Directions for Making Boutonnieres

Men typically wear a boutonniere on the left lapel of a suit jacket.

A boutonniere is a flower corsage that men wear for special occasions, such as black-tie events, weddings or even prom. While many people buy a boutonniere to wear, you can create your own boutonniere for any event. The key to a nice looking boutonniere is to stick with simple flowers and greenery and store the boutonniere in a location where it will remain well preserved until you're ready to wear it.

Things You'll Need

• Fern leaf
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Baby's breath
• Carnation
• Cake decoration (optional)
• Green floral tape
• Satin ribbon

Instructions

1. 

   A simple fern leaf adds a green backdrop for your boutonniere.

   Measure a green fern leaf, three inches down from the top. Use the scissors to cut at the three inch mark.

2. Cut a sprig of baby's breath to measure three inches.

3. Cut the carnation to measure three inches.

4. Lay the fern on your work surface. Place the baby's breath on top of the fern, then the carnation on top of the baby's breath. Grasp the three items near the bottom of the stems to hold them in place.

5. Personalize your boutonniere by adding a themed decoration along the side. Cake decorations that come on spikes, to stick into the cake, work well for this. If you are attending or performing in a musical concert, you can add a musical note by tucking it alongside the carnation.

6. Wrap green floral tape around your boutonniere, starting at the very bottom and working your way up toward the base of the flower. Cover the entire stem of the flower with the floral tape.

7. Tie satin ribbon around the stem portion of the boutonniere in a color that matches the carnation or compliments the colors of the man's attire. Store the boutonniere in the refrigerator to keep it preserved and fresh until it's time to wear it.

References

• Lifestyle: I Love India: How To Make a Boutonniere