button boutonnieres
Create a dramatic finish for your flower boutonnieres by wrapping the taped stems with decorative wire and sweeping the wire up and around the stem in a curving motion.
After making your bottom loop, bring the wire behind the stem, curve out a large loop and bring the cut end up and around the front and behind the flower heads.
The wire is very malleable and can be manipulated easily into shape with just your fingers. Take care to bend the wire smoothly to create an even line rather than sharp bends and twists.
Make a boutonniere shine and sparkle by adding flower jewelry. For this lapel flower, I'm going to cut diamante pins down to 1" by using wire cutters.
You can create an elegant look by using Pearl Pixie Pins as well. They come in an assortment of different colors and are already cut to size.
Please observe all safety precautions when cutting corsage pins. You'll need safety googles (a MUST for avoiding injuries to your eyes that can be caused by flying sharp points!!), a small block of styrofoam and a pair of heavy wire cutters.
Insert your long pin deeply into the foam, leaving only the amount of shank exposed that you want.
Squeeze the pliers firmly until the shank is cut. You can place the fingers of your other hand lightly on the top of the pin head to keep it from flying across the room.
Cut the shank short enough to avoid sharp points extruding out the back of the flower, yet long enough to bury itself deeply into the flower head.
Dipping the end into flower adhesive can assure that the pins stay in place.
Coordinating or contrasting colors of the pins can add sparkle or shine to any flower head. These pins catch the light and look lovely in photographs.
The finished design works as both a boutonniere or a corsage. Colored wire works very well as an alternative for corsage ribbon.
If you prefer a smaller boutonniere, use only one or two blooms depending on your preference.
I spray my boutonniere flowers with a flower sealant called Finishing Touch. This seals the petals against moisture loss and helps extend the life of the flowers.
This is especially important for flowers (such as corsages and boutonnieres) that are stored in a kitchen refrigerator. Florist coolers put humidity INTO the room - regular refrigerators REMOVE the humidity. The flower sealant helps protect against this problem.
It's not a bad idea to gently lay a film of plastic wrap over your flower heads when they are stored in your refrigerator before the wedding day.
The finished boutonniere is monochromatic, meaning that all the elements of the design are of a similar color or hue. Despite being all green, the boutonniere has a lot of interesting components with different textures and design accessories.
See how all three flower heads face in different directions, making the lapel posy beautiful from all sides.
The diamante pins adds the final touch of pure elegance and come in clear, pink, red, light blue and apple green.
The finished look is dramatic and stylish. If you want a smaller boutonniere, simply eliminate one of the flower heads. You can experiment by using different colors to create a look unique to your own wedding palette.
