Boutonnières

Forget the powder pink carnation. Boutonnières can now be as varied as a sprig of rosemary or a chocolate cosmos tied with a midnight blue ribbon. The groom's bloom is often plucked from the bridal bouquet and worn on the left lapel, right over his heart. Go for a mix and match and tie blossoms and buds together, accenting with dark green leaves. To hold the boutonnière together, wrap floral wire from the top to bottom of the stems, finishing off with a special pin or a velvet bow. For scented groomsmen blooms, think of using seeded eucalyptus or sweet smelling gardenias.

C E L E B R I T Y T I P S  &  T A L E S Mother of the Bride Cybill Shepherd carried a bouquet of fresh cut roses in warm pinks, oranges and yellows to accent her hot pink suit worn at the recent wedding of her actor daughter, Clementine Ford, to fellow actor Chad Todhunter. Later at their reception, she surprised her guests with her own personalized rendition of "My Darling Clementine."

Times have changed. Corsages don't have to make your mother or grandmother look as if they're attending the senior prom. Today, corsages are so sophisticated that they can even be worn like a piece of jewelry. Ask your florist to combine an elastic wristband with a pin so that each woman can wear her corsage in a way that's most comfortable. We're partial to a single cymbidium orchid or a magenta dahlia for an elegant look, and we personally know some very hip moms who have opted to carry a small bouquet of loose stems down the aisle.