The boutonnière is a simple flower that the Groom and his groomsmen pin to the lapel of their tuxedos or suits. Fortunately, for most guys, picking out the right boutonnière is easier than you think. It all depends on one thing – as always: the Bride.
Traditionally, the boutonnière is worn on the left lapel as it is closest to the Groom’s heart. The boutonnière is also said to represent his love and fidelity for his Bride. It should be pinned to the back of the lapel in order to hide the pin. Usually all the men in wedding party – that’s the Groom, groomsmen, Father of the Bride, Father of the Groom, Grandfathers, Ushers, and Ring Bearers – who sport a boutonnière.
The main criterion for selecting the right boutonnière is that it matches the color the the Bride-to-be’s bouquet. For the Groom, his boutonnière should match the Bride’s bouquet and the groomsmen’s boutonnières should match the flowers used in the bridesmaid’s bouquets. Simply select one of the exact same flowers from the bouquet to serve as the boutonnière. It’s that easy.
However, the Groom can forgo the traditional boutonnière altogether and choose to have his groomsmen wear matching pocket squares. By tucking in a small pocket-handkerchief into the left breast pocket of a tuxedo or suit, the Groom and his groomsmen can still stand out from the crowd. The squares can also match the bridesmaids flowers or dresses for added coordination, and they make a perfect gift for the groomsmen.
And if you are driving to the wedding and wearing a boutonnière, be careful with the seatbelt. They have a tendency to decapitate boutonnières. Obviously, wear your seatbelt…just take your jacket off before getting behind the wheel.
blog -- joshua grotheer 