Wedding Trends: Boutonnieres

Like most girls, I am a wedding fiend. I could almost be an expert in the field of wedding motifs and details. And as with every era, there are trends in weddings. Most men are blind to wedding trends and motifs and need a little help from their brides. Here’s just that help to make the suit and the groom look great on the big day.

wildflower boutonniere

pretty yellow boutonniere

The main fad in weddings overall is the rejection of a formal and/or modern wedding. Most people are opting for a more laid back setting for comfort. This isn’t to say that it isn’t a dressy occasion; it’s just not a black tie affair anymore. And modern, understated themes and decorations are being ignored for antique, intricate, rustic elegance.

I’ve started this series out small with a simple, yet decisive detail for the groom. Considering that the groom doesn’t have much leeway in terms of fashion, the boutonniere is a major piece of his outfit. Usually for prom, weddings and pretty much any other occasion, a man’s boutonniere is usually the uber-traditional rose, maybe with some Baby’s Breath. This has been the standard method of operation of men’s formal fashion for decades and possibly a century. Gladly, this boring cycle has been broken :)

Grooms (and probably more specifically brides) are now going for unique boutonnieres that haven’t been done before. The trend is becoming a simple, unexpected flower that fits the suit perfectly (which is usually no longer black as well). If the groom does wear a rose, it commonly comes with a twist now. Original boutonnieres can include a small shrub, berries, a pretty, non-flowering plant cloth or paper. Depending on your wedding design, it could work in a classic or modern setting.

My favorite thus far is a cloth flower. This gives a homey, casual yet antique complement to the groom’s garb. Also, there is a shift from a plain pin to more intricate fasteners and accessories, such as ribbon, feathers or fabric in any design that can be managed.

Boutonnieres can show some true originality by using them to display the wedding theme. A tiny pumpkin with wheat for Halloween is cute as well as holly and garland for Easter or some red, white and blue tassels for Independence Day. Any incorporations will be dashing and unique on the groom.

Although the boutonniere is only a detail, hopefully you can make a big statement by putting a tiny new spin on an old tradition for wedding day.