How to Choose Prom Corsage And Boutonniere Accessories (2024)

It’s time for PROM again! Time to find stunning prom dresses, sparkly jewelry, the perfect shoes and, of course, the right corsages and boutonnieres to bring it all together! Prom comes with some particular preparations for guys and girls. The blog concentrates on how to choose prom corsages and boutonniere, the final touch for your prom night.

What is a Prom Corsage and Boutonniere?

A corsage and boutonniere are small flower arrangements exchanged among dates for dances. A corsage is centuries old, and actually is derived from the French phrase, “bouquet de corsage,” which means, “bouquet of the bodice.” In the past, it was believed that flowers and herbs warded off evil spirits. Because of such an ancient superstition, corsages were worn to weddings as part of a tradition of fostering good luck. The modern corsage used today originated in the 20th century when young men would bring a bouquet of flowers for the family of the lady as a thank you for letting him take her on a date. The man would usually choose one flower from the bouquet and pin it on his date’s dress. A corsage is what the male presents the female, and is usually more detailed with added lace, beads, pins, or ribbons. Today it is most often worn on the left wrist as to not ruin the dress with pins, but it can be pinned on the left shoulder as well. The men wear a simple boutonniere on the left shoulder or lapel. The most common flower used in prom arrangements is the carnation because it comes naturally in a variety of colors and is easily dyed other colors. Sweetheart roses are also customary. Other typical flowers in prom bouquets are orchids, alstroemereia lilies, calla lilies, freesia, and baby’s breath.

In keeping with tradition, most couples try to match the corsage, and in turn, the boutonniere, to the female’s dress. There are several ways to go about matching the flower arrangement to the dress.

# Roses

Choose roses is smart, roses come in three varieties. Hybrid tea roses, the classic rose in florist shops, are uniformly shaped. Garden roses have wonderful scents and bushy, old-fashioned blossoms. Spray roses, with five or more heads per stem, have a homegrown look. Roses offer a range of color choices, one of which is sure to match the couple’s outfits.

# Orchids

The orchid is an elegant, sophisticated floral option, one a teen can feel confident selecting regardless of prom ball trends. Just one orchid may be enough to make a bold floral statement. Consider the cymbidium or cattelya orchid for prom, varieties that tend to produce larger flowers.

# Carnations

Traditional and affordable, carnations come in many colors. Some carnations are a solid color, while others are bi-colored, often white with colored petal edges. These strongly fragrant flowers are a popular prom choice. As a long-lasting cut flower, carnations wear well for hours.

# Sweet Peas

With thin stems and frilly flowers, sweet peas add a classic, romantic look to prom attire. The sweet pea is also a good prom choice because it is in season right around prom time and lasts well as a cut flower. The sweet pea’s single, double or semi-double blossoms come in a range of colors, including red, pink, lavender, navy and white. Sweet peas may be a solid color or bi-colored.

# Tulips

A happy, spring flower, the tulip comes in both vibrant and pastel colors, as well as ivory and white. The common tulip is versatile and works well with both very formal and more casual prom attire. A single-tulip boutonniere looks both smart and simple.

What color or type of corsage should I get?

Nowadays, modern corsages come in an amazing variety of styles. The color of your corsage should match the color of the dress or contrast the outfit. Rather it should enhance the outfit. That being said, choosing the color is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your corsage. The first thing to do is select how you will wear the corsage (read further down for traditional styles for corsage-wear), is to pick out the pin or ribbon. At Tipton & Hurst, we have a whole wall dedicated to ribbons and bracelets in dozens of different styles, from silver chains that wrap around your wrist to gold bracelets encrusted with jewels. The variety is almost limitless. Once you have the flower and pin/bracelet/ribbon chosen, you can also add on accessories, such as small sprays, jewels, feathers, bows and so much more. While corsages may have been simplistic in the past, it’s definitely now in style to go flashy and big.

What about the boutonniere?

Boutonnieres are similar to the corsage in color and style and are worn by the male date. While the color and flower of the boutonniere matches the corsage, the boutonniere is much more simple and usually only has one flower. They are pinned to his jacket’s left lapel just above the heart with the stem facing down and flower facing up. They should be ordered and picked up at the same time as the corsage.

Instructions:

1. Discuss with your date the basic colors you both plan to wear to the prom. A prom dress may be one solid color, or it may contain several hues. Determine the predominant color and work from there.
2. If your date is female, ask whether she prefers a wrist or pin-on corsage. All male boutonnieres should be worn pinned to the lapel.
3. Determine whether your date has any favorite flowers that should be incorporated into the arrangement.
4. Call local florists to gauge prices and to get a sense of flower varieties, colors and costs. Order the flower arrangement at least two weeks before the dance.
5. Pick up the flowers the day before, or the day of, the prom to insure maximum freshness and perkiness.

Tips & Warnings:

• Corsages can be made of any flower in any color, but they usually feature carnations or roses. You’ll want to match the flowers and the ribbon to the color of your date’s dress. If you’re not sure what will match, ask your florist for advice, or choose white.
• If your date’s dress has sleeves or straps, you’ll be able to pin a corsage to it. If it’s strapless, you’ll be better off with a wrist corsage.
• Your corsage can be simple or ornamented with background greens and flowers, such as a small fern sprig. Take your date’s personal style into consideration when choosing a corsage.
• Take care to avoid purchasing an oversized or gaudy corsage & boutonniere simply to make a statement. Keep the flower arrangement simple and elegant.

So remember: Whatever style you choose for 2016 Prom season, your prom corsage should be as dazzling as you are! Also, for best (and most stylish) results, go with your date to pick out your corsage.