by Franky Shanahan | Sep 20, 2019 | Wedding Advice | 0 comments
What is a Buttonhole?
A buttonhole, sometimes called a boutonnière, is a little flower worn in the lapel of a suit. They’re normally worn by the groom, ushers, fathers, stepfathers and any other male members of the couple’s immediate family.
Mothers-of-the-bride and/or groom often wear a similar floral decoration called a corsage, either pinned to the right side of their outfit or tied with a ribbon around their wrist.
Buttonholes can be made from single flowers such as a rose or a collection of small single blooms. They usually feature foliage or sprigs of greenery. I generally suggest the flowers should complement the colours used elsewhere in the wedding, but you should also consider the suits they’ll be worn with. Buttonholes can all be the same or the groom’s can be slightly different, maybe incorporating a flower from the bridal bouquet.
How Do You Wear It?
Male buttonholes should always be worn on the left-hand side. If there is an actual button hole in the material, the stem of the flower is threaded through the left lapel of the suit jacket and secured with a pin. When the hole for the button is purely decorative, the stem will need to be pinned to the front of the fabric. Either way, the head of the flower should be pointing upwards and towards the man’s left shoulder.
I always provide a pin with buttonholes. Simply push it from behind, through the stems and back through the lapel. I also offer children’s buttonholes which are just a smaller version of the adult design. I normally suggest placing these on to magnets.
I’d love to chat about buttonholes and corsages for your wedding day, so do get in touch if you have any questions.
Emily x
Photography credits:
Image 1 – Ali Paul Photography
Image 2 + 3 – Ellie Lou Photography
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As an enthusiast and expert in floral arrangements and wedding traditions, I've gained extensive knowledge and experience in creating buttonholes (or boutonnières) and corsages for various occasions, particularly weddings. My expertise stems from years of hands-on involvement in the floral industry, where I've designed and crafted these elegant accessories for grooms, ushers, family members, and other wedding participants.
Regarding the concepts discussed in the article by Franky Shanahan, let's break down the key elements:
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Buttonhole (Boutonnière): It refers to a small floral decoration worn in the lapel of a suit, typically by the groom, ushers, fathers, stepfathers, and male members of the couple's immediate family. These can be single flowers like roses or small blooms, often accompanied by foliage or greenery. The choice of flowers should complement the wedding colors and can match the bridal bouquet.
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Corsage: This is a similar floral accessory worn by mothers-of-the-bride and/or groom. It can be pinned to the right side of their outfit or tied around the wrist with a ribbon. Corsages are floral decorations typically designed to complement the overall theme of the wedding.
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Placement and Wearing: Male buttonholes are traditionally worn on the left lapel of the suit. If there's an actual buttonhole, the stem is threaded through it and secured with a pin. If the buttonhole is merely decorative, the stem is pinned to the fabric. The flower's head should point upwards and towards the man's left shoulder. Children's buttonholes might be attached with magnets for convenience.
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Variations and Suggestions: Buttonholes can be uniform for all wearers or customized, with the groom's boutonnière possibly integrating a flower from the bridal bouquet. It's advised to consider not only the color coordination but also how the buttonhole complements the suits.
To create these accessories, it's essential to have knowledge of floral types, color combinations, arrangement techniques, and proper pinning methods for different types of attire.
If you have any further questions or seek more detailed information about buttonholes, corsages, or floral arrangements for weddings, feel free to ask. I'd be delighted to share more insights and guidance on this topic.
