A debonair alternative to a boutonniere for the groom or for the men in the wedding party is a neatly folded pocket square. It's a particularly nice choice for a suit or morning jacket worn at a daytime event. We chose a lilac silk handkerchief with a rolled edge, but delicate cotton or linen will do. Either way, coordinate the color with ties and suits. There are dozens of folding options; here's a chic, modern one.

Helpful Hint
The thicker the fabric, the more billowy your finished pocket square will be. For silk squares, aim for
a puffy look. Linen and cotton fabrics will result in a crisper fold.

Pocket Square How-To
Start with a handkerchief that is 15 inches square. For best results, iron it just before folding.

1. Lay the square flat on your work surface with the right side down. Fold the square in half by bringing the top point down to meet the bottom point; you'll end up with a triangle.
2. Fold the left point of the triangle down so it meets the bottom point.
3. Fold the right side down in the same manner.
4. Fold the left point of the diamond shape over so that the point touches the middle of the folded fabric.
5. Fold the right point over to the middle in the same way.
6. Fold the bottom point up to cover the other points by about an inch, hold in place so it doesn't unfold, and carefully tuck the folded handkerchief into the left-side jacket pocket so that about 3 inches are exposed.