'Manly' flowers for boutonnière

I really have no flower knowledge to impart, but I will agree the ranunculus aren't the best.

When my husband was a groomsmen, they used succulents. However, they got smooshed easily.

I'm doing rosemary sprigs and baby's breath for mine.

We used a mix of eucalyptus, blue thistle and dusty miller...

DH requested a calla lilly. He had almost no opinion on anything and then throws that out of left field.

Mine will be blue thistle and spray rose.

These are great ideas. I'm going to start looking them up - thank you ladies!

My DH had had a single white rose (so classic) with a sprig of lavender and olive branches. I don't get why men have to have "manly" flowers.

Nicole - FH is hesitant to wear a bout so anything too large or feminine will turn him off; but I really like the use of them to differentiate close family from the rest if the guests. A rose is a classic and sophisticated look. I think that I am leaning that direction but I am also loving the blue thistle with the spray rose. eTA. The lavender is beautiful with the rose too. Thank you for sharing.

We did calla lilies also. White for H and mango for the GM and fathers.

I second Nicole on this. Are flowers inherently feminine? I've never thought so. DH and groomsmen rocked yellow roses.

Kmess - that is an interesting observation. I guess in my mind they always were associated with females and their beauty. Hmm - I have learned a lot about myself through these seemingly innocuous posts.

The possibilities are endless. The best way to make arrangements (and bouts are tiny arrangements) take on a more masculine feel is to focus on texture, structure, and lines as opposed to volume. Think of Japanese inspired arrangements (they incorporate a few florals but tend to celebrate simplicity and architecture. A cherry blossom branch is often used in a Japanese inspired arrangement because you have the lines of the branches catching your eye. They are accented by a touch of flora -- a few blossoms.

I would suggest a calla lily. They are very simple, elegant, and structural (and come in a variety of colors from pure white to a purple/black). As opposed to the rose, a flower that is almost frilly in terms of structure and petal count, the calla it is sleek, simple and elegant.

You could also consider hops (yep...the stuff they use to make beer). It's not feminine at all.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7f/25/55/7f2555b772a1d32a2a87b71ff69d92e2.jpg

You might also consider grape hyacinth (muscari), but if you are not using purple in your wedding, buy the white variety. Add a single rose bud and a few ruscus leaves to take it up a notch (or add it to a calla).

http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yeeTI0zlDhs/UqcB9PqetNI/AAAAAAAAxP4/1tqri77bKoo/muscari-vintage-wedding-bout-bloomer%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f5/6d/f0/f56df058e41de99c021e32f1f7125277.jpg

You could also consider Bells of Ireland (a green flower that matches the color of the stem. You'd have to pay for the whole stem, and your florist would just cut the head off and make the bout).

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b6/22/4b/b6224bea912ac7bfb402476fad5f2b56.jpg

Add a white lisianthus bloom and some curly willow or another stick to the Bells of Ireland and you have a very masculine bout.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b4/fc/7f/b4fc7f97a404eb9bfdd1b96a899a2fd9.jpg

Another idea is berries: hypericum with a few rose leaves is not feminine, but is still structural and formal (there are lots of berries -- reds, orange, white):

http://www-static.weddingbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/11/boutin.jpg

Think greenery, sticks, berries...there are so many ways to go. Ranunculus, although a beautiful flower, wouldn't have been my first thought. But that doesn't make your florist wrong. She may have a great idea for a bout.

I think the guys are going to have a white rose and a bachelor button with a little green, like the photo. My dad's will be completely different though. Purple thistle and sage.

Sorry, OKD -- it looks like you'll have to copy and paste those links (or you could just google image search. Tons of variations).

What are your colors?

Centerpiece - thank you for the time taken to recommend some alternatives. I really appreciate it! Ninjaaa - the casing idea is a great one and I think M may have done that in her wedding (trying to recall the BAM - which was beautiful). Thanks for reminding me. Nicole - for the ceremony the colors are whites, ivory with hints of blush. There will also be quite a bit of greenery since we will be decorating the steps up to the chapel with garland and the alter will have garland and candles also.

Oh that sounds so beautiful and romantic!

We just did green/red berry type things, and my husband had stephanotis to match my bouquet (they look like stars, he wanted nods to star wars)

Billy balls! Those are manly