Tropical Flowers for Boutonnieres
- Orchids provide a fairly durable option for boutonnieres on your special day.Georg Hanf/Photodisc/Getty Images
If you simply can't stand the thought of pinning a carnation on your wedding party's lapels or are looking for something less classic than a rosebud, look into tropical flower boutonnieres. They come in a full range of colors, from brilliant and bold to soft and elegant. They hold up particularly well against the heat of spring and summer weddings, and many of them are so eye-catching they need little or no "filler" foliage. - The calla lily is a common tropical flower used in weddings, especially bouquets. That doesn't mean you can't use it in a boutonniere. With the stem cut fairly close to the blossom, you can accent it with a variety of foliage -- perhaps some that matches your wedding colors or makes the blooms pop. Calla lilies have a symbolic meaning of "magnificent beauty." They also give a light fragrance and are in season for the spring and summer nuptials. They can be pricey, so using them in the boutonnieres instead of the bouquets and arrangements might be just the ticket.
- The cymbidium orchid is a plant with about 20 to 30 small flowers per spike. It works well in bouquets, but that doesn't mean you can't steal some blossoms for the boutonnieres. They come in a variety of brilliant colors, including purple, red, yellow and white -- sometimes with a blush center. Let the flower take center stage without accenting foliage, or pair it with another brightly colored orchid. Better yet, have each gentleman in the wedding party wear a different colored blossom. These orchid blossoms are fairly durable.
- Lady's slipper is named for the elegant shoe its blossom resembles. The plant has only two leaves, which you may want to use to make the dark pink, yellow or white blossom really pop. The flower itself grows about 3 inches long, so you don't have to dress it up with much. The petals do remain closed, a change from all the wide-open blossoms you typically see at weddings.
- This orchid is also known as the dancing lady, named for its oblong or pointed petals arranged in a star shape. The blossom resembles a dancer's whirling skirts and headdress. One petal lays flat, fanned out, away from the others. These flowers work well for boutonnieres because that petal can sit flat against lapels, while the others still give it some depth and shape. They come in a variety of colors and usually have contrasting spots or patterns, making them a lovely accent to a one-color wedding theme. The "Sherry Baby" variety comes in a purplish-brown and gives off a wonderful fragrance, which is another reason why they work well for boutonnieres.
