DIY Groom’s Boutonnières – Guest Katherine Rothschild

March 19, 2008

Boutonnières from a florist are pricey, wasteful, and may wilt in warm
weather. So, choose a less expensive and more fun DIY ways to dress up
his lapel.

An home herb garden can render thyme, rosemary, or sage for a
simple herb boutonniere. This is the most simple, most masculine
option. You'll need: three stems, floral wire, wire cutters, green
floral tape, and a yard of narrow ribbon (green or brown are good
colors for the ribbon).
A boutonnières should be about three inches in length, so cut your
herbs to about three inches, then position them in a triad, and wrap
the stems in wire, then floral tape. Wind the ribbon over the floral
tape and secure with a strait pin. The pictured boutonnière was made
from rosemary and deep green ribbon.

Or, for a more colorful option, create a one-of-a-kind rose ribbon
boutonniere. You'll need: one half yard to one yard of 1 1/2 inch
wire-edged (recycled or vintage) ribbon, floral wire, wire cutter,
floral tape, thread, and a yard of narrow ribbon in a shade of green.
(See set-up photo.)

To make the rose, pull the wire ends of one side of the ribbon out,
fold them so they don't slip back, and gather one side of the ribbon
up. It should make a circular shape. Cut a four-inch piece of floral
wire and fold it in half.

Roll the ribbon into a rose shape around the
top of the looped wire, leaving a wire "stem." Sew the rose ribbon in
place at its base with matching thread. Wrap the stem in floral tape,
then in ribbon, and secure with a single pin.

– Katherine Field Rothschild