The History Of Boutonnieres Whether it’s a wedding or a prom, you’ll most likely see the guys wearing boutonnieres on their suit’s jackets. These flower pins have become accessories for special occasions, but have you ever wondered where this tradition comes from? Why would someone want to wear a small floral arrangement on their jacket? Well, the history of the boutonniere is actually quite interesting and fascinating and here’s some facts about the flower pin that you’ll be able to explain to everyone else the next time you have to wear one. The meaning of boutonniere The term “boutonniere” is French term for flowers pinned to button holes, but the British simply called them “button hole flowers.” Today, we merely pin them on the lapel of a dress jacket, but traditionally these tiny flower arrangements were placed in the button hole of a suit jacket or tuxedo. Possible histories There are some who believe the tradition of wearing small flower arrangements on clothes goes all the way back to ancient times, including the Aztecs or Egyptians, when people would wear colored flowers to show their support for players in various sporting events. Then there are some who think that the tradition involving boutonnieres came about during the civil wars of England, where each side of the battlefield wore a particular flower color or type to distinguish themselves from enemies and friends. However, the boutonniere and the bridal bouquet, as well as corsage, were all used for similar reasons throughout history – to ward off evil, horrible smells and disease. But it wasn’t until the 19th century when boutonniere became very popular as lapel accessories since the fashion started to include a number of coats that folded over the top to reveal the inside of a button hole – the perfect place to pin a boutonniere! The modern boutonniere Obviously, we don’t use boutonnieres to ward off evil spirits or because of the fact that we smell, but use them for special occasions like proms and weddings. Usually, for proms, the guy will get his date a corsage that matches her dress while she will usually buy him a boutonniere of the same color to match. For weddings, it’s tradition for the groom, fathers, groomsmen ushers and any other guy in the wedding to wear a boutonniere on the left lapel of the suit or tuxedo jacket. The color usually matches the wedding’s theme and can even complement the bride’s bridal bouquet. Wedding boutonniere etiquette If you really want to follow tradition, there are some traditions you should follow when it comes to boutonnieres. The groom should always have a different boutonniere than his groomsmen or from any other man in the ceremony so that he stands out from the rest. And although it’s not necessary, it will keep the aesthetics of the wedding if the boutonniere matched the bouquet (plus it’ll look better in pictures). It should also always be worn on the left side of a man’s suit jacket, specifically on the label. And make sure to always ask the florist to include the stems of the flowers used and to include whatever pins necessary to get it to stay on to the lapel (you don’t want to have to make a quick trip to the store on your wedding day for flower pins!). Although the arrangement of the boutonniere is totally up to you, it’s best if you keep it simple and tasteful. Also, you don’t want anything too large, so keep it about the size of a golf ball for maximum effect. If you’re in need of boutonnieres for proms or weddings, give enchantedfloristaz.com a call at 480-994-1758 and we’ll help design the perfect boutonniere for your special event! You can also order online at https://www.enchantedfloristaz.com/boutonnierre CHECK BOUTONNIERE LINK and spelling