Corsages and boutonnieres
Corsages and boutonnieres for prom and weddings
Corsages and boutonnieres made by hand in our Richmond Hill studio for proms, formals and weddings across Toronto and York Region. Tell us the date and send a photo of the outfits, and we'll design a matching pair, or a full set for the wedding party.
- Wrist or pin-on corsages
- Made by hand to order
- Toronto and York Region
What we make
Flowers for corsages and boutonnieres
- 01
Prom corsages
A wrist or pin-on corsage for prom or a formal, built around the colour of the outfit. Spray roses are the classic choice because they're small, hold their shape out of water and sit neatly on the wrist without catching on anything.
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Matching boutonnieres
A boutonniere for your date's lapel, made with the same flowers and greenery as the corsage so the two read as a pair in photos. Usually one rose or a small cluster, with eucalyptus or baby's breath behind it.
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Wedding party boutonnieres
Boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers and anyone else standing up front. The groom's often gets a different flower or an extra stem, so he stands out from the line in photos.
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Corsages for mothers and grandmothers
Wrist or pin-on corsages for parents and grandparents at a wedding. Tell us what each person is wearing, because a mother of the bride in navy and a grandmother in gold want different flowers.
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Prom-night bouquets
If a corsage feels like too small a gesture, a bouquet waiting at home before or after prom goes down well. Rose Ladder, Rosewater and Blush and Pearls can all be ordered from our shop for delivery.
Prom corsage: wrist or pin-on?
For prom, most people go with a wrist corsage, and for good reasons. It doesn't put pin holes in satin or sequins, it stays put through dancing, and it works with strapless and one-shoulder dresses where there's nowhere sensible to pin anything.
A pin-on corsage sits on the outfit itself, usually on the left side, just below the collarbone. It looks right on a jacket, a heavier fabric or a pantsuit, and it's the traditional choice for mothers and grandmothers at a wedding. On light chiffon it can drag the fabric down, so there we'd steer you to the wrist.
A few things that help us get the size right:
- A small wrist? A big corsage can swamp it. Three spray roses with a little greenery is plenty for most people.
- A watch or bracelet? The corsage goes on the other wrist.
- Long or puffed sleeves? A wrist corsage can fight with a cuff, so a pin-on may sit better.
Tell us which style you'd like when you enquire, and we'll talk it through if you're not sure.
How to match a corsage and boutonniere to the outfits
The old rule says the corsage matches the dress. In practice, an exact match is hard (fabric dye and petal colour rarely agree, especially in daylight) and when it does work it can look flat. What works better is choosing flowers that sit well next to the dress, then repeating them in the boutonniere.
What to send us:
- a photo of the dress or outfit, taken in daylight if you can
- the colour of the suit, tie or pocket square on the other side
- the date, and the address where you'd like them delivered
Some pairings that rarely go wrong: ivory or white flowers with almost anything; blush with navy, grey or black; deep red with black or white; and mostly greenery with a metallic or sequined dress, where coloured flowers fight the sparkle. If the dress has a strong print, keep the flowers plain.
The boutonniere should be a smaller echo of the corsage: a rose from the same batch, the same greenery, the stem wrapped to match. It's the detail that makes the pair look planned rather than bought separately.
Wedding boutonnieres: who gets one
A boutonniere marks the people who are part of the day, so the list is usually longer than couples expect. The usual one:
- the groom (or both grooms), often with a slightly different flower
- groomsmen and ushers
- both fathers, and stepfathers
- grandfathers
- the ring bearer, in a smaller size
- the officiant, if they'd like one
Corsages traditionally go to mothers, stepmothers and grandmothers, and sometimes to a godmother or a favourite aunt. Some couples add them for readers or anyone giving a speech. There's no wrong answer, but decide early so nobody important is left out on the morning.
Corsages and boutonnieres spend the whole day out of water, so they're best made close to the date. For a wedding, we deliver them with the bridal bouquet and the rest of the wedding party flowers, so it's one delivery to the house or hotel where everyone is getting ready. The bouquets, ceremony and tables are on our weddings page.
How to pin a boutonniere and put on a wrist corsage
Pinning a boutonniere is easy once you've seen it done, and fiddly the first time. Here's how.
Pinning a boutonniere
- It goes on the left lapel, over the heart, with the flower facing out and the stem pointing down.
- Hold it against the front of the lapel, roughly in line with the lapel's edge.
- Turn the lapel over. Push the pin through from the back, through the boutonniere's stem, and back into the lapel. Most of the pin stays hidden behind the fabric.
- If it tips forward, add a second pin lower down the stem.
If the jacket has a working buttonhole on the lapel, the stem can go through that, with a pin behind to hold it steady.
Putting on a wrist corsage
Slide it on before the photos, not in the car. The flowers should sit on top of the wrist, centred, with the band just above the wrist bone so it doesn't slide over the hand. Tradition says the left wrist, but the wrist without a watch or bracelet is the more comfortable choice.
Keeping corsages and boutonnieres fresh
Corsages and boutonnieres live without water, so they're the most fragile flowers at any event. Spray roses, carnations, baby's breath and eucalyptus cope with that well. Ranunculus and hydrangea florets wilt faster, which is why they're used sparingly in these pieces.
