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

Wedding buttonholes and corsages are floral accessories that add a stylish touch to the wedding party's outfits. The groom, groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers, and page boys typically wear buttonholes, while the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom often wear corsages. The colours and flowers used in these arrangements are chosen to complement the bride's bouquet or the bridesmaids' dresses. Corsages are usually larger than buttonholes and are worn on the right-hand side of the lapel, while buttonholes are worn on the left. This guide will take you through the process of creating beautiful and unique wedding buttonholes and corsages, ensuring that your wedding party looks their best on the big day.

Choosing flowers or other materials

Colour Scheme

The colour of the buttonholes and corsages can either complement or contrast with the wedding party's outfits. For example, pairing a deep purple flower with a grey suit and lilac cravat, or choosing flowers that mirror the colours in the bridal bouquet. You can also incorporate embellishments like foliage, wire, beads, and ribbon for a unique finish.

Flower Types

When selecting flowers, consider the size and type that will best suit the wearer. For groomsmen who may not typically wear flowers, opt for smaller blooms or substitutes like thistles, foliage, or herbs such as rosemary. For the groom, consider a unique buttonhole with two blooms or a special flourish. Popular flower choices for corsages include Singapore orchids, stephanotis, spray roses, and calla lilies.

Fabric and Accessories

If you want to avoid using fresh flowers, there are alternative options for buttonholes and corsages. Fabric flowers, feathers, buttons, and charms can be used to create long-lasting accessories that can be kept as mementos. You can also incorporate personalised touches, such as a photo charm, or choose artificial flowers that match your colour scheme.

Budget

Consider your budget when choosing flowers or other materials. Simple rose or carnation buttonholes can start from £4, while more expensive blooms like calla lilies or orchids can cost up to £8 each. Corsages, being more intricate, typically start at £12 each.

Allergies

An important consideration when choosing flowers is allergies. Ensure that the flowers you select do not cause any allergic reactions for the wedding party or guests who will be wearing them.

Colour coordination

For the men in the wedding party, the buttonhole arrangement can be selected to complement the groom's outfit and pop against it. For example, pairing a grey suit with a lilac cravat, one could choose a deep purple tulip or anemone, a silvery 'metalica' rose, or a sprig of lavender. Alternatively, the buttonhole can mirror the flowers in the bridal bouquet. This creates a cohesive look that ties the colour scheme together.

The buttonholes for the groomsmen do not have to match the groom's, and it is a nice touch to have a unique buttonhole for the groom, perhaps with two blooms instead of one or a slightly different flourish. The groomsmen's buttonholes can be complementary to the groom's, creating a unified look for the wedding party.

For the ladies, colour coordination is equally important. Corsages can be chosen to match the outfits of the mothers of the bride and groom, and if budget allows, the grandmothers, too. A white rose, such as the 'Akito' or 'Bianca', is a versatile option that complements most outfits. Wrist corsages and handbag corsages are also popular choices, offering a stylish way to showcase the flowers without pinning them directly to delicate fabrics.

Embellishments such as foliage, wire, beads, and ribbon can be creatively incorporated to add a unique finish and enhance the colour coordination of the buttonholes and corsages. These small details elevate the overall aesthetic and showcase attention to detail.

Who wears them

Wedding buttonholes and corsages are a great way to include the wedding party in the celebrations and ensure that everyone feels special. The groom's outfit is often completed by a stylish buttonhole, and these can be given to the best man, fathers of the bride and groom, ushers, grandfathers, and brothers. The groom can stand out with a unique flourish, a different flower, or two blooms instead of one. The colour of the buttonhole can either complement or contrast with the groom's outfit. For example, a grey suit with a lilac cravat could be complemented by a deep purple tulip or a sprig of lavender. Alternatively, the buttonhole can mirror the bridal bouquet.

For those who don't like flowers, smaller blooms or substitutes like thistles, foliage, or herbs can be used. Buttonholes are usually worn on the outside of the left lapel, secured with a pin from the back so it is invisible. Decorative pins can be shown off by pinning from the front.

Corsages are for the female members of the wedding party, usually the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom. They are similar to the male buttonholes but are usually slightly larger and can be worn on the right-hand side. Wrist and handbag corsages are also popular, and these can be created from sturdy, circular flowers like orchids or roses and finished with a wide ribbon.

How to wear them

How to Wear Wedding Buttonholes and Corsages

How to Wear a Buttonhole

Buttonholes are usually worn by the men in the wedding party, including the groom, groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers, and page boys. The groom's buttonhole is often more full and elaborate than the others. The buttonhole should be worn on the outside of the left lapel of the jacket, not in the buttonhole itself, with the stem of the flower pointing downwards and the flower head pointing upwards. The pin used to secure the buttonhole should be invisible from the front, but if you have a decorative pin that you want to show off, you can pin it from the front.

How to Wear a Corsage

Corsages are typically worn by the female members of the wedding party, such as the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom. Corsages are similar to buttonholes but usually slightly larger, consisting of a single flower or a small group of flowers. Corsages are usually affixed to the right-hand side of the garment, using a pearl-headed pin that is pushed through the back of the garment, the corsage, and then back through the garment. For delicate fabrics where pins may cause damage, corsage magnets are also available. Wrist and handbag corsages are also popular options. Wrist corsages should be made from sturdy, circular focal flowers and finished with a wide ribbon to tie around the wrist. Handbag corsages should be attached to a rigid part of the bag, such as the handle or the main body of the bag.

Attaching buttonholes and corsages

• Preparation: Wash your hands to avoid leaving any smudges or fingerprints on the outfits. Check that the flowers are facing the correct direction. The flower's stem should point downwards, with the head pointing upwards, towards the shoulder.
• Pinning: Push the pin through the fabric from the underside of the lapel and through the top of the stem, either diagonally or straight down. Then, re-weave the pin through the front of the lapel, as if making a stitch, and wiggle it to ensure security. If in doubt, use another pin for extra support.
• Magnets: As an alternative to pins, consider using magnets. This is especially useful if you are concerned about damaging delicate fabrics. Ask your florist to supply magnets for your buttonholes and corsages. You can place one magnet on the flower, and the other on the inside of the garment to hold it in place.
• Placement: For men, the buttonhole should be worn on the left-hand side, above the heart, with the stem pointing down the front of the jacket. For women, the corsage is usually worn on the right-hand side, either on the clothing or as a wrist or handbag accessory.

Remember to store the buttonholes and corsages in a cool, dark place before wearing, and ensure that the best man has extra pins for any last-minute adjustments.

Frequently asked questions