What type of wire is ideal for making boutonnieres?

The ideal choice for making boutonnieres is 22-24 gauge floral wire. This gauge provides the perfect balance of strength and flexibility needed for creating sturdy yet delicate arrangements. The wire in this range is robust enough to support the weight of flowers and other elements used in boutonnieres, while also being flexible enough to manipulate into various shapes and styles.

Using a higher gauge wire, such as 26-28 or 30-32, may result in a structure that is too flimsy to adequately support the blooms, leading to potential drooping or breakage. Conversely, a lower gauge wire, like 18-20, while strong, may be too rigid for the delicate nature of boutonnieres, making it harder to work with and potentially leading to damage to the flowers during assembly. Therefore, the 22-24 gauge wire strikes the right balance to ensure that the boutonniere is both visually appealing and structurally sound.