Wiring leaves and flowers is such a helpful skill to have when doing small pieces like boutonnieres and gives you a lot of control on how the flowers lay and hold out of water. You’re able to bend each piece to fit and mold well with one another, and highlight those that need to be highlighted.

When wiring a leaf, go in where the vein is located until the wire is about halfway through. Then bend down both ends to create a hairpin. Cut off the stem of the leaf and twist the ends of the wire together. Then, use floral tape to cover the wire.

Helpful Tips

• 26 gauge is ideal for wiring boutonnieres

• Use flora and foliage to coincide with the bouquets

• If you don’t cover the wire completely with floral tape, be sure you have another flower to hide the showing wire.

• If you wire flowers or leaves in a boutonniere, it is often best cover the entire stem structure with ribbon.