Corsage and Boutonniere (2024)

Introduction: Corsage and Boutonniere

By Wolfbane221

About: My name is Aron, and I have worked in the IT industry for 10 years. I enjoy the outdoors and have been addicted to instructables for years. More About Wolfbane221 »

You may need to make a corsage a few times in your life for weddings, prom, or dances. This Corsage and Boutonniere were made without any real flowers. If it is out of season or you just can't find the flowers you want, then you can still make a good looking corsage out of only fake ingredients.

Step 1: Materials

-A pair of pliers that can cut wire.
-Scissors
-Florists wire
-Florists tape
-A corsage wrist piece
-Ribbon of your choice (always have more than you need)
-Fake flowers of your choice
-Small gauge wire - must fit your beads
-Feathers, beads, etc

Step 2: Make Your Ribbon Flowers

You need to cut 12 or so inches with the width of this ribbon. You may be able to cut less to make your flower but I would rather cut too much and trim it since I had plenty of ribbon.

Fold the ribbon in half, so that you make a triangle. Then fold the bottom ribbon over, and keep folding the bottom ribbon over until you get to the ebbs of the ribbon. You can hold the last folds together and let go of the ribbon. Pull the bottom ribbon through and it will collapse your folds into a flower. If you pull too far you will have to start over.

Next take a peice of florists tape and wrap it around the base to keep it from unraveling. Cut the extra ribbon off, then take some wire and add it to the base. This is so you can manipulate the flower after you finish it. Finish wrapping the base. You can fluff your flowers petals and you're done.

Repeat three or four times, or until you have as many as you need.

Step 3: Center Peice

Take your accents and figure out something that will look good with your ribbon flowers. Once you have something that looks good wrap the base in florists tape to keep it together.

Step 4: Outer Decoration

To decorate the outside of the corsage take your fake flowers and tape them together. Once you do that you can try different configurations to choose the one you like best. You can hold the centerpiece together with florists tape or florists wire. I chose wire, then twisted it tight and tucked it in.

Step 5: More Decorations

Once I finished using the fake flowers there was still bare areas on the outsides. This step and the next one will finish the corsage.

Take your beads and thread them onto your small gauge wire. You need to tie knots in the ends of the wire to keep the beads from falling off. After you finish threading the beads you need to fold the strand in half and make a stem out of wire for it. Make four of these. Once you have for you can tape them together so that they fit under your center peice.

Step 6: Small Ribbon Flowers

The last thing to make for the corsage are these small ribbon flowers. They will help conceal the rest of the florists tape so that it looks better. Make 6 or so for each side of the corsage. You make them the same way as the larger blue flowers, but with thinner ribbon. Even with my small hands I couldn't get florists tape behind the flowers to tape them to the centerpiece, so I had to use florists wire. Just wrap the wire around the center peice and twist it, then use your pliers to twist it as tight as you need to. Cut the twisted wire down and bend it so that it cannot scratch the wearers wrist. The last thing you need to do is put the wrist strap on! You may need to use wire because it is very malleable metal, and may fall off if you do not secure it right.

Step 7: Boutonniere

The boutonniere should be easy now that you've finished the corsage. Take one of your fake flowers and one of your ribbon flowers and tape them together. Grab some of your leftover decorations and add them to the boutonniere. You want to keep it simple, but you can add a few things.

Step 8: Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed this instructable! If you liked it don't forget to vote!

Corsage and Boutonniere (5)

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Corsage and Boutonniere (2024)

FAQs

Are you supposed to get the corsage and boutonniere together? ›

Traditionally, the corsage is purchased by the guy while the boutonniere is bought by his date. It is common to have the boutonniere and corsage matching and this color scheme is determined by the woman's dress color.

Does the girl pay for the corsage and boutonniere? ›

Since it is the date that is buying the corsage, it will generally fall on the guys to buy this item. However, the girls do not get out of this free as the tradition holds the girls are to buy a boutonniere for the guys to wear as well.

Is the guy supposed to buy the corsage and boutonniere? ›

Traditionally, the guy pays for the corsage and the girl pays for the boutonniere, as each person is gifting the flowers to their date. However, it's common for couples dating for awhile to choose their flowers together or for one half of the pair to place the order for both to ensure the flowers coordinate.

How many flowers should a corsage average? ›

Corsages and boutonnieres can have 1 or up to 5 flowers. They can be of any color and a combination of colors.

What is corsage etiquette? ›

It is customary to place the corsage on the left side of your date's dress or on her left wrist. Same for the guy. But truly, it doesn't really matter :) Who buys the corsage and boutonniere for prom? Traditionally, the guy brings his date a corsage when he picks her. The girl pins the boutonniere at the same time.

What is the proper etiquette for a corsage? ›

Etiquette and tradition state that a corsage should be worn on the left side (either the left wrist or left shoulder strap), but ultimately, placement and how you wear is up to personal preference. Many left-handed people prefer to wear their corsage on their right hand.

Who usually gets the corsage and boutonniere? ›

Traditionally the groom's family buys the bridal bouquet, corsages, and boutonnieres. Corsages usually go to mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom. Boutonnieres are won by the groom, groomsmen, fathers and grandfathers. Other members of the wedding like the ring bearer or ushers may also receive boutonnieres.

Is the girl supposed to buy the boutonniere? ›

Boutonnieres. Proper etiquette dictates that the girl buys a boutonniere for her date. Boutonnieres are one or two blossoms of flowers to be worn on the left lapel of his jacket. The girl pins the boutonniere on her date's jacket when he arrives to pick her up for the dance.

Does the girl usually buy the boutonniere? ›

Who Buys The Prom Boutonniere? Typically these are going to be purchased by the girls to give to their dates. This will not cost as much as the corsage, but it will still have a great look to it and when you are getting these they will look great.

What is the tradition of corsage and boutonniere? ›

Traditionally, the male presents a corsage or nosegay to the female as a gift, while the female would provide the boutonnière and pin it on the male's shirt or jacket. Typically worn by female high school students, homecoming mums are a tradition associated with the South and Midwest that is over 100 years old.

How does the corsage and boutonniere work? ›

A corsage is a small bundle of flowers that is pinned to the lapel of a woman's clothing or tied around her wrist. Taken from the French word for buttonhole, the boutonniere is a small, single flower or the grouping of two or three flowers worn on the lapel of the groom or the other men in the ceremony. Who wears them?

How do you coordinate a corsage and boutonniere? ›

The corsage should complement your date's dress in terms of colour, size, and style, while the boutonniere should coordinate with both the corsage and the wearer's suit or tuxedo. Additionally, consider the wearer's preferences and personal style, as well as any allergies or sensitivities to certain flowers.

How much should a corsage cost? ›

The basic corsage for prom starts under $40 with the most popular price range being from $55-65. All of our prices include the roses or orchids of your choice. Adding other flowers could incur an additional cost (like calla lilies or stephanotis.)

Why are corsages so expensive? ›

Because it is very expensive to bring flowers to market. Cut flowers are a global business. They are grown on another continent, harvested by hand, and rapidly shipped long distances under refrigeration. Because flowers are delicate they require extra care and handling along the way.

What does a boutonniere symbolize? ›

Similar to a wedding bouquet, in the 16th century, boutonnières were used to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. It was also used to keep bad scents away and was believed to protect against diseases. In the 18th century, however, many wore boutonnières as fashion statements.

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