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!
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!
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
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.
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!
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.
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...
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.
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!
posted by Fifi 5 months agoSomeone 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.
posted by cyshas 5 months agoI'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
posted by Candi1024 5 months agoPersonally, 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. :)
posted by dezziemon 5 months agoi 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
posted by virginia 5 months agoPersonally, I don't agree with it, but if I had to look it up for a client, I would probably start here:
http://butterflybreeders.com/
posted by Angel 5 months agoI 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!!
posted by ErinMarieMack 5 months agomy 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.
posted by katiethelady 5 months agoI 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!
posted by missalice 5 months ago
It sounds like the butterflies really lose in this situation. Don't do it!
posted by Niki 5 months agoIt 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?
posted by mlindsey 5 months agothanks 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!
posted by Fifi 5 months agoFSIL 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.
posted by Sweeney2Be 5 months agoThe 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.
posted by suzanno 5 months agoThe 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.
posted by suzanno 5 months agoI 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...
posted by carrieitly 5 months agoIt seems really cruel to me, and kind of wrong to "celebrate" your love and wedding with the death/injury of innocent animals.
posted by livvie 5 months agoI 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!
posted by Jenster012 3 months ago