How to Pin on a Boutonniere

Pinning on a boutonniere gives the finishing touch to a man's wedding garment. It goes on the left side of the suit, on the lapel, secured there with a straight pin that should be invisible because it belongs on the underside of the lapel. Because it is awkward to coordinate all of the motions that it takes to pin on a boutonniere correctly, many men ask for someone else to help.

Instructions

1. Stand in front of a mirror wearing your tuxedo or suit jacket. Hold the boutonniere in your left hand. Carefully position it so that the stem angles down from your left towards your right. Hold it in place with the fingers of your left hand.

2. Lift the lapel with your left thumb without displacing the boutonniere. Grab the pin with your right hand.

3. Push the pin up through the lapel on the right side of the boutonniere. Push the pin through the stem of the boutonniere towards the back near the fabric. Do not poke your left fingers or thumb but keep holding the boutonniere secure.

4. Pass the pin out the other side of the stem at an angle going down. Push it back down through the lapel. The head of the pin will keep it in place on the right side, and the downward angle will keep the pin and the boutonniere in place on the left side.

5. Move around to make sure that the boutonniere will stay where you have pinned it. If you have pinned it on correctly, no one should be able to see the pin, and the flower will be at a jaunty angle on your lapel.

Resources

• Illustrated Directions for pinning on boutonnieres and corsages
• More illustrated directions