<P> The word corsage comes from the French term bouquet de corsage, meaning "a bouquet of the bodice" which was traditionally worn by women to weddings and funerals . Eventually, the term shortened to corsage . In the early 19th century, corsages were regarded as a courting gift and were often given at formal dances . Traditionally, the gentleman would bring a gift of flowers for his date's parents and would select one of the flowers to give to his date, which would then be carried or attached to her clothing, usually on the shoulder . During the 1950s, some corsages were made with fruit and would be seen on hats for decoration . As dress styles changed, pinning the corsage to the dress became impractical, and wrist corsages became the norm . </P> <P> Today's corsages are still very similar to those made in previous decades, although they are much smaller now . It is still customary for a male to give his female date a corsage when attending a formal dance, but they are also sometimes given to a daughter attending a formal event by her parents or worn by the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom at a wedding . Flowers used should be complementary in color to the attire, and corsages and boutonnières should be coordinated to indicate that a couple is attending the event together . Corsages are often dried and pressed to be preserved as mementos . </P> <P> When attending a school formal or prom, providing a corsage for a prom date signifies consideration and generosity, as the corsage is meant to symbolize and honor the person wearing it . Corsages are usually worn around a prom date's wrist; alternatively, they may be pinned on her dress or a modified nosegay can be carried in her hand . The colors of the flowers are usually chosen to complement the dress or to add color to the couple, creating a unifying look . Prom couples may wish to go together to choose the flowers for a custom - made corsage or boutonnière . Traditionally, the male presents a corsage or nosegay to the female as a gift, while the female would provide the boutonnière and pin it on the male's shirt or jacket . </P> <P> Corsages can be made from a single flower or a small bunch of flowers, and a variety of flowers can be used . The following table shows some of the main flowers and accents used to create a custom - made corsage and that can be included in a nosegay and boutonnière . </P>

Do you have to get corsages at homecoming