Butterfly releases can be an excellent addition to elevate a wedding ceremony or create a beautiful moment of reflection for a memorial. Among the other logistics you must consider as the date of your event approaches, you might be concerned about the weather outlook and how it might impact your planned release. Continue reading below as we cover the ideal weather for a butterfly release and some of the adverse weather conditions that might require you to postpone it.
What’s the Best Weather for a Butterfly Release?
The best temperature for a butterfly release is generally 70 degrees. However, you may be able to release butterflies at lower temperatures, depending on the type you’ve ordered.
For a Monarch butterfly release, the outdoor temperature must be at least 55 degrees. Painted Lady butterflies are even more sensitive to cold temperatures. They should only be released if the temperature is 60 degrees or hotter.
Deciding to release the butterflies in poor weather conditions might be tempting, especially if it’s something you’ve been looking forward to for months. However, attempting the release in less-than-deal weather can be highly disappointing and likely won’t offer the picture-perfect moment you were hoping for.
To help you determine if the weather is right for your planned release, here are some of the expert recommendations for various outdoor conditions:
Low Temperatures
If the temperature is below 60 degrees, it’s not advisable to continue with your butterfly release. Since butterflies are cold-blooded creatures, they thrive in warm conditions. Thus, when it’s cold outside, butterflies tend to remain dormant and do not fly, even though some species can survive in freezing temperatures.
High Temperatures
The warmer the weather, the better for a butterfly release. Even with temperatures upwards of 100 degrees, butterflies will fly vibrantly and add a touching moment to the ceremony that you and your guests will never forget.
Rainy Forecast
We don’t recommend butterfly releases in the rain. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s raining too much for you to stand in comfortably, it’s not suitable to release butterflies. The rain will not necessarily harm the butterflies, as they’re accustomed to living through storms in their natural habitat. However, when it does rain heavily, they will find shelter and land until the storm has ended and their bodies are dry.
Time of Day
Aside from weather-related considerations, you also need to plan the release for the right time of day. It’s best to release butterflies an hour before sunset, which gives them the best chance of survival. Otherwise, they will sit and wait for sunlight to take off and find their new habitat, which might put them in danger from predators and well-meaning attendees who might accidentally step on them.
What to do When the Weather Doesn’t Cooperate
In ideal conditions, a butterfly release can be a sensational and one-of-a-kind experience for all in attendance. However, the weather can be unpredictable, and attempting to release butterflies in poor conditions can be uneventful and may even be harmful to the butterflies. Thus, if the conditions aren’t right, it’s best to postpone or cancel the release until the weather improves.
One alternative is to use the butterflies as a centerpiece indoors until you can release them on a nicer day. You can cover a basket in tulle and release the butterflies into it so their beauty and symbolism can still be included in the ceremony while protecting their safety.
If you absolutely must continue with the release during cool or rainy weather or when it’s dark out, we recommend placing the butterflies underneath a low tree limb to keep them protected from the elements and safe from ground predators.