Wedding Day Ideas

A butterfly release at a wedding, or really any event for that matter, is a lovely experience and many brides-to-be would like to have this on their special day. We hold butterflies in high esteem because they are graceful and elegant, and their lives symbolize rebirth. Butterflies are a popular part of weddings all over the world and this phenomenon can be traced back to Native American rituals. In this brief guide, we will take a closer look at how you can make releasing butterflies at wedding celebrations an important aspect of your special event.

Display Cage

There are many display cage designs, the butterflies can be transferred to the cage gently by opening the envelopes and urging them onto the cage sides. The display cage must be large enough to accommodate all the butterflies ordered or you may need to release some.

After the transfer is complete, the butterflies must be fed and watered and placed in a warm and sunny area to spread their wings and relax. But don’t place the cage in direct sunlight or they may dehydrate quickly and perish.

A Mass Release Box

How to go about releasing butterflies at wedding eventOpen the envelopes inside the release box and place some paper towels on the bottom to give the butterflies a secure point that they can hang onto. Then place one corner of the paper towel over the box side and place another paper towel with nectar on the bottom. Place another damp paper towel as a water source next to the nectar.

As you work, keep the box lid closed as far as possible to prevent a premature flight. This transfer will work better in a cool and dark room with a thin transparent cloth to cover the box opening. If a butterfly does escape, it will fly to the brightest area, and it can be recaptured if you cup your hand gently around it.

Once all the butterflies are in the box, close the lid and leave the butterflies to drink, eat and rest before they are released. The box should be stored in a warm area, but don’t place it in direct sunlight to avoid overheating problems.

Release Envelopes

Many people release the butterflies from the shipping envelopes. Place them in a basket, pass them out and the guests can release the butterflies. These envelopes are easy to open and if the butterflies are warm, they will take flight almost immediately. If they are a little colder, it may take a few minutes before they feel compelled to fly away.

In Conclusion

When you take part in a butterfly release at a wedding it’s a magical experience that symbolizes a new start and a rebirth. By their nature, every release is totally unique, there is no way to predict what the butterflies will do, and this adds to the fun. Every guest will be smiling and the graceful first flights of the butterflies are sure to excite young and older attendees alike.

Is your incoming weather forecast OK to release butterflies in? Is it too cold? Too windy? Too rainy? To answer that question, let’s consider all of the factors that can affect a butterfly when it is released:

1) Temperature

2) Rain

3) Light

After all of the meticulous planning that you’ve undoubtedly undergone, we’re sure you’re excited and ready to release your butterflies. But don’t get too carried away! You want to release it at the best time for the creature’s own safety as well.

Temperature

Ideal release temperatures are above 70 degrees although they can be released down to 60 degrees.

Butterflies are cold-blooded critters. Few can fly in temperatures below 60 degrees. If they must be released in cooler weather, it is best to place the butterfly underneath the end of a low tree limb, as high as you can reach. This keeps them out of the reach of ground predators such as ants. It protects them from rain and wind.

Although some species of butterflies will live through freezing temperatures, they do not fly when it is cold. If they are wet in freezing temperatures, they will die.

Rain

If it is raining too much for you to want to stand in it, don’t release butterflies in it.

Rain doesn’t harm butterflies. They live through storms. But they rarely fly in heavy rain. Instead, they land and wait for the rain to stop and for their bodies to dry before they fly again.

If you MUST release in the rain, do the same as for low temperatures. Place them underneath the end of a low tree limb, as high as you can reach.

Light

Release an hour before sunset if possible.

Although they can be released thirty minutes before sunset, their chance of survival is greater if they are released an hour before sunset. When it is dusk or dark, they sit and wait for sunshine.

If you MUST release in the dark, do the same as for low temperatures. Place them underneath the end of a low tree limb, as high as you can reach.

Be Advised

If the temperature, light, and other factors are not conductive for releases, chances are that they will land on the ground where people will step on them. Even if people are careful, they often pick up butterflies to move them to a safer location. Unless people know how to pick handle butterflies, they can mishandle them, causing fatal injuries.

The butterflies you release should be released where there is grass or plants. Concrete and roads are not safe release areas.