick flowers that will clash with the dress and ruin the overall aesthetic of the attire. Roses, gardenias, orchids, and carnations are all good options as they are sturdy and don't wilt or fade quickly. If you are making a corsage for a flowy dress, it is important to keep the arrangement light so that it doesn't pull on the dress.

Boutonnieres, on the other hand, are typically smaller flower arrangements that are affixed to the wearer's clothing. They can be inserted into the buttonhole of a suit jacket's left lapel or pinned to the lapel. White roses and calla lilies are the most popular blooms used in boutonnieres, but a variety of other flowers and greenery may be used, including orchids, ranunculuses, and dahlias. When choosing flowers for a boutonniere, consider the overall theme of the wedding and the type of flowers being used in other arrangements.

Whether you are making corsages or boutonnieres, it is important to choose flowers that are sturdy and will last through the day. This is especially important if you are making these arrangements ahead of time.

Trimming and preparing stems

Trimming and preparing the stems is an important step in creating a corsage or boutonnière. The length of the stems will depend on whether you are making a boutonnière or a corsage, and also the type of flower. For a boutonnière, cut each flower stem to a length of 1.5 inches. For a corsage, you may want to cut the stems slightly longer, at 2 to 3 inches. This will allow you to create a small bouquet that can be attached to a wristband or pin.

Once you have cut the stems to the desired length, you will need to remove any leaves or foliage from the lower half of each stem. This will make it easier to secure the flowers with floral tape and ribbon. It is important to strip off any extra leaves as they will get in the way when you are attaching the corsage or boutonnière to clothing.

After trimming and preparing the stems, you will be ready to start assembling your flowers. For a boutonnière, you will arrange the lateral greenery and focal flowers first, and then add the filler flowers. For a corsage, you will usually start with the focal flower and greenery, and then add the filler flowers.

Attaching flowers and foliage

• For a boutonnière: Start by gathering your flowers and greens. Typically, you'll need a lateral greenery, such as myrtle stems, along with filler flowers and focal flowers. Filler flowers have smaller blooms and serve to fill gaps, while focal flowers are the stars of the show.
• Cut the stems: Once you have your flowers, cut each stem to a length of approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). This ensures they are a suitable size for your boutonnière.
• Remove extra leaves: Strip off any leaves and foliage from the lower half of each stem. This creates a neat appearance and makes room for the floral tape.
• Arrange the flowers and greenery: Place one to two stems of lateral greenery behind your focal flower(s). This forms the base of your boutonnière. Securely tape them together using floral tape.
• Add filler flowers: Place a stem of filler between the greenery and focal flower to add depth and dimension. Secure this addition with more floral tape.
• Continue layering: You can now add another type of filler flower or an additional focal flower if desired. Keep layering greenery, focal flowers, and fillers until you achieve the desired look. Tape all the stems together, leaving the bottom half of the stems exposed.
• Finish with ribbon and pins: Wrap the taped stems in a ribbon of your choice. Start at the bottom of the taped section and work your way up. Finish with a knot, and secure it with a pin.
• Pin to the lapel: Boutonnières are typically affixed to the left lapel of a jacket, close to the heart. They can be inserted into a buttonhole or pinned directly to the lapel or shirt.
• For a corsage: Gather your flowers and greens, ensuring they complement the dress colour and theme. You'll typically need one to two focal flowers and some greenery.
• Cut and prepare the stems: As with the boutonnière, cut the stems to a length of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). Remove any leaves from the bottom half of the stems to make wrapping easier.
• Arrange the flowers and greenery: Layer one to two stems of greens behind your focal flower(s) and secure them with floral tape.
• Add filler flowers: Place a filler flower between the greenery and focal flower, taping it securely. Then, add your second, larger filler flower, if desired.
• Create a bow: Cut a generous amount of ribbon (about three feet) and form a bow. You can use any type of ribbon, but lightly wired ribbon will hold its shape better. Secure the bow to the stems with floral wire and hide the wire by sticking a boutonnière pin through it.
• Finish with ribbon and pins: Wrap the floral tape and stems in the ribbon of your choice, starting from the bottom and working upwards. Finish with a knot.
• Attach to the wrist or dress: Corsages can be attached to the wrist with a wrist-length ribbon, elastic, or pin. If pinning to the dress, place it on the left side of the chest, near the heart. For delicate or heavily beaded dresses, a wrist corsage is often preferred.

Adding ribbon, lace, or beads

For a corsage, you can tie a bow with the ribbon, and secure it to the stems of the flowers with tape. Position the bow in the middle of your arrangement, so it sits nicely when worn. You can also use a pretty silk ribbon, or lace, to wrap around the stems of the flowers, covering them and adding a delicate touch. This is also a neat way to finish off a boutonnière, with the ribbon of your choice, starting at the bottom of the taped stems and wrapping up to the base of the flowers. You can then tie it off in a knot, or secure it with a pin.

If you want to add a touch of glamour to your corsage, you could use a beaded ribbon, or even a strand of pearls, to add a little weight and movement to the arrangement. You could also add a flourish of lace, or a pretty bow, to the wristband of a wrist corsage. For a more natural, rustic look, you could use a length of twine, or natural fibre ribbon, to secure the flowers.

For boutonnieres, you could add a tiny bow just below the blossoms, or a small cluster of beads, to give a touch of couture to the arrangement. You could also use a pin with a beaded or jewelled head to secure the boutonnière to the lapel, adding a little extra sparkle.

Pinning or tying the corsage/boutonniere

Pinning or tying the corsage/boutonnière is the final step in the process of making these floral arrangements. Corsages are typically pinned to the lapel of a woman's clothing or tied around her wrist. Traditionally, they were pinned to the bodice of a woman's dress, but trends have changed and now they are usually worn to the side of the chest, closer to the heart. For dresses with spaghetti straps, a wrist corsage is preferred. Corsages are usually attached to a clasp or ribbon and then tied in place. When pinning a corsage to a dress, be mindful of the fabric and opt for a wrist corsage if the dress is heavily beaded or delicate.

Boutonnières, on the other hand, are typically affixed to the left lapel of a suit jacket or attached directly above the heart. They can also be inserted into the buttonhole of the suit jacket's left lapel, in keeping with the French origin of the word, which means 'buttonhole'. In the absence of a buttonhole, the flowers can be arranged on a pin or magnet and attached to the vest or dress shirt.

When pinning or tying a corsage or boutonnière, it is important to ensure that they are secure and do not damage the fabric of the clothing. For delicate outfits, try pinning the corsage through the fabric and the wearer's bra strap. To prevent the pin from poking the skin, place a rubber earring back on the part of the pin that is closest to the skin.

Frequently asked questions