How to Make a Boutonnière in Six Simple Steps

Wedding planning comes with a whole list of boxes to check off, and amongst those to-dos is choosing your florals. From lush centerpieces to altar adornments and bridal bouquets, the list of wedding floral options can seem a bit overwhelming. However, if you’re crafty or obsessed with DIY, there are a few items you may be able to tackle on your own, including the boutonnière.

A boutonnière, traditionally displayed on the lapel of a jacket, is a great way to make your floral design entirely cohesive. You may opt to have just one person wear a boutonnière, or you may choose to make several so all of the men involved in the wedding can don them, from the groom and groomsmen to any male family members, along with your ring bearer.

With this in mind, we thought it would be helpful to provide an easy-to-follow guide on how to create a boutonnière for your special day. Read on as floral designer Erice McNeff shares six simple steps to follow that'll allow you to flex your creativity.

The Benefits of a DIY Boutonniere

While something as dainty as a boutonnière may not seem like it would be that expensive, it certainly has the ability to hike up the costs of your floral budget. So if you’re hoping to save where you can, making your own floral accessory could save you close to $20 per boutonnière (and that definitely adds up if you’re decking out all of the groomsmen and a few family members). Plus, it’s simple enough to pull off this floral design piece, and will also allow you to have extra money to put toward something else for celebrating the big day.

Flowers to Consider for Your Boutonnière

First things first, you’ll want to choose the perfect bloom for your boutonnière, and according to McNeff, choosing a hearty flower is best. "I tend to stay away from larger blooms and work with flowers that have a smaller, dainty face," she says. You also want to make sure you're working with blooms that can hold up without a water source.

Furthermore, while your choice of flowers will certainly depend on the rest of your floral design, some stunning options include spray roses, ranunculus, anthurium, and pansies. Using dried florals with a splash of greenery is a great, hearty choice as well.  

When to Make a Boutonnière

The last thing you want to do is go through all the trouble of making your own boutonnière, only to have it wilt by the wedding. "The closer you can get to the wedding ceremony, the better," advises McNeff. For instance, if you can make the boutonnière the morning of the ceremony, that will be your best bet for a fresh look. However, if that’s not possible, you can still pull it off the night before.

What's more, if there will be a gap of time before the ceremony, especially overnight, leave the stems exposed and gently set your boutonnière in a shallow cup of water. McNeff also advises that it’s best to avoid the fridge entirely. "I'd advise leaving them somewhere cool and dry if you need to make it the night before," she notes. "If there's produce in your fridge, the gases emitted can actually wilt your blooms and do more harm than good."

Required Materials for Making Your Own Boutonnière

Of course, once you’ve selected your blooms you’re well on your way. Nonetheless, you’ll need to consider a few additional materials to pull off your floral project, as highlighted below.

• Statement bloom and smaller florals
• Floral stem cutter or floral snips
• Floral tape
• Ribbon, if desired

According to McNeff, floral tape is a must-have. "The traditional way of making a boutonnière is to wrap the entire exposed stem in floral tape," she says. "This tape is specially designed to help seal the stem of the flower and prevent it from wilting because you're working without a wire source."

How to Make a Boutonnière

Ready to get started? Below, here are six steps to follow to make your DIY boutonnière.

Step 1: Look at Inspiration

You may already know exactly what design you want for your boutonnière, but if not, it’ll take a bit of research. Check out Instagram and Pinterest for floral color palettes that match yours, or find inspiration by looking at designs others have used in real weddings. You may also choose to match your boutonnière design to other florals being displayed at your celebration or find a look that's less matchy-matchy, yet still complementary.

Step 2: Choose Your Blooms

Next, gather the blooms you’d like to incorporate. McNeff suggests one to two small flowers, along with three to four small pieces of greenery or dried floral options.

Step 3: Cut and Clean Your Stems

Use a stem cutter to cut your florals to your desired length. In general, a stem length of two or three inches is ideal to start with, as you will have to go back and trim once the boutonnière is put together. According to McNeff, the final stem length should be an inch or less. Be sure the stems are clean as well, removing any leaves.

Step 4: Create Your Arrangement

Once your stems are ready, arrange your boutonnière, starting with the flower first. Add the greenery or dried flowers behind, and then consider adding one additional piece for layering in the front.

Step 5: Wrap and Trim

Once your arrangement is put together, wrap the boutonnière in floral tape, wrapping all of the stems tightly. Neatly trim the stems to the one-inch mark, and then wrap a ribbon over the tape if desired.

Step 6: Store Until the Ceremony

If you’ve made your boutonnière the morning of the ceremony, keep it cool and dry until it’s time to affix it to a lapel. If you need to make it the night before, be sure to avoid the fridge, but find a cool place to keep it fresh. If you can, leave your boutonnière in a shallow cup of water overnight, to boot.