How to Make Corsages and Boutonnieres Like a Pro: Videos and Examples

Planning a wedding or attending a prom? You’re likely to be involved in one of these activities in your lifetime. Even, if you manage to skip through life without the fuss and excitement of such events, you may be linked to someone who is. Weddings and proms are happy occasions and even though much planning is given to attire and activities, corsages and boutonnieres are up there—a must-have item on the list of things to get and have. Why so? Corsages and boutonnieres may seem insignificant—after all, they’re small little collection of flowers and leaves, sometimes, twigs and berries—do they even count at all? Ask any prom date or the wedding girl, and the chances are they will have it no other way—corsages and boutonnieres make the occasion, small as they are. They are like the icing on the cake, the trail of the bride’s dress or the smile on the groom’s face. The little things that count and sometimes, more than you know

Corsages are small bouquet of flowers and they can be worn on the wrist, around the neck, ankles, pin to the shoulder or even on the handbag. Their origin can be traced back to the Greek times, when it was customary, even necessary to wear corsages to dances. They believed that the sweet fragrances of the flowers can ward off evil spirits. Then, there was the “smart” aspect of wearing one—it helps to musk body odor since perfumes and air-conditioning were not readily available then (not to mention infrequent showers).

As you can see, what started off as a necessity has become a tradition and what a beautiful one. No wedding or prom will be the same without the festive graces of corsages and boutonnieres.

Come prom season and corsages and boutonnieres will take center-stage without fail. The boy will present the date with a corsage while the girl will offer the guy a boutonniere. The choice of flowers is generally chosen to match the color scheme and personal taste of the couple. Corsages and boutonnieres also make their ubiquitous presence on weddings. Usually the Best Man, fathers of the bride and groom, all ushers and anyone walking down the aisle (even the ring bearer) gets a boutonniere. The mothers of the bride and groom, even grandmothers are expected to wear corsages as well. That’s a neat way to set them apart from the rest of the wedding party.

Ordering corsages and boutonnieres from the florists or the local grocery stores can be expensive. Why not make them yourself? It’s quite easy and you can rope friends and family for this adventure in assembling them. Let’s get started:

Corsages

As mentioned, there are many kinds of corsages. Wrist corsages are popular and can be stunning when it matches the dress. I can explain it to you in a thousand words (definitely more) but why belabor the process? I’ve checked out a number of videos and picked one that does the job well.

Butonnieres

Boutonnieres are simpler to make and simplicity is the essence of this simple creation. Use one single flower or groups of three smaller flowers. Accent with leaves, jewels or wind up the stem with fancy ribbons. Here’s the video that explains it clearly:

After watching the video presentation, here are some useful pointers for beginners:

• Choose flowers that will endure some handling and remain fresh until it is used. Orchids, especially cymbidium are long lasting. Other long-lasting flowers include Gerber daisy, carnations, dendrobium. Roses are favorites but be sure to pick those that are not fully open with petals tightly packed. In the summer, dahlias and sunflowers can make quite a statement with their bold whimsical look.
• Choose fillers and other accent flowers or foliage to complement the main flower. They shouldn’t overpower—their job is to highlight, not steal the limelight. The glory belongs to the main flowers.
• Ribbons used should be light and not too heavy.
• It is good to work on a towel to prevent bruising the flowers.
• Wiring everything that needs wiring before you assemble the corsage/boutonniere will save time.
• Store corsages and boutonnieres in boxes in the fridge before use.

 Here are some examples of corsages and matching boutonniere I made over the weekend.

Other Flower Hubs by the same author:

Bridal Floral Arrangements: White and Yellow Wedding Flower Arrangements

How to Make Your Own Fresh Floral Christmas Centerpieces I: Easy and Cheap

How to Make Your Own Fresh Floral Christmas Centerpiece II: Easy and Cheap

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