Boutonniere Colours: The Count Before the Colour

The same boutonniere costs between $4.10 and $8.49 depending on which pack you buy, and which packs exist depends on the colour you picked. That is the trap: most people choose the colour first, then discover it only comes in twos, and end up paying roughly double per lapel for no reason other than the order they made two decisions in.

Decide the count first. Then choose from the colours that come in that count. This guide has both halves — who wears one and how many that adds up to, then which palettes are available at which pack sizes.

Start with the count

A boutonniere is worn by more people than most couples plan for. The standard list:

Who	Typical count
Groom	1
Groomsmen / best man	3–6
Fathers and stepfathers	2–4
Grandfathers	0–4
Ushers, readers, officiant	0–4
Ring bearer	0–1

Most weddings land between five and fifteen. The wedding party alone is usually five or six; adding fathers and grandfathers takes it to ten or more. If you are working out personal flowers across the whole party, the forgotten four covers the wearers people most often miss.

The pack-size ladder

Catalogue prices, September 2026, USD:

Pack	Price	Per boutonniere
Set of 2	$16.99	$8.49
Set of 6	$32.99	$5.50
Set of 10 (guest sets)	$40.99	$4.10
Single / specialty	$16.99–$32.99	$16.99–$32.99

Here is the trap in numbers. A groom plus four groomsmen is five boutonnieres.

• Three sets of two: $50.97, and you have one spare.
• One set of six: $32.99, and you have one spare.

Identical outcome, $17.98 apart. The only difference is that someone browsed by colour and took the first listing that matched.

Which palettes come in which packs

This is the part worth checking before you commit to a colour.

Palette	Available as	Best per-unit
Sunset Terracotta	Set of 2, Set of 6	$5.50
Classic Marsala	Set of 2, Set of 6	$5.50
Lilac & Gold	Set of 2, Set of 6, Set of 10	$4.10
Dusty Rose & Cream	Set of 2, Set of 6	$5.50
Dark Teal & Burnt Orange	Single, Set of 6	$5.50
Bordeaux Red & Wine	Set of 6	$5.50
Amber	Set of 6	$5.50
White & Beige	Set of 6	$6.00
Baby's Breath	Set of 10	$4.10
May Lily & Olive	Set of 10	$4.10
Burnt Orange	Set of 10	$4.10
Dutch Blue & Navy	Set of 2 only	$8.49
Ivory	Set of 2 only	$8.49
Forest Green & Gold	Single only	$32.99
White & Sage	Single only	$32.99

Blue is worth calling out because people search for it specifically. Dutch Blue & Navy is only stocked in twos, so a party of five costs $50.97 rather than the $32.99 a six-pack colour would cost. That is not a reason to abandon a blue palette — it is a reason to know the number before you are surprised by it.

Matching the lapel to the palette

Three rules that hold across almost every palette.

Match the bridesmaids, not the bride. The bridal bouquet is usually the palest thing in the wedding; the boutonniere sits against a dark jacket. Pulling the boutonniere from the bridesmaid palette gives it something to read against. A white boutonniere on a navy suit photographs well; a white boutonniere on a light grey suit disappears.

Give the groom a variation, not a different flower. The convention is that the groom's boutonniere differs slightly — one extra bloom, a different ribbon, a touch more of the focal colour — while staying in the same family as the groomsmen's. Different flower entirely reads as a mistake rather than a distinction.

Check it against the suit, not against the bouquet. Order one before you order eleven and hold it against the actual jacket fabric. Charcoal, navy and black each do different things to the same flower.

If you have not locked your palette yet, the palette method works through choosing one that holds together across every element rather than per item.

Why this decision is easier in faux

One paragraph, because it is relevant here specifically rather than generally.

A fresh boutonniere survives roughly four to six hours out of water, pinned against a warm chest, while the day runs ten or more — which is why they are built in the final 48 hours and why you cannot see yours before the morning of. Faux removes the deadline, so ordering one to check against the suit is possible at all. The longevity problem is covered in the lapel half-life.

Common questions

How many boutonnieres do I need?

Count the groom, the groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers and anyone with a ceremony role. Most weddings need between five and fifteen. Buy one spare — pins fail.

What colour should the boutonniere be?

Pull from the bridesmaid palette rather than the bridal bouquet, so it reads against a dark jacket. Give the groom a variation within the same family.

Should the groom's boutonniere be different?

Slightly. One extra bloom or a different ribbon. A different flower entirely looks unintentional.

Is there a blue silk boutonniere?

Yes — Dutch Blue & Navy, currently stocked in sets of two at $8.49 each. Note that most other palettes are available in sixes at $5.50, so a blue party of five costs about $18 more than the equivalent in terracotta or marsala.

How far ahead should I order?

Because faux does not perish, as early as you like — and early is better, because it lets you check one against the suit before committing to the full count.

Method

All prices are Fancmoment catalogue list prices as published September 2026, USD, excluding shipping and before discount, derived from listed pack sizes. Availability by palette reflects current stock and will change; check the product pages for the live position. Last verified 18 September 2026.

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