How to Pin a Corsage

Know how to properly pin a corsage so your flowers don't hang down during a formal event.

A wrist corsage or nosegay that a woman carries has some real advantages over the traditional pinned corsage or boutonniere that men have to wear. During a formal dance, you can set the nosegay down, and the wrist corsage doesn't get in your way when you're dancing. While women have many options in flowers and typically don't need to worry about having a flower pinned to them, guys still have a formal boutonniere or corsage pinned to their tuxes, making it necessary for you to know how to pin a corsage.

Things You'll Need

• Corsage pins

Instructions

1. Make sure you have real corsage pins. When you purchase a corsage at a flower shop, the florist should include one or two with the flower. The fancy pearl button at the end of the corsage pin also is a nice touch.

2. Take the corsage out of the box and place it up to the recipient's left side. If it is a boutonniere, lay it against his lapel. There may even be a boutonniere hole to guide you. During a dance, the woman's head traditionally rests against the right side of the man's shoulder, and the flower should not be in the way.

3. After eying the corsage or boutonniere to where you want it placed, pick up the lapel with your left hand (if you are right-handed) and run the pin through the jacket or dress material from the back. Thread the pin through the flower as close to the top of the thickest stem that you can. You may even poke over the stem to hold it securely to the lapel or dress.

4. Weave the pin back under the cloth and then up again to secure the flower and keep the point from poking the owner. Embed the pin point in the cloth or leave it up and away from skin if that is not possible.

Tips & Warnings

• If the flower droops, try pinning it again, but make the pin's entry a little higher. Use two pins if necessary, especially if the corsage is heavy.

References

• Al's Formal Wear: How to Pin on a Boutonniere