How to Make a Wedding Boutonniere
Boutonnieres are the small floral pieces worn on jacket lapels by the groom, groomsmen, and other male wedding party members. They're labor-intensive for their size — every stem is wired individually. This guide covers the technique.
Supplies needed
Tools, mechanics, and supplies you'll need before starting this build.
- 22-gauge floral wire
- Green floral tape
- Pruning shears
- Pearl-headed pins or magnetic clasps
- Ribbon for wrap
Flower Recipe
Real stem counts with 2025 US wholesale pricing
| Flower | Role | Stems | Wholesale/Stem |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Spray Rose (single bloom) | focal | 1 | $2.00–$3.00 |
| Waxflower (1 sprig) | filler | 1 | $1.25–$1.75 |
| Silver Dollar Eucalyptus (1 tip) | greenery | 1 | $1.00–$1.50 |
| Italian Ruscus (1 tip) | greenery | 1 | $0.90–$1.40 |
| Total Stems | 4 | ||
White Spray Rose (single bloom)
Waxflower (1 sprig)
Silver Dollar Eucalyptus (1 tip)
Italian Ruscus (1 tip)
Wholesale Cost
$4–$9 each wholesale
Suggested Retail
$4–$9 each wholesale
Step by step
- 1
Cut the focal flower short
Snip the spray rose with a 2-inch stem. This is your main element.
- 2
Wire the focal stem
Insert floral wire through the base of the spray rose bloom and bend it down along the stem. Wrap the wire-stem combo with green floral tape.
- 3
Add the greenery elements
Position eucalyptus and italian ruscus tips behind the rose. Wire them together with the focal stem, wrapping with floral tape.
- 4
Add waxflower or accent filler
Tuck waxflower sprigs between the greenery and the focal flower for texture.
- 5
Wrap the stem with ribbon
Wrap the wire-taped stem with a decorative ribbon (usually matching the wedding color palette).
- 6
Finish with pin or magnetic clasp
Attach a pearl-headed pin or magnetic clasp at the back for attachment to the lapel.
Now price this arrangement for your client
Save this recipe to your Fiory library and build a branded proposal for your next wedding in under five minutes.
Pro tips
Magnetic clasps are becoming the preferred attachment method — no risk of damaging clothing.
Build boutonnieres the morning of the wedding — they can't survive refrigeration overnight.
Use small flowers only — oversized boutonnieres look clunky on a lapel.
Common mistakes to avoid
Making boutonnieres too big — they should be 2–3 inches maximum.
Using flowers that bruise easily (ranunculus) — they don't hold up to being pinned and bumped.
Building too far in advance — freshness matters for the final photo moment.
Interactive calculator
Boutonniere Pricing Calculator
Adjust stem counts and get real-time wholesale + retail pricing →
Related how-to guides
How to Make a Corsage
Pin-on corsages are the traditional floral accessory worn by mothers, grandmothers, and other VIP guests at weddings.
Explore →How to Make a Wrist Corsage
Wrist corsages are worn on the wrist instead of pinned to a dress — the more popular modern alternative to pin-on corsages.
Explore →How to Make a Flower Crown
Flower crowns are bridal accessories worn on the head — usually by the bride, flower girls, or bridesmaids.
Explore →Ready to price and propose this arrangement?
Fiory gives you the recipe library, pricing calculator, and proposal builder wedding florists actually need.
- 7-day free trial
- Billed monthly after trial
- Cancel anytime