TL;DR (THE QUICK ANSWER)
GENTS: Left lapel. Over the heart.
LADIES (CORSAGE): Right side. Opposite the gents.
"It happens at every wedding. The groom’s party is looking sharp, the drinks are poured, and then someone hands out the flowers. Suddenly, five grown men are staring at each other in total panic."
As a wedding photographer, I see it every weekend. The morning prep is going flawlessly until the florist drops off the buttonholes. Then the questions start. Which side does it go on? How do I pin it without drawing blood? Does the pin go on the outside or the inside?
Before you ruin a perfectly good tuxedo lapel or end up looking like you are wearing a school prefect badge, let's get this sorted with a bit of ruthless efficiency.
The Gents Left-Hand Side
For the groom, the groomsmen, the ushers, and the page boys. The buttonhole always goes on the left-hand side. Specifically, it sits on the left suit jacket lapel, right above the heart.
A classic tradition says it sits over the heart to signify romance, but practically speaking, it just looks sharpest there. Keep it straight, keep it secure, and make sure it is tight enough to survive the dancefloor later tonight.
The Nicholas Teal Pinning Technique
"Do not show the silver metal. A visible safety pin kills the look. Push the pin through from the back of the lapel, straight through the thickest part of the flower stem, and weave it back into the fabric. Hide the mechanics."
Watch The 60-Second Tutorial
The Ladies Right-Hand Side
For the mothers of the bride and groom, or any ladies wearing a corsage or female buttonhole. These go on the right-hand side.
They sit on the opposite side to the gents. This creates a brilliant visual balance when the parents or the wedding party stand together for those hero group shots.
Unbelievable moments deserve unbelievable photography. Let's get the suits sorted so you can get back to the bar.