A Bounty of Boutonnieres

It’s the bride’s big day, so naturally her flowers and bridesmaids’ bouquets get most of the attention. Recently, however, the groom and groomsmen attract notice with wonderfully inventive and beautiful boutonnieres.

The customary wedding boutonniere is a single flower, usually one found in the bride’s bouquet, worn on the left lapel of the man’s jacket. Today, creative designers craft boutonnieres that the groom appreciates as much as the bride. Julio Freitas of The Flower Hat notes, “Besides a bridal bouquet, boutonnieres are my favorite thing to do. I feel like they have a story to tell, and look forward to making them every time.” While single blossoms or buds reflecting the bridal bouquet still hold their own, bouts now include berries, seed pods, ferns, and fall leaves. And the occasional artifact (think shotgun shell) also bumps up their masculinity.

Find your boutonniere’s story and gather boutonniere ideas with more than two-dozen from the pages of Flower magazine and some of our favorite Instagrammers.

See the Slideshow

Scabiosa pod boutonniere made with berzelia berries and wrapped in jute twine. Floral design by Frannie Aura of New Leaf Design. Photo by Alpine Wedding Photography

Boutonnieres made from succulents, baby pink rose buds, and silver brunia berries. Floral design by David Michael Schmidt. Photo by Corbin Gurkin

Fun boutonnieres made with peach spray roses, pink spray roses, ferns, and berries wrapped in jute twine. Floral design and photo by Sand Dollars Floral Hawaii. Follow on Instagram @sanddollarsfloral 

A single white tulip boutonniere wrapped in blue and white fabric to match the bridal bouquet. Floral design by Tara Guérard. Photo by Liz Banfield
See Meet Tara Guérard for a Q&A and more of her designs.

White sweet pea boutonnieres with hypericum berries, eucalyptus, silver brunia berries, and snap dragons. Floral design by Shay Brown Events. Photo by Cassidy Carson

Sea holly, astrantias, blueberries, and greenery combine in this boutonniere.  Floral design by Sweet Pea Gardens. Photo by Corbin Gurkin

A single orange ranunculus boutonniere provides a great pop of color (and matches the groom's tie). Floral design by Tara Guérard. Photo by Liz Banfield

This boutonniere pairs a single scabiosa pod with a ‘Majolica’ spray rose, bound with butter-yellow silk ribbon.  Floral design by Mindy Rice. Photo by Aaron Delesie

Fragrant, herb boutonniere made with lavender, blueberries, and sage, tied together with hand-dyed silk ribbon. Floral design by Kae Yelchaninov and Alesya Savenok of Kae + Ales. Photo by Erich McVey

Anemone boutonniere with blue viburnum berries to match the color of the Salish Sea for a Seattle wedding. Floral design and photo by Erin Shackleford of Camas Designs. Follow on Instagram @camasdesigns

Wintery boutonnieres combine silver brunia berries, white ranunculus, and silvery green dusty miller. Floral design by Liz Griffith of Cori Cook Floral Design. Photo by Preston Utley

These bouts reflect an English wedding's "natural" theme, inspired by Cornish hedgerows and coastal footpaths. Floral design and photo by Vanessa Collins of The Flower Mill Cornwall. Follow on Instagram @theflowermillcornwall

A groom’s boutonniere incorporates Pieris japonica, wheat, and fritillaria, all wrapped with a piece of Moroccan eyelet. Floral design by Mindy Rice. Photo by Liz Banfield

A white ranunculus boutonniere with berries, and buds. Floral design by Kelly Lenard of Intertwine. Photo by Cassidy Carson

This shotgun shell boutonniere combines a single, creamy lisianthus bud with blue eryngium, gunni eucalyptus, podicarpus, and agonis for a wildflower look. Floral design and photo by Karen Luke of Karen J. Florals.  Follow on Instagram @karenjflorals

This fruit and berry boutonniere, a pocket-sized version of the bride’s bouquet, includes andromeda, cherries, privet berries, and millet.  Floral design by Rachel Osguthorpe. Photo by D’arcy Benincosa

Olive branch boutonnieres combine white ranunculus blossoms with olive leaves and olive buds wrapped in black satin ribbon. Floral design by Charleston Stems. Photo by Virgil Bunao

A green and white boutonniere made with craspedia, wax flower, rosemary, fern, and asparagus fern. Floral design and photo by Poveste cu Flori. Follow on Instagram @povesteciflori 

Autumn maple leaf boutonnieres with scabiosa pods and berries met the bride’s wish that they be “masculine, funky, and natural.” Floral design by Samuel Franklin. Photo by Clark Brewer 

A simple white orchid boutonniere worn for a beach wedding. Floral design by Charlotte and Ben Simmons of Little Island Design. Photo by Jenelle Kappe

Bold, pink ranunculus boutonniere made with green hypericum berries and black satin ribbon. Floral design by Verbena Floral Design. Photo by Jen Dillender 

Purple lavender boutonnieres with brunia berries and green ivy leaves wrapped in jute twine. Floral design by Ashley Bateman, owner of Nola flora. Photo by Corbin Gurkin

A spray rose, sea holly, and wax flower boutonniere tied with polka dot ribbon. Floral design and photo by Bethany Sigrest of OAK. Follow on Instagram @oakexperience

A simple, masculine boutonniere of ranunculus, snowberries, ferns, and acorns tied with green satin ribbon. Floral design by Amy Merrick. Photo by Scott Clark.
Amy Merrick shows how to make a wreath using some of nature’s little surprises.

Astrantia and sage boutonnieres with blackberries, Scabiosa pods, and echinops (plus a succulent for the groom). The ribbon for the groom’s boutonniere is a taupe grosgrain topped with a simple loop and a bordeaux button.  Groomsmen's boutonnieres are wrapped in jute ribbon. Photo and floral design by Julio Freitas, The Flower Hat, Bozeman. Follow on Instagram @theflowerhat

This succulent boutonniere is surrounded by green hypericum berries, seeded eucalyptus wrapped in jute twine. Photo by Flower's Jessica Cohen.
Learn to make this with step-by-step video instructions at How To Make A Boutonniere.

More Boutonnieres and Bouquets

• How to Make a Boutonniere
• Catch these Bridal Bouquets
• Matthew Robbins Shows How to Make Wedding Bouquets
• Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a Hand-Tied Bouquet
• The Romantic Bridal Bouquet
• How to Make a Flower Crown