How to pin on a buttonhole or corsage: a step-by-step guide

25 September 2024

And so it begins: the wedding season in New Zealand is just around the corner, and it’s an exciting time for Fleur DK. As an award-winning florist in Christchurch, we cherish the role we play in helping couples celebrate their nuptials in style. Wedding flowers go beyond the bridal bouquet and venue arrangements – they also include buttonholes and corsages, small lapel posies that add a personal touch and a pop of colour to outfits while helping to identify the members of the wedding party.


Choosing flowers for a buttonhole

Historically, buttonholes (also called boutonnieres) and corsages were worn to ward off evil spirits. Thankfully today, these wedding flowers are chosen more to complement the bride’s dress, the groom’s suit and the wedding colour scheme to create a unity in the wedding palette. But they are also an opportunity to florally express the couple’s unique story. Whether it’s a thistle symbolising Celtic heritage, or a sunflower representing happiness, these small but impactful details add to the magic and romance of the special day.


Roses are always a popular timeless romantic choice of flower for buttonholes, but there are many alternatives to choose from. There has been a growing trend for more natural, eclectic buttonholes, including a variety of different flowers, fragrant herbs and foliage. If you are looking for inspiration for bespoke floral buttonholes, come and visit Fleur DK flower shop in Christchurch to explore options to create something truly unique. 


A woman is putting a flower in a man 's pocket.

How to correctly pin a buttonhole or corsage

For men, buttonholes are traditionally worn on their left lapel (above their heart), and for women, on their right below the shoulder, but they can also be worn as a wrist accessory. If the fabric on the ladies’ outfits is delicate, magnets can be used to hold the corsage in place to prevent damage to the fabric. It’s best to have one person on buttonhole pinning duty so they are placed uniformly across the party.


  • Prepare the buttonhole: ensure the flower is facing outward, is the right way up and the greenery is behind the bloom.
  • Place on the lapel: holding the buttonhole upright, position the flower on the left side of the chest, above the heart but just below the collarbone, with the flowers facing outward.
  • Pin from behind: once in the correct position, turn the lapel over to expose the back. Slide the pin through the fabric of the lapel from behind, catching the flower’s stem. Insert the pin at an upward angle and then back through the stem for security.
  • Double-check placement: The flower should sit upright and not dangle. Adjust if necessary so it stays in place throughout the event.
  • Add an extra pin: some flower heads are heavy, and some quite large, use an extra pin for additional security and to keep it in place.


Trust Fleur by DK in Merivale for your wedding flowers

At Fleurs, we understand how every detail counts on your wedding day. Our talented team of expert Christchurch florists craft buttonholes and corsages that reflect your personal style, but most importantly, create beautiful floral memories to last a lifetime. Come and visit our Merivale flower shop or call 03 355 0464 to book a consultation with our wedding florists.

 

White lilies and roses on a dark background.

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