How to Make a DIY Boutonniere With These Simple Steps

There is no doubt that flowers are a big must for weddings. Apart from the typical floral decorations (flower centerpieces, bridal bouquets, floral aisles, etc.) that are a huge part of wedding decor, some couples also opt for wedding boutonnieres for the men. If you’re on a budget, you can create your own DIY boutonnieres.

Here’s what you need to know about wedding boutonnieres, including a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a boutonniere to complement your floral wedding decor.

 

What is a Boutonniere?

A boutonniere is a colorful floral bouquet or decoration typically worn on the left lapel or buttonhole of a tuxedo or suit. This decorative accessory was very popular in the past, but now it is mostly worn at special events such as proms, homecomings, galas, awards ceremonies, weddings, and several other formal occasions. 

 

Who Wears a Boutonniere at a Wedding?

Typically, the groom, his groomsmen, the groom’s dad, the ring bearer, and any other immediate family members who wear a tuxedo or suit to the wedding complete their wedding ensemble with a boutonniere.

Does this mean that all guys have to wear a boutonniere to a wedding? Of course not; it’s not mandatory! Some men opt to wear it while others don’t. However, if you do decide to wear a boutonniere, it’s best to make sure that it matches the wedding theme’s colors as well as the groom’s wedding ensemble. 

 

What Materials Are Needed to Make a Boutonniere?

Here’s a list of the materials that people typically use to make wedding boutonnieres:

• Ribbons
• Ribbon scissors  
• Flowers 
• Greenery
• Floral adhesive (glue)
• Pearl pins
• Floral tape
• Bind wire and wire cutters
• Hot glue gun

 

You don’t have to use all of these materials, but it is a good idea to incorporate some of them into your wedding boutonniere. 

 

How to Make Your Own Wedding Boutonniere With Flowers

As you will see, wedding boutonnieres with flowers are super easy to make, so don’t stress over it. We’ll break down step by step to guide you to designing and making your own wedding boutonniere. This way, you don’t have to waste money on hiring someone to make it for you! 

 

Step 1: Pick Your Flowers

Choose the flowers and foliage that you want to use to create your boutonniere. You can work with fresh or faux flowers of your choice.

Typically, people use orchids or roses to make their own boutonnieres. But feel free to use any kind of flowers that you wish to use.

You can use many mixed mini flowers combined with some greenery. Or, you can also use one flower mixed with some green elements. Other popular boutonniere flowers include carnations, gardenias, lilacs, daisies, hyacinths, sweet Williams, and lilies of the valley. 

If the bride is sticking with an all-green bouquet, you could just use greenery for your boutonniere as well!

 

Step 2: Choose a Design

 

Pick a design or style that you want to use for your boutonniere. Maybe you want to recreate another boutonniere that you saw online or at a formal event. Or maybe you want to get creative and design your own boutonniere as you are making it.

The design is totally up to you! It is best to think about how you want to arrange the flowers or which flowers you want to combine along with other elements. This way, you can have the design ready to go when you begin crafting your own wedding boutonniere. But you don’t need to have the design all figured out. So don’t worry. 

 

Step 3: Gather All Your Materials

After you have chosen the flowers and foliage that you want to work with, separate all greenery and flowers on a table or surface. Also, lay all of the materials that you will use next to your chosen flowers so that you can have them near you when you are ready to use them. 

 

Step 5: Group Your Flowers Together

The next step is to take some of the flowers and greenery and start grouping them together. It is easier if you group them one by one instead of just grouping them together all at once. This will make it easier for you to arrange the flowers and greenery into the design that you have in mind. 

 

Step 5: Wrap & Trim

After you have the flowers arranged into the style that you want, get the floral tape and wrap it around the stems to assemble all the pieces together. You can also use the floral adhesive to glue all the stems together. Next, take some bind wire and wrap it around the stems. If you don’t want to use floral wire, you can also use a ribbon and wrap it around the stems. 

Use the floral adhesive to glue the ribbon or wire onto the stems. Avoid using a hot glue gun if you’re working with real flowers as the hot glue will burn and damage your fresh flowers. The floral adhesive, on the other hand, will provide hydration to the ends of your flowers’ stems and will help them last longer. After you have finished wrapping the stems, trim the ends of the stems with a wire cutter. 

 

Step 6: Insert Pins

Take some pearl pins and insert them into the stems or place them around the flowers. This will add an elegant touch to your DIY wedding boutonniere. You might want to use wire cutters to cut the pins so that they can fit in nicely into your boutonniere. 

 

Step 7: Store Your Boutonniere in Water

According to Team Flower, if you used real flowers, it is best to snip the stem’s ends and store your wedding boutonniere in a vase of water to keep them looking fresh until the day of your wedding. Keep replacing them with fresh cold water every day until the wedding day. You’re all done!

 

Wrap Up 

Now that you know how to make a boutonniere to wear at your wedding, you can complete your groom ensemble. The wedding guests will be impressed by your DIY boutonniere that’ll only add more flair to your wedding outfit.

One last tip: wear your wedding boutonniere with confidence to stand out more on the day of your wedding. Let us know in the comments if you found these simple step-by-step instructions helpful. Have a great wedding!