Boutonnieres are the ultimate finishing touch to a gentleman's
outfit and provide a sense of style.

Here are some tips on how to make sure that the guys in your
wedding party look fantastic.

Types of Flower

Roses are the most popular flower for a boutonniere, but don't
feel that you have to follow tradition. Other flowers that work
well include stephanotis, tulips and orchids. If you are on a
budget, carnations are a good choice.

Choosing Your Boutonnieres

The colour of your boutonnieres can be chosen to either contrast
or complement the colour of the groom's outfit. For instance a
black morning suit with a burgundy cravat could be complemented
by a burgundy boutonniere made from a tulip, calla lily or rose.

Alternatively, you could arrange for boutonnieres to be made that
mirror the flowers in the bride's bouquet.

Who Should Have Boutonnieres?

It is common for the bridegroom, best man, ushers/groomsmen and
fathers of the bride and bridegroom to all have boutonnieres.
Some couples also like to make boutonnieres available to all who
attend the wedding ceremony, but this will be dependant on your
budget.

To mark him out as special, the bridegroom often has a slightly
different boutonniere to the rest of the wedding party. It maybe
a different colour, or the florist may put elaborate
embellishments on it such as decorative beads, diamante, or
additional blooms.

How to Wear Your Boutonnieres

The boutonniere is worn on the gentleman's left lapel. It should
be worn on the outside of the buttonhole, and not in it. It is
common to secure it in place by using a pearl-headed pin from the
back of the lapel. This can be done in such a way that the pin
will then be invisible from the front.

Weddings are generally focused on how special the bride looks.
Boutonnieres are an inexpensive way to ensure that the groom
looks and feels special too.

About the Author

Paul Ajao is co-founder of wedding florists Pure Botanics. For
great ideas on creating beautiful bouquets, centerpieces and
boutonnieres for your wedding,