Wedding Flower Etiquette: Boutonniere And Corsage

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There are plenty of things for a bride to be stressed about on her wedding day, and the last thing she wants is someone being offended or disappointed at her wedding, especially if it is a close friend, relative or family member.

This is probably the reason why people plan and practice even the smallest of things, such as what the boutonnieres and corsages should look like, to how exactly to give them to the right people, and how to pin them right etc. Here are some basic things that one can keep in mind to avoid all the hassle on the wedding day:

Who Exactly Gets Them?

The groom gives corsages to the mother and the grandmothers of both the bride and the groom. These days, it is common for people to give them to close aunts, other close female family members, or even close friends of the bride. A corsage is a sign of deep love and appreciation, and closeness. Boutonnieres are meant to be worn by the groom and the Best Man. The groom himself is responsible to give these to the groomsmen.

Wearing Them Right

While for men, it is a simple thing that boutonnieres are meant to be worn on the left side of the chest, just right above the heart, pinned to the lapel on the tuxedo or the formal suit; there are plenty of options for women when it comes to corsages. Women can pin the corsage on their blazer like men, or can have them on their hair, or can have them on their wrists. Some brides like to plan before hand how they want the corsages to be worn by their bridesmaids. This is often decided based on what dresses the bridesmaids are wearing, and what is the color of the theme being followed on the wedding etc.

Not Messing Up!

It is important to ensure that nobody gets offended on the wedding day, especially when it comes to boutonnieres and corsages, because there is a lot of emotional value and sentiment attached to these. First and foremost, the bride and the groom must carefully plan out how many boutonnieres and corsages should be made, so that nobody is missed out. It is good to keep some extra ones, so that in case one gets damaged, a back up can be used without having to disappoint any near and dear one.

It is good to find out who is wearing what so that the corsages and the boutonnieres can be planned accordingly. The best is to keep them neutral colored, so that no guest feels offended with the color of the flowers clashing with the color of his/her dress.

For the bride, it is important to decide whether she wants all her bridesmaids to wear the corsages in a similar fashion, or whether she is flexible in having them wear anywhere they like. Some may throw tantrums that their hairstyle gets messed up, or their wrists start to itch or their dress might get spoilt because of the corsages, so it is best to plan out things in advance.

Last but not the least, it is good to practice pinning the boutonnieres and corsages carefully, so that you don’t damage a guest’s dress on the wedding. It is also good to check the corsages and boutonnieres properly before giving them, so that you can be sure there are no lose flowers that might fall and break the arrangement of the boutonniere or the corsage.

Photo Credit: Allyouneedtowear.com