Corsage Montage

How to choose the perfect corsage and boutonniere

Words Styling Photography t is interesting to note that the traditional corsage (for women) and boutonniere (for men) were once worn in the 1700s to ward off diseases, evil spirits and nasty smells. Oh how times have changed! Now exclusively reserved for formal occasions such as weddings and proms, these wearable and often intricate flower arrangements have become part and parcel of what makes a wedding complete. Having traditionally been worn by the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom, today it is acceptable for the bride to bestow corsages to close female friends and other relatives—women whom she would like to honour, show respect to and acknowledge as having made a discernible impact on her life.

A boutonniere is the male equivalent of a corsage and is typically a single flower or bud worn by men on their suit. Conventionally worn by the groom (whose arrangement is generally fuller than the rest), his groomsmen, the father of the bride and the ushers, it is ultimately left to the couple to decide who to bestow this gesture of appreciation to.