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Someone just told me a horror storry, where they did a butterfly release near the beach, and all these seagulls swooped down to eat them. I'm not sure if it's true, but still a scary thought.
I've never seen it but I heard about it at a wedding a friend went to. In this particular case only about 10 butterfly's flew out, the rest just stayed in the cage.
I hear that they are subdued somehow for transit, and sometimes they either stay subdued, or ..... die :)
But don't stop with my answer, keep checking around!
Good luck
Candi
Personally, I don't feel comfortable involving live animals (butterflies, doves, etc.) in a wedding - not counting having your cute puppy walk the ring down the aisle or something. There are too many unknowns (like what the above poster said about seagulls) and it might offend some people that are animal lovers like me. That being said, it's your wedding, and I can visualize how this would look pretty or dramatic. So it's up to you. :)
i went to a wedding with a butterfly release (every guest was given an envelope with a butterfly) they move around inside it, which may be a distraction for some guests and when they were released, they flew low to the ground, so you had to watch where you were walked
Personally, I don't agree with it, but if I had to look it up for a client, I would probably start here:
I had considered doing a butterfly release, but did not proceed because of the many of the reasons listed above. It sounds like a gorgeous idea, but in the end I decided to spend the money elsewhere. Good luck and let us know what you decide!!
my aunt did this at her wedding about 10 years ago. first, there are some weird prep things you have to do. We had to fold all of the origami boxes. And then, you have to put these gross pupa things inside the boxes a certain amount of time before the wedding. So, yeah, there is som fluttering in guests hands from inside the box, so that can be distracting, but generaly people thought it was really cool. Definitely check with the venue, because I recall some issue with Yosemetie natl park that wasn't worked out, but they did it any way. I think there were some issues with some butterflies not being fully "awake" or ready. Overall, it was very pretty.
I am glad I wasn't the first to post about the birds eating the butterflies. I've seen it happen twice! At a third wedding the majority of the butterflies wings did not develop right and it was very disturbing to see them try to be released. I wish I had a good story to share about butterflies, but I've only seen it happen three times.
http://www.swallowtailfarms.com/pages/butterflyreleases_sd.html
i was actually purchasing something else on their website but started reading about the butterflies since i've never heard of it before!
It seems like the butterflies are a bit unpredictable (as nature can be). I know the desired effect is to have all of these beautiful butterflies flying above your heads into the sky at the moment of release, but everything I have ever seen doesn't quite go that way. A lot of times, they don't fly away, they kind of land and linger for a while. Maybe they're dazed. At any rate, it's just something to think about because I know how it is to have a picture in mind for the wedding and become extremely disappointed if it doesn't happen that way. Not to kill all of your hopes and dreams, but why spend money on butterflies that may or may not fly away?
thanks so much for everyone's quick responses! it was just a thought i had. :) like everyone, i thought they were a cute idea, but was afraid of all the things that could possibly go wrong. i was hoping to hear some positive stories, but it's good to know that things are more likely to go wrong than right before i ordered them. phew! thanks again!
FSIL did this - and when they opened the packages....half of them were dead....talk about bad omen.
I should note that my FFIL GREW THEM all - he didn't order them, but there havent' been many good "I ordered them" stories either....
I think it's a risk you take if you really want to do it.
DSC03577.jpg (14.3 KB, 34 downloads) 2 years old 630.jpg (18.3 KB, 18 downloads) 2 years old 
The swallowtail farms website is interesting in that they make quite a point on the instruction sheets of letting you know how to get your money back if the butterflies are dead. Ick. I'm not sure getting my money back would make up for that.
They "subdue" them for transit by keeping them cold, as they can't fly when they are cold. (You know how in the morning you see them sitting in the sun with their wings spread - to warm up enough to fly.) So if you don't get them to the right temperature, they can't fly away, or can't fly very well. Also according to the instruction sheets on the website you have to warm them up slowly, and not let them get too hot. It all probably goes okay if you have reasonably warm weather, but not too hot, and if you have someone with not much to do besides look after the butterflies. Seems to me like it might be more trouble than its worth.
The swallowtail farms website is interesting in that they make quite a point on the instruction sheets of letting you know how to get your money back if the butterflies are dead. Ick. I'm not sure getting my money back would make up for that.
They "subdue" them for transit by keeping them cold, as they can't fly when they are cold. (You know how in the morning you see them sitting in the sun with their wings spread - to warm up enough to fly.) So if you don't get them to the right temperature, they can't fly away, or can't fly very well. Also according to the instruction sheets on the website you have to warm them up slowly, and not let them get too hot. It all probably goes okay if you have reasonably warm weather, but not too hot, and if you have someone with not much to do besides look after the butterflies. Seems to me like it might be more trouble than its worth.
DSC02958.jpg (89.3 KB, 60 downloads) 2 years old
I was at a wedding a few years ago where they did a butterfly "release". The two main problems that I remember were 1) guests were not properly told what the little envelopes contained as they arrived and signed the guestbook, and I hate to say it, but I'm sure a few got shoved in pockets or sat on before people started to realize what they were and warn each other 2) the butterflies were still completely sudued, and about half of them did not fly away but lopped onto the ground, chairs etc. It was hard to avoid stepping or sitting on them.
The idea is pretty, but really, wrangling nature in an envelope, not such a nice idea...
It seems really cruel to me, and kind of wrong to "celebrate" your love and wedding with the death/injury of innocent animals.
I have heard of this before, it seems to be getting more popular since it is better than throwing rice or silly string. I have heard both horror stories, and great stories, but just like carrieitly said, you have to make sure your guests are aware of what is going on.
I would also do your homework with who to buy your live butterflies from. The Butterfly-Wish website looks like the most reliable out of the sites I found.
Good Luck!
I do have to say I myself looked into them and our orginal location told us no. So if you are looking into it check to make sure its ok with your location. A friend had a major horror story because of the true die hard heat in the summer by time they released them most of them had sufficated in the little boxes 
. So I wouldn't want that to happen although I think it's a beautiful idea, but it's also nature, so if they are released in certain areas, climates and conditions they might not have a huge chance of survival
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It sounds like the butterflies really lose in this situation. Don't do it!
Hello everyone! Just wondering if anyone has seen or done a butterfly release at their wedding or a wedding they've been to and what their experience was like, i.e. would you recommend doing one? Thanks!