When it comes to their special day, more and more couples are choosing to have an alternative wedding rather than one full of traditions. But one thing that tends to stay the same is that we’re frequently asked to create buttonholes for the men in the wedding party. Here we’ll be giving you some background on who wears them and where, and more importantly showing you some of our favourite spring buttonholes we’ve created…
A great way to tie in the men’s outfits with the theme of the day, buttonholes normally match or compliment the bridal bouquet and floral decorations. Most commonly worn by the groom, best man, ushers, father of the bride, father of the groom and sometimes the pageboy, buttonholes are placed on their left-hand side, above the heart, attached to either the suit jacket or shirt. Some suit jackets will have an actual buttonhole on the left lapel, meaning the buttonhole can be threaded through and secured with a pin. If there’s no hole, the stem is usually tied with thread or ribbon (matching the colour palette) and pinned to the front of the fabric. Either way, the flowerhead always points upwards to show it in all its glory!
Did you know?
‘Boutonniere’ is the French word for buttonhole. These are often composed of a small bunch of flowers or berries, herbs, succulents or feathers grouped together. Whereas a ‘buttonhole’ is usually a single flower and foliage. Here in the UK, we’ve adopted both names, so we recommend working with your florist to determine what you want from yours.
Ranunculus + Pittosporum
For this buttonhole we combined the beautiful, pure shape of a cream Ranunculus with the fine, leathery evergreen foliage of Pittosporum. One of our all time favourite flowers, the layers of mildly scented, paper-thin petals and green heart (which gives it a 3D effect) work so well against the spirally arranged leaves which emanate a fresh, citrus-like fragrance, making it ideal for spring.
Yellow Butterfly Ranunculus
This particular bloom is a relative newcomer on the flower scene. While it brings with it the layers of delicate paper-like petals we’d expect from a Ranunculus, the structure is similar to that of an Anemone but with a higher petal count. Getting its name from its slight butterfly shape, this long-lasting cut flower has a tiny layer of wax on each petal which gives it a glossy appearance and of course, comes in a radiant yellow colour guaranteed to brighten up any suit for spring.
Camellia + Jasmine
The blue-pink hue of Camellia is an elegant option which symbolises gentle unreserved love and admiration. An attractive, evergreen shrub with thick, dark leaves that have serrated edges, Camellia also has 5-9 petals forming a large, showy flower. While this doesn’t have a fragrance, paired with the strong yet sweet Jasmine (which releases its fragrance at night), this buttonhole will provide a subtle scent and a nod to spring. The tubular, waxy white flowers of jasmine which gather in clusters represent deep affection and happiness, making it a perfect pick for your big day.
Ranunculus
You’ve already seen one way to use this flower in a buttonhole at the start of this post, but the different varieties make it so versatile. The deep pink is a symbol of romance, love and gentle feelings, while Ranunculus itself symbolises charm and attractiveness. Here we’ve kept the long, thin stems which support the rosette-shaped blooms and delicate, silky petals. Many would consider this deeper shade to be more appropriate for a late summer wedding but we love designing bolder, unexpected options all year round!
Keira Rose, Jasmine + Lilac
If you’ve read our previous posts, you’ll know we’re big fans of David Austin garden roses, and the Keira Rose is another variety of those. A blend of blush pink and cream, the cupped blooms are framed by around 100 frilly petals and have the most wonderful fragrance of myrrh, almond, marzipan and vanilla. Complimented by Jasmine (as seen earlier) and the ornamental shrub, Lilac, this buttonhole is the epitome of purity and innocence. The abundant display of Lilac (which despite its name) is white in colour, also has an intoxicating fragrance. If you’re looking for a powerful combination for your spring wedding buttonhole, this is it.
Yellow Butterfly Ranunculus, Frittilaria + Myosotis
You’ll recognise the Butterfly Ranunculus from further up, but here we’ve added another pop of colour in the form of Myosotis, more commonly known as forget-me-nots. The small, bright blue flowers have a yellow centre which makes them work so well with the yellow Ranunculus. Next to these we have Frittilaria (also called Snake’s Head Fritillary) - a bell-shaped flower which belongs to the Lily family and brings grass-like foliage, all tightly held together with silky blue ribbon. A vibrant Spring buttonhole if we ever did see one!
Which is your favourite? If you or a special couple you know are planning a wedding, we’d love to invite you to get in touch with us. You can also click here to learn more about our process or follow us on Instagram / Pinterest for more ideas and inspiration.
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Flowers: Miriam Faith | Images: Amanda Karen Photography