Boutonniere vs Corsage for a Wedding: Who Gets What and Why

When planning your wedding florals, it’s easy to focus on the big arrangements like bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony arches. But when it comes to honoring the people who mean the most to you, understanding boutonniere vs corsage for a wedding matters just as much. These small, wearable florals are a beautiful and heartfelt way to recognize loved ones and celebrate their role in your day.

So who should receive a boutonniere or corsage? Let’s walk through traditional etiquette, modern ideas, and how to make choices that truly reflect your values.

The Tradition: A Starting Point

Traditionally, boutonnieres are given to distinguished male guests and corsages are worn by distinguished female guests. In a more conventional wedding party, this would usually include:

• Parents and Stepparents of the couple
  
• Grandparents of the couple
  
• Groomsmen
  
• Siblings who are not in the wedding party
  
• Ushers or ceremony assistants
  
• Readers or special participants in the ceremony
  
• Officiant

For example, the father of the bride or groom might wear a boutonniere pinned to their lapel, while the mother might wear a wrist or pin-on corsage.

But while tradition offers a helpful starting point, it certainly doesn’t need to define your decisions!

A Modern, Meaningful Approach

At Rosemary’s Garden Florals, we believe your wedding should reflect your values and the unique people who support and love you.

Floral accessories like boutonnieres and corsages are not limited to any gender or role. Anyone can wear a boutonniere or a corsage! What matters most is the gesture: honoring the people who are important to you with a bloom they’ll wear proudly.

Here are some additional people you might consider honoring with a floral accessory:

• Chosen family or close friends who’ve walked alongside you in life
  
• Mentors or caregivers who helped shape who you are
  
• Siblings or cousins not in the wedding party
  
• Flower children or junior attendants
  
• LGBTQ+ family members and friends whose roles may not fit neatly into tradition
  
• Any guest whose presence you want to recognize in a special way

You can also get creative with how these flowers are worn! Beyond traditional lapel pins and wrist corsages, couples are getting inventive with floral pocket squares, lush floral lapels, floral hair combs, and flower crowns to honor their distinguished guests. 

And guess what? Our real-touch florals lend themselves perfect to any design you can dream up, designed to suit the style and comfort of the person wearing them. If you’d like us to create unique floral accessories for your wedding, request a custom design consultation! 

Request a Custom Design

The Sentiment of a Flower

Giving someone a floral accessory for your wedding is a sweet way to say: You matter. I see you. Thank you for being part of this moment with me. Whether you stick with tradition or write your own rules, these floral keepsakes become cherished mementos of the day.

Our real-touch flowers are designed to look and feel just like fresh blooms but with the benefit of lasting far beyond your wedding day, making the sentiment of floral accessories even more meaningful! They’re elegant, enduring, and made with love, just like your relationships.

Ultimately, It’s Up to You

There’s no right or wrong way to honor your people. Whether you’re following tradition, embracing something modern, or blending the two, the most important thing is that your choices feel authentic to you.

So give a flower crown to your grandmother, present a wrist corsage to your best friend who helped you through every step of planning, or celebrate your sibling who’s been your rock with their own floral pocket square. Let love lead the way!

Explore Our Signature Collection Boutonnieres & Corsages

At Rosemary’s Garden Florals, we offer an elegant line of real-touch boutonnieres and corsages crafted for moments just like these. Our signature designs blend timeless beauty with long-lasting quality, perfect for weddings, anniversaries, or any day you want to make someone feel truly special.

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