WITH THE FRENZY of asking someone to prom, finding a dress, and planning every minute of the hours that you will spend with your date before, during, and after prom, most people forget about the corsage and boutonniere until the last minute. If you are in charge of buying them, finding a color to match your date is not the hard part.

For the person pinning the boutonniere, it can often be uncomfortable and stressful. So instead of worrying about where to put it or if you will accidentally stab your date and have to take them to the emergency room because of blood loss (even though this can't actually happen), check out this simple guide to pinning a boutonniere and putting on a corsage. Hopefully it will help you get it right the first time.

Placement of the boutonniere
photos by Deborah Ladd

The final step: Weaving the pin over

Boutonniere

Step 1: Take the boutonniere out of its box, or whatever packaging it may be wrapped in. Hold the boutonniere with the flower facing toward you, and place it where you will be pinning it; this should be about four inches down from the shoulder and at a slight angle from the lapel.

Which side you pin it on is not really an issue, although most people pin it on the left (your right if you are facing your date).

NOTE: Keep the corsage and boutonniere refrigerated as long as possible so they stay fresh. This is one purchase that should be made on the day of prom.

Step 2: With your other hand, gently stick the pin into your date’s jacket to the right (or left, depending on what you're more comfortable with) of the flower’s stem. Be sure not to stick the pin in too far (i.e. into your date’s skin or shirt). To help with this, you may find it necessary to hold his or her jacket an inch or so away from their chest.

Step 3: Still to the right (or left) of the flower stem, weave the pin back out of the jacket so that the point of the pin is facing toward you.

Step 4: Lay the pin across the stem, and then stick it into the jacket on the other side. Make sure that the pin does not poke out of the fabric or into your date, and that the stem is held securely.

NOTE: If you are unsure that the boutonniere will stay in place, use two pins instead of one, one from each direction so that they cross each other.

Corsage With An Elastic Band

Step 1: Make sure that the flowers face upward while placing the corsage on your date.

Step 2: Stretch the elastic slightly using your fingers by placing both hands in the middle.

Step 3: Have your date extend his or her hand with fingers together (which one does not matter, both right and left are common) and slide the corsage over the hand to the wrist.

TIP: If you are taking your pictures in a large group, try to have all corsages and boutonnieres on the same side for a more polished look. So if one person’s boutonniere is on his or her right, everyone else’s should be too. The same idea applies to corsages.