Creating Wedding Button Holes: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding buttonholes, also known as boutonnieres, are a simple DIY project that can add a touch of elegance to the groom's outfit. They are also a great way to include the wedding flowers in photographs. Making your own boutonnieres is easy and can be done with a few simple tools and your choice of flowers and leaves. This guide will teach you how to create beautiful and textured wedding buttonholes, perfect for a relaxed and informal wedding.

Choosing flowers and foliage

The flowers and foliage you choose for your buttonholes will depend on the overall style of your wedding, the season, and your own personal taste. If you're having a bridal bouquet, you might want to use the same flowers in the buttonholes for a coordinated look.

For a simple and elegant buttonhole, choose one statement flower, such as a rose, and complement it with a few flat green leaves, like holly or rosemary. This classic combination will work well for a traditional wedding.

If you're having a more relaxed, informal wedding, you might want to create textured buttonholes with a variety of flowers and foliage. For example, you could use mint leaves, eucalyptus, hypericum berries, freesia, and even herbs like rosemary. The combination of different textures and colours will add interest and a unique touch to your buttonholes.

Consider the size and weight of your chosen flowers when selecting your materials. Heavier flowers will require thicker wire to support them, while more delicate flowers may need extra care and preparation on the day of the wedding.

Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different combinations of flowers and foliage to find the perfect arrangement for your special day.

Trimming stems and removing leaves

• Start by cutting each stem to the desired length. For most buttonholes, a stem length of approximately 9cm is ideal, but you can always trim it shorter later if needed.
• Remove any unwanted leaves from the stems. This will create a cleaner look and help the chosen flowers stand out.
• With statement flowers, you may want to strip off any outer petals or leaves that are not perfect in colour or shape. For example, with a white rose, you can remove the green leaves surrounding the bud and any outer petals that are not pristine white.
• Leave about an inch of stem on the statement flower to ensure there is something to pin the buttonhole securely to the suit.
• After trimming and removing leaves, you may choose to wire each stem to strengthen delicate flowers and make placement more flexible. This step is optional but can be helpful for certain types of flowers.
• Finally, tape each wired stem to cover the wire and assist in holding moisture for the flower. Stretch and pull the floral tape downward, twirling the stem to ensure a tight wrap without any gaps.

By carefully trimming the stems and removing leaves, you can create a polished and elegant look for your wedding buttonholes.

Layering flowers and foliage

When creating a buttonhole, the choice of flowers and foliage is entirely yours. You can use a few flat green leaves and one statement flower, or a combination of herbs and flowers. For example, you could use a piece of holly, a sprig of rosemary, and a white rose, or a combination of mint leaves, rosemary, eucalyptus cinerea, hypericum berries, mint, and freesia.

Before you begin layering, trim your flowers to the required length, removing any unwanted leaves and cutting each stem to approximately 9cm. You can always make the stems shorter later.

Now you are ready to start layering. First, layer your flat green leaf, then the rosemary, and then the rose on top. Position them roughly as you want them to sit in the finished buttonhole. Alternatively, if you are using the combination of herbs and flowers suggested above, start with your focal flower (usually the largest), in this case, the freesia, and add each of your other flowers by taping the stems together. Remember that this will be placed on a lapel, so all flowers must face the same way.

Once you are happy with the positioning, use florist tape to wrap the flowers together tightly. Cover the florist tape with ribbon and secure it with tape at the back or with a small dab of hot glue.

Using florist tape to secure the flowers

To secure flowers for a wedding buttonhole, florist tape is essential. This tape helps to hold the flowers together tightly and keeps them facing the same way.

Firstly, trim your flowers, leaving about an inch of stem on each, which will be used to pin the buttonhole to the suit. Layer the flowers and position them as you want them to sit.

Florist tape is then used to wrap the flowers together tightly. This is done by wrapping the tape around the stems, pulling and stretching it downward, and twirling the stems to ensure the tape is tight and secure with no gaps. Cover the florist tape with ribbon, securing it with a small amount of glue or tape at the back.

The buttonhole can be stored in the fridge overnight, but bear in mind that some flowers will need to be prepared on the day as they are more delicate and cannot go without water for 24 hours.

Adding ribbon or twine for decoration

Firstly, choose your ribbon or twine. You can opt for a colour that complements the flowers you have chosen or go for something more subtle like ivory or green. The width of the ribbon is also important – you don't want it to be too wide or too narrow for the size of the buttonhole. Once you have selected your ribbon or twine, cut it to an appropriate length, leaving enough to work with.

Next, take your prepared flowers. You should have already trimmed the stems to the required length and secured them with floral tape. Place the ribbon or twine at the base of the stems and start wrapping it upwards, covering the tape. You can use hot glue or regular tape to secure the end of the ribbon/twine at the back, ensuring it doesn't unravel.

If you want to add a decorative bow, cut a separate piece of ribbon and form a loop, securing it with a small piece of wire or glue. You can then attach this to the base of the buttonhole, hiding any visible tape or glue. This adds a charming, whimsical touch to the design.

For a rustic or informal wedding, twine is a perfect choice. Simply wrap the twine around the stems in the same way you would with ribbon, securing it at the back. You can also leave the ends of the twine hanging down for a more relaxed look.

Remember to handle the flowers with care to avoid damaging them, especially if you are using delicate blooms that cannot be prepared too far in advance.

Frequently asked questions