Buttonholes, all you need to know

Buttonholes

Many couples find the subject of buttonholes or boutonnieres quite confusing - what are they, who should have them, how do you wear them, how much should we budget for them? - so Whitewed approved florist Fi Passey of Corky and Prince Wedding & Event Flowers has created this quick guide for us.

• What are they?
• Who should have them?
• What flowers should we choose?
• How do you wear them?
• Pricing?

Styles of buttonholes have changed over the years but essentially they are a small flower with foliage that is designed to be worn on the jacket of a suit. In floristry terms, a buttonhole is a single flower such as a rose which is wired and taped so the stems are sealed and come to a neat point, whilst a boutonniere (from the French for button!) is a small group of flowers tied together with silk, ribbon or twine with the stems left visible. But don’t be put off by the terms - ask your florist for a buttonhole and they will know what you mean.

Now the etiquette is to provide buttonholes to the main men in the wedding party - the groom, best man, ushers, page boys and the Fathers of the bride and groom. You could extend this to your grandfathers and anyone doing a reading or a service for you such as driving the wedding cars but this would be an optional extra if budget allowed. Ladies can also wear buttonholes if their wedding outfit includes a jacket or bolero so if you have a best woman or female ushers, then include them in your plans.

The choice of flower is important because people, particularly the groom, will get a lot of hugs so choose flowers that will not wilt or get crushed before he walks down the aisle! At Corky and Prince, I recommend a focal flower in a colour that complements the bridal bouquet, together with some interesting seasonal accents such as thistles, feathers or seed heads to add texture and personal detail. Whilst roses make a great buttonhole, they are not the only option. In spring, tiny white narcissi are wonderful for a fresh white and green colour scheme whilst in late summer small sunflowers, zinnias and grasses are perfect for a rustic style wedding. Greenery is always added such as eucalyptus or herbs to create softness and a gentle scent.

The rule is simple - men wear buttonholes on the left hand lapel of their suit with the flower pointing up. The buttonhole is pinned from the underside of the lapel - (it does not go through the little buttonhole slit). Ladies buttonholes are worn on the right hand side, again with the pin hidden behind the fabric.

Buttonholes are time consuming to make so expect to pay anything from £7 to £15 each depending on the flower and style choice.

Thank you so much to Fi for her brilliant advice. You can find out more about Fi and Corky and Prince over on her directory page.

Happy planning!