Creating A Rose Boutonniere For Your Wedding Day

A rose boutonnière is a great way to make your wedding's floral design entirely cohesive. It's also a simple DIY project that can save you money. To make a rose boutonnière, you'll need a few materials, including floral scissors or stem cutters, pins, floral tape, and ribbon. You'll also want to choose a rose that can hold up without a water source, such as a spray rose. The process involves trimming the rose, layering it with greenery, wrapping the stems with floral tape, and then adding a ribbon. It's important to create the boutonnière as close to the wedding ceremony as possible to ensure freshness, and to store it in a cool, dry place until it's ready to be pinned to the lapel of the wearer's jacket.

Choosing flowers: Select a statement flower and complementary blooms and greenery

When choosing flowers for your wedding boutonnière, it's important to select blooms that are not only visually appealing but also hardy and able to hold up without a water source.

For the statement flower, opt for a small, dainty bloom such as a rose, ranunculus, anthurium, or pansy. You can also get creative and use non-traditional elements like fruit or feathers. If you want to include a statement flower that is larger or more delicate, consider using silk flowers, which can be a great keepsake and often have stems that are easier to work with.

To complement your statement flower, choose two to three smaller accent blooms or greenery. Baby's breath, ivy, eucalyptus, heather, Italian ruscus, Queen Anne's lace, and wax flowers are all excellent choices. These additions will enhance your statement flower without overwhelming it.

When selecting your flowers, consider the overall colour scheme and floral design of your wedding. Try to choose flowers that blend well with the bridal bouquet and other floral arrangements. If you're feeling creative, you can also use dried florals with a splash of greenery for a unique, hearty choice.

With careful selection and arrangement, your wedding boutonnière will be a beautiful and cohesive addition to the floral design of your special day.

Trimming and preparing: Cut and clean stems, removing leaves and thorns

Trimming and preparing the stems of your chosen flowers is an important step in creating a rose boutonnière for a wedding. This process involves cutting the stems to the desired length and ensuring they are clean and free of any unwanted leaves or thorns. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, use a sharp floral stem cutter or floral snips to cut your rose stems to a length of around 2 to 3 inches. This length is ideal for working with and will allow for easier arrangement.

Next, ensure that the stems are clean and free of any leaves or thorns that may be present. Carefully remove any leaves from the lower parts of the stems, as these can interfere with the arrangement and the overall aesthetic of the boutonnière.

If you are using roses, it is important to remove the thorns from the stems. This step ensures that the boutonnière is comfortable to wear and prevents any snags or damage to the fabric of the jacket it will be pinned to.

After cutting and cleaning the stems, you may want to consider strengthening the rose stems, especially if they are a bit flimsy. You can do this by using floral wire to provide extra support. Take a piece of floral wire, about 8 inches long, and insert it straight through the top of the rose stem. Fold the wire down and wrap it with floral tape, creating a faux narrow stem. Stretching the tape as you wrap will activate its stickiness and ensure a firm hold.

By properly trimming and preparing your rose stems, you will not only improve the overall appearance of your boutonnière but also help to ensure that it sits securely and comfortably on the lapel of the wearer's jacket.

Arranging: Position flowers and greenery to your liking

Now that you've gathered your flowers and greenery, it's time to create your arrangement. Start by positioning your chosen flowers and greenery to your liking. You can follow these steps to guide you:

• Choose a statement flower, such as a rose, and make it the focal point of your arrangement.
• Add your greenery or smaller accent flowers behind the statement flower. Play around with different types of greenery and accent flowers until you find a combination that complements your statement flower.
• You can also add an accent flower or a small piece of greenery in front of the statement flower to create a layered effect.
• Don't be afraid to experiment and rearrange the flowers and greenery until you find an arrangement that you're happy with.

Remember, there is no single correct way to arrange your boutonnière, so feel free to get creative and make it your own. You can always refer back to the inspiration you gathered during your research for guidance, but ultimately, you should trust your instincts and create an arrangement that reflects your unique style.

Wrapping: Secure with florist/floral tape and ribbon

Once you have gathered your flowers and greenery, cut your stems to your desired length—a stem length of 2-3 inches is ideal. Make sure the stems are clean and remove any leaves from the lower parts. You can use floral wire to give them some extra support if your stems are a bit flimsy.

Now, you can create your arrangement. Start with the statement bloom and add additional accents and greenery behind it. Play around with the arrangement until you're happy with how it looks. You can also add an accent flower in front, for example.

When you've settled on your design, it's time to wrap your boutonnière in florist/floral tape. Wrap the stems tightly and then neatly trim the stems to the one-inch mark. If you want to cover the floral tape, you can wrap a ribbon around it, starting at the bottom and continuing to the base of the flowers. Secure the ribbon with a knot and a pin, or with a small dab of hot glue.

Storing: Keep cool and dry until the wedding

Storing your DIY rose boutonnière correctly is essential to ensure it stays fresh for the wedding. Here are some detailed tips to keep your creation in top condition:

Keep it cool and dry

It is best to avoid storing your rose boutonnière in the fridge. Floral designer Erice McNeff advises leaving it somewhere cool and dry, such as a basement or cellar, if you need to store it overnight. The ideal temperature for flower storage is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Avoid the fridge

Although it may be tempting to pop your boutonnière in the fridge to keep it cool, this can actually do more harm than good. The gases emitted by produce can cause your blooms to wilt and deteriorate.

Store in a shallow cup of water

If you've made your boutonnière the night before the wedding, you can help keep it fresh by placing the stems in a shallow cup of water. This will provide the flowers with some hydration to keep them perky and vibrant.

Store in a cool, dark place

If you don't have a cool, dry space available, you can store your rose boutonnière in the fridge, but make sure it's in a dark area, such as a vegetable drawer. This will help to maintain a consistent temperature and protect the flowers from direct light, which can cause them to fade or wilt.

Timing is key

The best time to make your rose boutonnière is the morning of the wedding. This ensures the flowers are fresh and vibrant for the ceremony. However, if you need to make it the night before, be sure to follow the storage tips above to keep it looking its best.

By following these storage tips, you can ensure that your DIY rose boutonnière stays beautiful and fresh until it's time to be proudly displayed on the lapel of the lucky wearer.

Frequently asked questions