Corsage Etiquette For Proms and Weddings - FTD.com (2024)

FAQs

Do people still wear corsages at weddings? ›

Corsages are often worn by the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom, as well as sisters, bridesmaids and flower girls. However, there's no strict rule about who wedding corsages apply to — some couples even ask all of their female guests to wear one.

Mothers and Grandmothers

It's important to remember family members on your wedding flower list. Traditionally, mothers and grandmothers will wear a corsage with two or three blooms, worn either on the wrist or pinned to their left lapel. Alternatively, they can carry a miniature bouquet or a single stem.

Traditionally, the male brings his date a corsage when he picks her up for prom or a homecoming dance, and the female brings the boutonniere. Of course, females can buy their own corsages, too. Or friends can purchase corsages or boutonnieres for each other if they're going in a group.

It is customary to give your date a corsage or boutonniere when attending the prom. Ladies wear a corsage, gentlemen wear a boutonniere. This tradition comes from a time period, long ago, when flowers were worn to make one smell heavenly while dancing with a partner.

A wrist corsage is only as old-fashioned as its design. To give it a modern look, try a flower that is big and elegant, like a gardenia or a flat garden rose, and opt for a ribbon base over an elastic band. Or, try something entirely different, like a flower tucked in the back of upswept hair.

Additionally, “Boutonnieres and corsages are no longer necessary—they are a little outdated—corsages more so than boutonnieres.

The groom's family is responsible for corsages and boutonnieres for immediate members of both families, the lodging of the groom's attendants (if you have offered to help pay for this expense), and sometimes the costs of the rehearsal dinner.

But who wears a corsage at a wedding? While the bride and her bridesmaids typically carry bouquets, other female family members and close friends may be given corsages to wear.

Ladies wear a button hole / corsage on their right

And this is the bit most people don't know. Ladies wear the flower differently to the men, on the opposite side. But it doesn't stop there – a lady should have the flowers pointing downwards. So the stem should be pointing towards her shoulder.

When attending prom with a date, it is customary to give your date a corsage or boutonniere. Ladies traditionally wear a corsage. Gentlemen traditionally wear a boutonniere. The keyword here is, “tradition.” It's perfectly okay to break from traditions and dare to think of flowers as your unique fashion accessory.

Are corsages and boutonnieres supposed to match? ›

The corsage is often paired with a boutonniere, a small floral arrangement that goes on the lapel of a suit. Typically, the boutonniere and corsage are in matching or complementary colors or flower arrangements, but that can depend on the coordination of the pair.

Benefits of a Bouquet

Here are reasons you may want to choose a bouquet for prom: A bouquet looks amazing in prom photos. More flowers are in a bouquet floral arrangement than in a corsage. You don't have to wear the bouquet on your wrist all night.

It's best to order your corsage at least a week before your prom night. Especially if you have a customized corsage, you'll want to give the florist plenty of time to make it. As for picking up the corsage, this will occur the day of prom since it a live flower arrangement and you want it to be fresh.

Fasten it to a hook or hanger, and hang in a cool, dry place with good circulation. It's best to keep the corsage out of direct sunlight as it dries, in order to minimize fading.

The wrist corsage, also known as the bracelet corsage, is the most popular prom style. A wrist corsage is a small arrangement, usually three or four flowers or perhaps even a single flower and is typically worn on the left wrist.

Traditionally, given by her date there are two main choices. They are wrist or pinned corsages. If your dress has sleeves, you can pin to it. For strapless or sleeveless dresses, a wrist corsage will work best.

Usually the corsage is worn on the left wrist since most people are right-handed. But this rule is not set in stone. It is best to ask your date which wrist she would like to wear the corsage.

Function. Corsages are worn to honor people, such as recipients of awards, or for other special occasions. At a baby shower, the mother- to-be is honored with a corsage that is usually pink or blue for the baby's gender or both if the gender is not known.

Parents of the bride and groom collectively contribute about $19,000 to the wedding, or about two-thirds of the total cost, according to WeddingWire. The bride's parents give an average $12,000, and the groom's, $7,000. Just 1 in 10 couples pays for the wedding entirely on their own, according to TheKnot.com.

How much should I give my daughter for her wedding? ›

The average wedding gift amount hovers right around $100, which is a great place to start, and you can increase or decrease that based on how close you are. If you're very close or related to the couple (and have the wiggle room in your budget), you may choose to spend more—about $150 per guest (or $200 from a couple).

Traditionally the corsage would be pinned to the right lapel of a jacket or coat which worked well when a suit was the accepted wear for Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom.

The groom, groomsmen, the bride's dad, the groom's dad, the ring bearer, any ushers, both sets of grandfathers, a male officiant, and any male readers should all wear a boutonniere, which is pinned to the left lapel.

There's no rule that says mothers of the bride and groom have to wear a floral corsage. If your mommas are more into bling and glitz, present them with an embellished brooch instead!

Stepmothers: Don't forget a corsage for your stepmother as well! If you're giving a corsage to your mom and your stepmom, you can choose to do the same for each or slightly different variations that compliment each other well.

Significance. In weddings, the corsage identifies members or family of the wedding party. The mothers' and grandmothers' corsages are usually different from corsages in the wedding party. The magnolia is a popular corsage for the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom.

Female Attendants: If you have any female attendants at your wedding (think ceremony readers and house party members), giving them a corsage is a thoughtful option, but not mandatory. Other Close Friends and Family: Ultimately, it's up to you who gets a corsage!

Always place the corsage on the right hand side. Your corsage should also be tilted upside down, so the stems will be pointing up and the flowers pointing down regardless where you decide to wear it. Top Tip. Ask your florist to supply magnets for your corsage and buttonholes.

What is the corsage tradition? ›

A gentleman would offer his date a corsage as a gift for attending a special event, such as a dance. He would show respect to his date's parents by offering a bouquet of flowers and would usually pin a flower from the bouquet to the date's dress. In this sense, corsages symbolized attachment to another person.