A Bride's Guide to Buttonholes and Corsages

When it comes to wedding flowers, the bouquet tends to steal the spotlight — and rightly so. But the smaller details matter just as much. Buttonholes for the groom and groomsmen, corsages for mothers and grandmothers, and wrist flowers for flower girls all contribute to a cohesive, polished look that ties your whole wedding party together.

Here's everything you need to know about choosing and ordering buttonholes and corsages for your big day.

What Is a Buttonhole?

A buttonhole (also called a boutonnière) is a small floral arrangement worn on the lapel of a jacket, traditionally by the groom, groomsmen, fathers of the bride and groom, and ushers. It's usually a single bloom or a small cluster of flowers and foliage, pinned neatly to the left lapel.

With faux flowers, buttonholes can be made well in advance, stored safely, and worn without any worry about wilting under warm venue lighting or a long day on their feet.

Browse our buttonhole collections:

• Ivory & Green buttonholes — timeless and elegant
• Burgundy, Ivory, Dusty Pink & Muted Greenery buttonholes — rich and romantic
• Autumn Hues buttonholes — perfect for a warm seasonal palette
• Roses & Thistles buttonholes — a nod to classic British and Scottish style
• Brights wedding buttonholes — for brides who love a bold pop of colour

What Is a Corsage?

A corsage is a small floral arrangement worn by women in the wedding party — most commonly mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom. They come in two main styles:

• Pin corsage (dress corsage) — pinned directly to the outfit, usually at the shoulder or lapel
• Wrist corsage — worn on the wrist on a ribbon or elastic band, which many guests find more comfortable and easier to wear

Our corsage options include:

• Ladies magnet corsage — no pins needed, attaches easily and securely
• Ladies wrist corsage on ribbon — elegant and comfortable to wear all day
• Wrist corsages & dress corsages — a range of styles to suit different outfits
• Baby Pink, Pale Blue & Ivory ladies floral dress corsage — soft and pretty for a classic palette
• Mauve buttonholes & wrist corsage — a coordinated set for a cohesive look

How to Coordinate Buttonholes and Corsages With Your Bouquet

The key is tonal harmony rather than an exact match. Your buttonholes and corsages don't need to be identical to your bouquet — they just need to feel like they belong to the same story.

A few simple rules:

• Share at least one bloom or colour across your bouquet, buttonholes, and corsages
• Keep the foliage consistent — the same greenery style ties everything together beautifully
• Scale down thoughtfully — a buttonhole should be a miniature echo of the bouquet, not a replica
• Consider the outfit — a pin corsage works beautifully on a structured jacket; a wrist corsage is often better on a delicate dress

How Many Do You Need?

It's easy to underestimate quantities. Here's a helpful checklist:

Buttonholes — consider ordering for:

• Groom
• Best man
• Groomsmen
• Father of the bride
• Father of the groom
• Ushers
• Grandfathers (if attending in a formal role)

Corsages — consider ordering for:

• Mother of the bride
• Mother of the groom
• Grandmothers
• Any other close family members you'd like to honour

It's always worth ordering one or two extras as spares — with faux flowers, they store perfectly and can be kept as mementos.

Why Faux Buttonholes and Corsages Make Sense

Fresh buttonholes are notoriously tricky — they can wilt within hours, especially in warm venues or on a long summer's day. Faux versions look just as beautiful in photographs, last the entire day without any attention, and can be pinned on and forgotten about.

They're also a lovely keepsake. Many mothers treasure their corsage long after the wedding day.

Ready to Order?

Browse our full range of faux buttonholes and corsages, all designed to coordinate beautifully with our bridal bouquet collections. If you'd like help matching your buttonholes and corsages to your bouquet palette, feel free to get in touch — we're always happy to help.

Shop all faux wedding flowers →