How to Wear a Wedding Buttonhole or Corsage
Buttonholes and corsages are a lovely way to bring the flowers of your wedding day into the outfits of your wedding party.
Traditionally, buttonholes are worn by the groom, groomsmen, best man, fathers and other members of the wedding party, while corsages are often chosen for mothers, sisters and other important guests. But there are no hard and fast rules, so if you'd like a guest to wear flowers, why not?
And if you're wondering which side your buttonhole or corsage should go on, men traditionally wear buttonholes on the left-hand side, over the heart, while women traditionally wear corsages on the right-hand side. But here's everything you need to know.
How to wear a man's buttonhole
The traditional position for a man's buttonhole is on the left-hand side of the jacket, over the heart. This is the right-hand side when you're looking at the person wearing it.
Your buttonhole may be a single flower, a small cluster of blooms or something more elaborate, depending on the style of your wedding flowers.
When putting it on:
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Position the flower at the widest part of the lapel, with the flower facing outwards and the foliage sitting against the jacket.
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Angle the stems so they broadly follow the line of the lapel.
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Insert the pin from the back of the lapel, through the fabric and stems, and then back into the jacket so that both the head and point of the pin are hidden behind the lapel.
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Pinning through the stems, rather than simply across them, helps prevent the buttonhole from tipping or slipping sideways.
It sounds simple, but there's one thing I see surprisingly often: buttonholes being worn with the flower facing into the jacket!
If I'm delivering your wedding flowers, I'll always make sure the buttonholes are positioned correctly before your photographs.
When should you put your buttonhole on?
Don't put your buttonhole on too early in the morning. Flowers are surprisingly affected by body heat, sunshine and being hugged by lots of people!
For a long wedding day, the groom may even choose to have a spare buttonhole so that there is a fresh one available for photographs later in the day.
If your buttonhole has started looking a little tired by the evening, there's nothing wrong with taking it off before the evening celebrations. Your outfit will still look great.
Alternatives to a traditional buttonhole
Pocket flowers
If you want something a little more modern, a pocket flower can be a lovely alternative to a traditional buttonhole.
These are designed to sit neatly in the breast pocket of a jacket and can be created to complement the bridal bouquet and wider wedding flowers.
They're particularly effective if you want the groom to have something distinctive without moving towards a full floral lapel.
Floral lapels
For a real statement, a full floral lapel can create an incredible look for a groom or groomsman.
These are bespoke designs created to follow the shape of the jacket lapel and are usually secured with pins or magnets. They can be kept relatively simple or made into a much more dramatic floral feature.
If you're considering a floral lapel, your florist will usually need to know the shape and size of the jacket lapel so that the design can be made to fit properly.
How to wear a women's corsage
Traditionally, a woman's corsage is worn on the right-hand side, which is the left-hand side when you're looking at the person wearing it.
A traditional corsage is usually positioned in a kite shape, so that the flowers sit neatly against the body, following the natural line of the outfit. If it’s a wired corsage, the stems will point upwards!
Corsages can be attached using either pins or magnets. Pins are generally best for structured fabrics such as jackets, where the pin can be safely secured through the fabric and stems. Magnets are a great option for more delicate fabrics because they don't leave a hole in the clothing. They can also be useful if you'd like to move the corsage later.
If you're using a magnetic corsage, slide the magnets apart rather than trying to pull them directly apart. They can be surprisingly strong!
If you're planning to wear a corsage on a particularly delicate or valuable outfit, it's always worth discussing the attachment method with your florist beforehand.
Wrist corsages
Wrist corsages are a lovely, more contemporary alternative to a traditional corsage.
They're particularly popular for bridesmaids, mothers and other members of the wedding party who may not want flowers pinned to their clothing.
A wrist corsage can be attached to a ribbon, bracelet or other wristband and designed to complement the bridal flowers without simply being a miniature version of the bouquet.
Traditionally, wrist corsages are worn on the non-dominant hand, usually the left, but there really isn't a strict rule. Choose whichever feels most comfortable.
Ribbon is a particularly useful option because it can be tied to fit any wrist size and can become part of the overall design.
Other ways to wear wedding flowers.
Corsages don't have to be worn on your clothes.A floral decoration can look beautiful attached to a handbag, clutch or hat, particularly for a summer wedding.
There is no reason why women can't wear a traditional buttonhole.Traditionally, women's buttonholes are worn on the right-hand side, while men's are worn on the left. But modern weddings don't need to follow those rules - wear your flowers wherever they look and feel best.
A final tip
The most important thing is that your flowers feel comfortable and secure.
Your wedding day will involve plenty of movement, photographs, hugs and dancing, so your buttonholes and corsages need to be designed with the whole day in mind, not just how they look when you first put them on.
And if your florist is there on the morning of your wedding, let them take care of the fiddly bits. They'll make sure everyone is pinned, positioned and ready for the photographs!
Enjoy wearing your flowers!
(A note about magnetic attachments Magnetic corsages and buttonholes are not suitable for people with pacemakers or some other implanted medical devices. If you or anyone in your wedding party has a pacemaker or implanted medical device, please seek appropriate medical advice before using magnetic floral attachments.)