Here we are– three days away and getting all of the last minute stuff taken care of!

I am currently sitting with my feet up and a face mask on because I’ve decided that my well being (meaning my face, I guess) is one of those last minute things I need to take care of. Ahem.

A few days ago, Jammer came over to help me with little last minute things (if you haven’t see her cake toppers, go ahead and do yourself a favor– your day will get better, I swear) and we did a test run of the boutonnieres! And they came out great!

I learned a lot about the whole process (who knew taping flowers together could be so complicated) so I’m going to impart some wisdom so that the next time you need to fix up your prom date you’re prepared. Firstly, etiquette. Thaaaat’s right.

Now being a sweet southern lady I knew all of this already (LIES) but for those of you who didn’t graduated from debutante academy, I’ll fill you in:

• Who wears the boutonnieres? – Anyone of any importance, basically. All of the groomsmen/ushers, fathers, grandparents, etc.
• Where do they go? – This was one I didn’t know. Boutonnieres are traditionally worn on the left side. I’m going to show you a video about how to properly attach them.

(I love that she says, “Handsome groom– no face.” WTF)

If you’re worried about damaging the suit, there’s an alternative. Que video number two:

Now that we are all total LAY to the DEES and know all the etiquette — let’s talk about how to make the suckers. I used the following:

• Floral tape
• Floral wire (light gauge)
• Floral stems (green, heavy gauge)
• Pearl headed pins (imagine my english accent like the video above)
• Succulents (pictures below)
• Mini orchid blooms (pictures below)

Here is what I did. Succulents have no stem so I created one. Using the floral wire stem, I gently pushed it through the bottom root of the hens and chicks succulent bloom. I gave it about three inches and cut the wire stem.

Take your floral tape and STRETCH it. This is an important step because it makes the floral tape sticky. Start winding the top of the succulent stem (above where you attached the wire) and then wrap all the way to the bottom. I’ve found it helpful to continue to wrap the floral tape together even after you’re at the bottom of the stem because the floral tape sticks to itself a little better.

I worked on the orchid bloom next. I took the light gauge floral wire and cut six inches of it. Then I bent it in half. Using the floral tape again, I wrapped the tiny little orchid bloom together with the bent floral wire.

Next! I wrapped the two together, succulent and orchid.

Then! I took a little filler (from the bouquet on my kitchen table for the week) and placed it with the already wrapped orchid and succulent. Everything has been cut to be about the same length of three inches (like I mentioned earlier) and you TIGHTLY wrap everything together one last time with floral tape.

Then you get the following:

(Forgive how thick this looks– this was a test run and the end didn’t stick to itself. Don’t forget to STRETCH the floral tape! It changes everything!)

Not bad, right? You attach with a pearl headed pin the way that the video above described. You can also find the silver lapel pins at Michael’s for 1.99 a piece.

(But to be honest, I like the other one in the above picture better.)

TAKE THAT! (Now back to the really important stuff.)