Once they arrive:
- Keep them somewhere cool until you need them. The fridge is fine as long as there's no fruit in it (ripening fruit gives off a gas that makes flowers age faster). Never the freezer.
- Don't mist them just before they go on. Water marks show on satin and silk.
- Put them on last, after hair, makeup and the jacket.
- Keep the pins with the boutonniere, so nobody is hunting for one at the door.
A corsage will look good through photos, dinner and dancing. By the end of the night it will look tired, which is normal for flowers out of water. To keep it, hang it upside down somewhere dry and dark for a couple of weeks, or press the flowers in a heavy book.
For flowers in a vase, our fresh cut flower care guide covers the rest.
Corsages near me: delivery in Toronto and York Region
We're delivery only right now, so there's no counter to pick up from. That suits corsages better than you'd think: they arrive at the house where everyone is getting ready, instead of riding around in a warm car.
We deliver seven days a week across York Region and Toronto, including Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Aurora and Stouffville. You can choose a morning or afternoon window. For prom, a morning window leaves the afternoon free for photos without anyone listening for the doorbell.
Prom season in Ontario runs from late May through June, and a lot of schools land on the same few weekends. Many people order a prom corsage a couple of weeks ahead for that reason. For a wedding, add the corsages and boutonnieres to your wedding enquiry so they're planned with everything else.
And if a corsage feels a bit small for the occasion, our Rose Ladder, a dozen roses in a flat wrap, makes a good bouquet to have waiting at home.
Ideas
Colour pairings for prom
Starting points for a corsage and boutonniere that suit both outfits. Send us the colours and we'll suggest flowers.
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Black suit, red dress
Deep red spray roses with dark greenery. Keep the boutonniere to a single red rose so it doesn't compete with the tie.
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Navy suit, blush dress
Pale pink spray roses with baby's breath and eucalyptus. Soft against navy, and forgiving if the dress is a shade warmer or cooler than the photo.
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Emerald or green dress
White or ivory roses with plenty of eucalyptus. Coloured flowers tend to clash with a strong green, and white lets the dress lead.
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Lilac or lavender dress
Lilac lisianthus or purple scabiosa with white spray roses. Works well with a grey or light blue suit.
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Gold, silver or sequins
Ivory and cream with greenery and very little else. The dress already does the sparkling.
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White or cream suit
Almost any colour works against white, so this is the outfit to be bold with: a deep red or coral rose on the lapel.
Ready to order
Designs you can send today
Not every event needs a quote. These are in the shop now, made by hand on the day and delivered across York Region and Toronto.
How it comes together
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Send the details
Use the enquiry form with the date, the delivery address and a photo of each outfit. For a wedding, list everyone who needs a corsage or a boutonniere.
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Talk it through by phone
We call to go over the colours, the flowers and how many pieces you need, and to check whether each corsage is for the wrist or pinned on.
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Approve the design and quote
You get the design, the flowers we'd use and a quote in writing. Change anything you like, then approve it and your date is set.
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Made by hand and delivered
We make each corsage and boutonniere by hand in our Oak Ridges studio from that day's flowers, then deliver them to the address you gave us, in the window you chose.
Questions
What people ask about corsages and boutonnieres
How much does a corsage and boutonniere cost?
We quote corsages and boutonnieres for each order, based on the flowers and how many pieces you need. Send the date and outfit colours through the form, or call (437) 291-5605, and you'll have a price before anything is made.
Who buys the corsage for prom?
Traditionally, the person who asked buys the corsage and their date buys the boutonniere. These days plenty of people go as friends or in a group, and some buy their own. Order them together so they match, then split the cost however you like.
When should I order a prom corsage?
A couple of weeks ahead is sensible, since many schools in Toronto and York Region hold prom on the same few weekends in late May and June. If you're leaving it late, call (437) 291-5605 and we'll tell you what's possible for your date.
What colour corsage goes with my dress?
Send us a daylight photo of the dress. As a rule, white and ivory go with anything, blush suits navy, grey and black, and metallic or sequined dresses look better with less colour. An exact colour match is hard and often looks flat, so we aim for flowers that sit well beside it.
Which side does a boutonniere go on?
The left lapel, over the heart. Pin it from behind the lapel through the stem so the pin stays hidden, with the flower facing out. A wrist corsage traditionally goes on the left wrist too, though the wrist without a watch or bracelet is more comfortable.
Can you deliver corsages on the day of prom or the wedding?
Yes. We deliver seven days a week across Toronto and York Region, in a morning or afternoon window. Give us the address where everyone is getting ready. Delivery starts at $12 and is priced by driving distance.
How long does a corsage last?
Through the photos, dinner and dancing, as long as it stays cool until it goes on. Flowers out of water look tired by the end of the night, which is normal. Keep it in the fridge, away from fruit, until you need it.
Can I pick up my corsage from the studio?
Not at the moment. We're delivery only, with no walk-ins or pickup, so we bring corsages and boutonnieres to you anywhere in York Region and Toronto. Choose a morning or afternoon window when you order.
Tell us about your day
We quote every event on its own. Share what you know so far, even if it is just a date and a colour, and we will take it from there.
Rather talk? (437) 291-5605Planning something else?