Making a boutonniere is a delicate process that involves selecting flowers, trimming them to size, and assembling them in an aesthetically pleasing way. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a beautiful boutonniere:
Materials Needed
- Fresh flowers (such as roses, carnations, or orchids)
- Filler flowers (such as baby’s breath or greenery)
- Floral tape
- Floral wire
- Floral Glue
- Scissors or pruning shears
- Ribbon (optional)
- Corsage pins or straight pins
Step-by-Step Instructions
One of the most compelling reasons couples choose to DIY their wedding flowers is the potential for significant cost savings. Professional floral arrangements can be expensive, with costs running into thousands of dollars depending on the scale and complexity of the design. By opting to create your own arrangements, you can often cut these costs by half. This is primarily because:
- Choose Your Flowers:
Select a main flower for the boutonniere. Roses, carnations, and orchids are popular choices. You can also choose smaller flowers for fillers, such as baby’s breath, and some greenery. - Prepare the Flowers
Trim the Stems: Cut the stems of your flowers to about 1.5 to 2 inches long.
Remove Excess Foliage: Strip off any leaves or thorns from the stems to ensure they don’t interfere with the assembly. - Wire the Flowers
Cut a piece of floral wire about 6 inches long.
Insert the wire through the base of the flower’s calyx (the green part just below the petals) and pull it through until the flower is centered on the wire.
Bend the wire down so it lies along the stem, effectively creating a reinforced stem. - Arrange the Flowers
Start with your main flower in the center.
Add filler flowers and greenery around it. Hold the flowers in one hand and adjust them until you are happy with the arrangement. - Tape the Stems
Use floral tape to secure the stems and wires together. Start just below the flower head and wrap the tape tightly around the stems, working your way down.
Stretch the tape slightly as you wrap to ensure it adheres well. - Wrap with Ribbon (Optional)
For a more polished look, you can wrap the taped stems with a ribbon. Start at the top of the taped area and work your way down.
Secure the ribbon with a small dab of hot glue or a corsage pin. - Final Adjustments
Trim any excess stem or wire sticking out below the tape.
Ensure the boutonniere looks balanced and neat. - Pinning the Boutonniere
Use a corsage pin or straight pin to attach the boutonniere to the lapel of a jacket. Insert the pin from the back of the lapel, through the fabric, and into the boutonniere, ensuring it is securely fastened.
By following these steps, you can create a professional-looking boutonniere that adds a touch of elegance to any formal outfit.
Tips for Success
- Keep the boutonniere in a cool place until it’s time to wear it to prevent the flowers from wilting.
- If you’re making the boutonniere a day in advance, store it in the refrigerator inside a plastic bag to keep it fresh.
- Practice makes perfect. If it’s your first time, you might want to make a few practice boutonnieres before the event to get comfortable with the process.
Buy your flowers in bulk. We offer the convenience of purchasing bulk flowers to simplify the process of creating your own wedding flowers.