Prom is a very exciting experience for high school students. Boys and girls get to dress up, pair up with dates, and have an evening to remember among friends and classmates. Leading up to the prom, there is a lot of preparation to do. From getting outfits to planning transport, it’s all part of the fun. One all-important element in your prom attire is the flowers. Many people aren’t sure how to pick prom flowers or how corsages and boutonnieres are used. Our objective is to give you a general overview of these topics as well as some specifics on the types of flowers to pick and how to match colors.
In this article, we are going to give you an easy-to-follow guide on picking prom flowers:
- What are the basic prom flowers?
- The prom corsage and the dress
- Matching your boutonniere with the corsage
What Are the Basic Prom Flowers?
Before you think about picking prom flowers, it’s important to know a bit about the different types. Corsages and boutonnieres are the main ones to pay attention to. Dates exchange these small flower arrangements on prom night.
The boy gives the girl a corsage. This floral gift has quite a rich history and has transformed in form and use over time. Corsages date back a few centuries. The name comes for the French, “bouquet de corsage,” meaning a “bouquet of the bodice.” Corsages were traditionally pinned onto the lady’s dress during weddings as a form of good luck. According to the superstitions of the time, the flowers and herbs that made up the corsage could keep evil spirits away.
The corsage evolved to what it is today in the 20th century. A young man who was going on a date with a young lady needed to honor and thank her family for their permission. He typically did this by bringing a bouquet to her parents when he picked her up. From it, he could pick out a flower to pin on his date’s dress.
Corsages are usually made up of flowers with added ribbons, lace, beads, and pins. They are delicate, detailed, and elegant. To prevent damage to the lady’s dress, they are now mostly worn on the left wrist but can also be pinned on the left shoulder.
The boutonniere is slightly different. It is the flower arrangement worn by the man. It is pinned to the lapel or left shoulder and is much simpler in design than the corsage. This makes sense because guys are not as involved as girls in most of the excitement around getting the perfect prom attire
In terms of flower choices, carnations are the most common flowers used. They come in many different colors and can be dyed easily to expand the range. Other flowers used in prom arrangements include sweetheart roses, orchids, freesia, alstroemeria lilies, baby’s breath, and calla lilies.
The Prom Corsage and the Dress
Picking the right corsage and boutonniere isn’t just about grabbing the first thing that you like. There’s some tradition around it, and we are here to give you the tips and tricks you need to know before spending any money.
Firstly, it’s a wide tradition for the corsage to match the girl’s dress. Afterward, the boutonniere is chosen to match the corsage. So, the first thing you need to have is a dress or dress color. An easy way to match your dress and corsage is to have the same colors. For example, a red rose corsage goes perfectly with a red dress. If your dress has a unique color shade, there’s no need to worry about not finding a matching flower. Florists can dye white flowers to your chosen color.
Another option for matching the corsage to the dress is to go with a neutral corsage color. Many people choose the classic white corsage because white usually goes well with most dress colors and styles. You can also match your corsage details and embellishments to those on your dress. If your date has a unique eye color, you can even go big and match the corsage to her eyes.
For multi-colored dresses, it can be a little more challenging to match the corsage. There are many workable options, such as matching the corsage to the dominant color of the dress and matching the embellishments to the other parts of the dress, or vice versa.
A multi-colored corsage is an option worth exploring as well, but you have to take care to avoid a cluttered and busy look. You can get a corsage composed of a single flower type or different types of flowers. It helps a little if you know something about your date’s style preferences. Does she like simple things or color and extravagance? If in doubt, you can always ask her. As traditions change, matching isn’t a must, and as long as you pick a complementing color, you can get away with quite a variety of combinations. Other themes to consider include your date’s favorite color or a bold accenting color.
Matching Your Boutonniere with the Corsage
Matching the boutonniere is not as complex, so the girls have it a little easier here. You can match this flower to your dress, his tie, vest, or cummerbund, or you can get a complementary corsage and boutonniere at the same time. This last option is a great idea because it allows you and your date to discuss different options and make the selection together.
Whether you get the prom flowers together or not, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of being mindful of your date’s preferences. You get to pick something they are going to wear all evening. Try to make sure it goes well with their outfit and doesn’t make them feel uncomfortable or make them stand out unnecessarily. There are real benefits of keeping it simple yet elegant. You can’t go wrong with a classic single color for both prom flower arrangements.
Preparing for prom is all part of the excitement around the night. Your prom outfits and flowers should make you feel your best. Picking the right corsages and boutonnieres is easy when you follow a few guidelines and put yourself in the shoes of your date.