Buttonholes - why I personally love them

Photo : Tom Dinucci 

Buttonholes: small detail, big impact (and why I always recommend them)

Buttonholes are one of those wedding details that people often underestimate. They’re small, discreet, and sometimes treated as optional. But honestly? When they’re done well, they quietly pull the whole look together.

As a florist, I almost always recommend buttonholes for weddings — and not just out of habit. There are real reasons I love them, both aesthetically and symbolically.

Photo : Pattie Fellowes

What is a buttonhole, really?

Traditionally, a buttonhole is a small floral piece worn on the left jacket lapel — most often by the groom, partners, parents, and key male members of the wedding party. Think of it as the masculine counterpart to the bouquet or corsage.

It’s not about being flashy. It’s about cohesion.

Photo : Virginie Jones

Why they matter more than people think

First: visual balance.
You’ll have flowers everywhere — bouquet, ceremony arch, table arrangements. Buttonholes link the people to the flowers. Without them, there can be a strange visual gap, especially in photos. With them, everything feels intentional.

Second: photos.
Close-up shots matter. Hugs, vows, group photos, candid laughs — buttonholes add texture and detail exactly where the camera often lands. A well-made buttonhole elevates a simple suit instantly.  Also - think photos of groom and his groomsmen.

Third: they mark the moment.
A suit can be worn again. A buttonhole is temporary. It exists for that one day. There’s something powerful about that — it says this is a wedding, not just a nice outfit.

Image : Marina Boussin

I don’t do “old-school” buttonholes

Let’s be clear: I’m not talking about stiff, bulky, outdated buttonholes that feel like an obligation.  Think carnations with a bit of greenery.

The ones I design are:

• Light and natural

• Made with seasonal flowers

• Balanced, never oversized

• Designed to compliment rather than dominate

They often echo the bouquet, but in a more subtle way. Same colour palette, same textures — just scaled down and adapted.  Think a mini bouquet.

Sometimes though it’s just a single flower. Sometimes it’s a mix of dried and fresh elements. Sometimes it’s deliberately imperfect. That’s where the charm is.

Sometimes it's a pocket buttonhole - a mini garden that fits snugly into the breast pocket.   A fuller, bigger style that's not to everyone's taste.

Image : Alexandra Palombi

Who should wear one?

This is flexible — and that’s important.

Common choices:

• Groom / partner(s)

• Parents (I can't count the number of times the father's have been forgotten).

• Witnesses

• Officiant

You don’t have to match everyone perfectly. In fact, I often make them with variations : 

• A special flower for the groom

• A simpler version for others

• Sometimes all of them are different

It creates hierarchy without shouting about it.  The bridal party stands out from other guests, the groom stands out from his groomsmen.

Photo : Pattie Fellowes

So, do you need buttonholes?

No - not at all. A wedding doesn’t fall apart without them.

But if you want:

• Cohesive styling

• Stronger visual storytelling

• Thoughtful details that show care

Then yes — they’re worth it.

Buttonholes are a quiet luxury. They don’t scream. They whisper. And in a wedding full of emotion, that subtlety matters.

If you’re planning your day and wondering whether to include them, my honest answer is simple:

You won’t regret having them. You might regret skipping them.

Photo : Leah Marie Photography

How to fix them?

It's actually easier than you think but needs to be done properly so that they don't move during the day. 

My buttonholes always come with two pins (with pretty pearl heads, designed for dressmaking so that they are fine and won't mark your expensive suit).

Place the buttonhole on the left lapel of the jacket.  Turn the lapel over and from the back push one of the pins at a downwards angle into the centre of the flowers around where the ribbon is.  You'll feel it "bite" into the flowers. Don't try to push the pin back to the wrong side. Take the second pin and do the same thing from the bottom to the top.  

Photo : Ludo Charles

And if you are not wearing a suit?

No problem - pin them where you want as long as it on the left side close to the heart !