Over at GroomGroove.com, it’s known as “the one flower the groom is responsible for” and their sage advice warns that seatbelts (and presumably many activities such as hugging and jacket-removing) can easily decapitate the delicate boutonnière. But aside from getting it to the church on time, and in one piece, what rules are there when it comes to the bloom on a groom’s lapel?

I love this boutonnière because it incorporates (presumably) a little of the groom's Scottish heritage into his modern wedding attire: This kind of creative use of tradition never fails to impress!

10 important things:

1. Boutonnières/Buttonholes are worn on the left lapel, over the heart.
2. While a groom’s bloom can be different, everyone else should match.
3. Boutonnières or buttonholes should be provided for all key family and friends at a wedding, including ushers and the ring bearer.
4. As a guest, a man can wear his own subtle buttonhole to a wedding in honour of the celebratory nature of the day.
5. Traditionally, buttonholes are a single white or red rose or a white carnation, daisy or gardenia. The groom’s may also be selected to match the bride’s bouquet.
6. A buttonhole flower slots into the buttonhole on the lapel of the jacket and is best secured with a stem loop, often included on the suit by the tailor, but a pin can work too.
7. The words buttonhole and boutonnière are often used interchangeably but generally, a buttonhole is a single flower, whereas a boutonnière is more of an arrangement.
8. A lapel vase, hooked over the buttonhole and hidden beneath the lapel, holds a tiny bit of water to keep buttonholes fresh.
9. Boutonnières are often too large to slot into the buttonhole (and equally too large for a lapel vase) instead, the buttonhole should be used as a location marker and the flowers should be pinned to cover it up.
10. Pinning must be done carefully in all cases as the pin should never go through the stem of the flower, but over it, and any pin marks left on a satin lapel will leave permanent marks.

Notes: Photograph by Tara McMullen Photography and etiquette guidelines compiled with help from a few excellent resources:  Robert Kennedy, Harry Rosen’s Bloor Street location’s made-to-measure expert, Hersey Silversmiths, The Wedding Book by Mindy Weiss and Lisbeth Levine, GroomGroove.com and A Suiteable Wardrobe: Will’s thoughts on dressing in style (blog)