The DIY Boutonniere: A Simple Project For A Special Touch.

The boutonniere is a simple way to incorporate handmade items into your wedding. Even the craft-challenged and first timer should have no trouble creating custom pieces for the men in the wedding party.

The most basic and common boutonniere consists of one flower, usually the main flower in the wedding theme, and a secondary decoration, such as baby's breath, leaves, or even ferns. Roses are by far the most common, although orchids or lilies can be an interesting and beautiful choice.

Color is another important factor to consider after composition. A bright red or pure white rose paired with two or three glossy green leaves will look especially stunning against a black background. For tuxedos with lighter lapels, darker colored flowers will provide a nice contrast.

Once you have chosen your materials, assembling a boutonniere is a snap. You will need floral tape, a wax impregnated paper tape found in any large craft store. All of your flowers and foliage should be trimmed so that the stems are about 11 inches. For ferns, use the tips, leaving them long enough so that the bottom leaves can be stripped away, giving you a 'stem' to work with.

Once you have all the materials arranged to your liking, you may wrap a bit of scotch tape around the middle to hold them in place. Run a strip of floral tape down the length of your stems and around the bottom to cover the cut ends. Next, carefully wind the tape around the stems, working from the bottom up. The floral tape should be stretched slightly as you wrap, this activates the wax and allows the tape to stick to itself. Each pass of the tape should overlap the previous one about 3/4. Once you have reached the top of the stems, make an extra two or three passes around, making sure to keep the tape stretched tight. Cut or tear the tape and smooth the edge down so that your work doesn't unravel!

Boutonnieres can be made two to three days in advance. To store them, place the boutonnieres in a shallow dish with a little bit of water. The dish should then be placed in a refrigerator, preferably somewhere on the top shelf, where it will not be disturbed. One you are ready to use the boutonnieres, they can be placed on a paper towel to dry, then pinned in place with a simple pearl headed corsage pin.

Making your own boutonnieres can be a fun, simple and economical project for the bride-to-be or anyone helping with the wedding. No matter what materials are used, you can be sure that your handmade boutonnieres will be a small but special addition to your big day.