Planning a wedding can be tricky enough what with the family politics, budgeting dilemmas and endless choices so what you don't need is lots of unfathomable jargon to decipher when it comes to the flowers so over the next few posts I'll attempt to demystify some of the key terms and outline the options so you can select what works best for your wedding.
So let's start with the Groom. A stylish lapel flower is the finishing touch for your Groom's outfit but it requires careful selection. Here's what's on offer.
Delicate boutonnière with rose buds and gently scented genista
Option One - The Boutonniere
These cute designs are really popular with Grooms right now. They are informal yet beautifully proportioned to the jacket. The name comes from French and means a mini bouquet of flowers. I usually design these with small rose buds or ranunculus, picking out details that are also in the bridal bouquet or ceremony flowers. We like to add a colour accent and delicate foliage such as fragrant herbs, wispy grasses or even the odd berry, depending on the season. The stems are visible and we cover the binding point with a twist of silk ribbon or some rustic twine. It's a design in miniature that represents the overall style and taste of the man wearing it.
Delicate summer boutonnières with and without foliage
Summer boutonnières of coral roses with yellow accents for Grooms
Option Two - The Buttonhole
The traditional buttonhole is a single larger bloom such as a rose or an orchid with a leaf behind it. The stems are completely covered. I like this design for black tie weddings when you want a really clean sharp look. To ensure a seamless finish, I cover the stems in black satin so it blends in perfectly with the lapel.
White rose with tuxedo or a white orchid buttonhole works well on a tuxedo
Option Three - The Pocket Square Floral
This trend arrived on our shores from the US a few years ago and is really catching the imagination of fashion forward grooms. We make the design on a piece of stiff card and add delicate fresh and dried flowers and foliage to create a band of blooms that sits just above the breast pocket. I love this design for a Man of Honour too, as it differentiates him from the Groomsmen.
A winter wedding Pocket Square for the Groom of dried white flowers
A spring wedding pocket square for the Groom with white and burgundy flowers.
Option Four - The Wild Card
And then sometimes, I like to break all the rules and design something different! Here's a circular boutonnière that I crafted for a William Morris inspired editorial.
How to pin on a boutonnière or buttonhole
This flower is always worn on the left hand side (except for military dress uniform) and is pinned on the reverse side of the lapel so it stays firmly in place. Please ask an expert to do this as it's quite difficult to get it positioned correctly and no one wants a wonky flower in their photographs.
Credits: Copper & Blossom, James Fear, Chris Allerton, Katherine Yiannaki, Imogen Xiana, Chloe Caldwell, Jenny Appleton Photo and Film, Dan Hodge, Green Glass Photography
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