You’re planning your wedding, and it’s time to tackle the delicate art of floral accessories.
While you’ve chosen your bouquet and centerpieces, deciding who gets a corsage or boutonniere requires careful consideration of tradition, family dynamics, and modern etiquette.
From your future mother-in-law to your childhood godfather, these small but significant blooms serve as badges of honor for your most cherished guests.
Let’s explore the essential guidelines that’ll help you navigate this meaningful tradition with grace and confidence.
Traditional Recipients of Wedding Corsages
Three key groups traditionally receive wedding corsages: immediate family, ceremony participants, and honored guests.
You’ll want to start with the mothers and grandmothers of both bride and groom, as they’re the most important recipients. Sisters, stepmothers, and close aunts often receive corsages too, especially if they’ve special roles.
These meaningful flowers serve as tokens of appreciation and recognition for those closest to the couple.
For ceremony participants, you will typically provide corsages to witnesses, officiants, and key contributors like musicians or readers.
Don’t forget your female ushers and greeters.
When considering honored guests, include significant family friends and female elders who’ve played meaningful roles in your lives. Work with an experienced florist to ensure these special touches coordinate with your overall wedding aesthetic and are delivered properly on your big day.
Essential Guidelines for Boutonniere Recipients
Four main categories of men should receive boutonnieres at your wedding, following a clear hierarchy of design and significance. To properly honor these time-tested traditions that signify status and roles, each boutonniere should reflect the wearer’s place in the ceremony.
Your groom gets the most elaborate piece, featuring larger or rarer blooms that set him apart.
Groomsmen wear coordinated but simpler versions that complement without competing.
Fathers and grandfathers, including step-relatives, should receive classic single-bloom designs that honor their roles.
Finally, consider special participants, such as your ring bearer, officiant, and ushers, who deserve recognition through boutonnieres that match your wedding’s theme and season, while maintaining the visual harmony of your floral design.
Proper Placement and Wearing Techniques
Once you’ve selected who will receive wedding flowers, mastering their proper placement becomes the next key step.
For corsages, you should position them on the left wrist or left shoulder strap, facing outward to showcase the blooms. If you’re left-handed, opt for the right wrist instead. Using crossed X-shaped pins provides extra stability for pinned-on corsages.
When attaching boutonnieres, secure them to the left lapel using two pins at a slight upward angle. You’ll find magnetic attachments work well for delicate fabrics.
Remember to attach all flowers just before the event, and store them in a cool, shaded place until then. These small gestures create lasting memories for recipients and acknowledge their support throughout your wedding journey.
Selecting the Right Flowers and Designs
Selecting the perfect flowers for your wedding party requires careful consideration of both durability and design. Choose sturdy blooms like orchids, carnations, and roses that’ll last throughout your celebration.
For wrist corsages, opt for elegant gardenias or garden roses, while boutonnieres look best with compact flowers such as spray roses or ranunculus. You should consider coordinating these pieces with your overall wedding palette, making sure corsages complement outfits and boutonnieres echo elements of the bridal bouquet.
Add texture with small accent flowers like hellebore, and don’t forget to balance personal preferences with practical concerns – your chosen blooms should be both beautiful and resilient.
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