Butterfly Ceremony... Thoughts?

bsarah77 · June 2013

We are thinking of doing butterfly release ceremony... I thought the butterflies would be best because it goes well with the fact we are getting married in a garden. (i know there are rules around when you can release them such as weather and time of day but sept 21st at 4:45ish where we live is appropriate given it doesnt rain)

Anyone have any thoughts on the butterflies? I watched one video and the butterfies didn’t just fly out so kind of looked awkward as they were shhoooooing them out of the box. And a few of them landing on the couple, which was cute ... but still king of weird as they were standing up there.

Anyone witness a butterly ceremony before? Thoughts?

calliopeia2013 · June 2013

I have never witnessed one personally, but I have talked to people who have, and apparently usually the butterflies don't all survive, and you kinda end up with some dead butterflies on the ground. I think it's one of those ideas that sounds better in theory than in practice. (Though there always seems to be something a little cruel about animal releases to me, or using animals as decoration or whatever.)

I dunno, if I were a guest and someone did that, I think it'd make me uncomfortable, especially if I had to see any of the not-surviving butterflies.

AddieCake · June 2013

Absolutely do not do this. So often, the butterflies are dead (that makes for a nice memory), and they are often butterflies not native to that area. You don't want to release something into the area that doesn't belong there.

daria24 · June 2013

I did a fashion show that used live butterflies. Well, actually they were mostly dead butterflies. Butterflies are extremely fragile-if it's too hot, too cold, the container they're in doesn't have enough oxygen circulating, you look at them funny-anything, and they die. Please don't do this. It was mostly a disaster at the fashion show. And having experienced it in person, it felt downright cruel.

And don't get me started on the ones you release from envelopes-flash freezing a butterfly so it will "Awaken" when you open the envelope-no.

banana468 · June 2013

Please do not do this. As PPs said, this will probably not go well.

Also, the idea of using insects as props isn't just something that many dislike, but it may also have negative effects on the local ecosystem.

kaos16 · June 2013

I have seen butterfly releases at 2 weddings. Both times a majority of the butterflies have kind of awkwardly fallen to the ground around the couple. . . . whether dead or still frozen from transport, I am not sure. The magical moment that the couple was surely trying to capture didn't happen, everyone watched expecting something great and was pretty disappointed with the result.

artbyallie · June 2013

No one wants their wedding to be remembered as the day they slaughtered hundreds of living creatures... unless they're in Game of Thrones, apparently.

zitiqueen · June 2013

bsarah77 said:

We are thinking of doing butterfly release ceremony... I thought the butterflies would be best because it goes well with the fact we are getting married in a garden. (i know there are rules around when you can release them such as weather and time of day but sept 21st at 4:45ish where we live is appropriate given it doesnt rain)

Anyone have any thoughts on the butterflies? I watched one video and the butterfies didn’t just fly out so kind of looked awkward as they were shhoooooing them out of the box. And a few of them landing on the couple, which was cute ... but still king of weird as they were standing up there.

Anyone witness a butterly ceremony before? Thoughts?

I think it would be cuter to use infants as centerpeices. Just get really big glass jars that they'll fit in, put pretty ribbons around their necks, and stuff them in there. Screw on the lid -- don't forget to poke holes in the top though!

I mean, if you're going to use living, breathing creatures as props for your wedding, go big or go home.

manateehugger · June 2013

Ooh ooh you could also do a puppy release! It's easy. You just smash them all into a box a couple days before the wedding. Who cares what happens to them after you do the release and get your cool pictures?!

manateehugger · June 2013

StageManager14 said:

I'm on my phone and cannot post the link, but go to naba.org/weddings and read what the North American Butterfly Association has to say about this. The process is cruel, the result is usually subpar, and the impacts on the environment can be quite bad.

http://www.naba.org/releases.html

misssunshine17 · June 2013

Absolutely not.

Peledreamsofrain · June 2013

Post removed due to GBCK

Dreamergirl8812 · July 2013

I haven't seen this at a wedding so I'm not sure if I would be more offended by the abuse of butterflies or if I would just roll my eyes at the cheese factor.

southernbelle0915 · July 2013

Just say no to animal releases. No butterflies, no doves, no courier pigeons to deliver your invitations, and no bonsai kitten centerpieces.

Simply Fated · July 2013

southernbelle0915 said:
Just say no to animal releases. No butterflies, no doves, no courier pigeons to deliver your invitations, and no bonsai kitten centerpieces.

No courier pigeons... owls are okay, though, right?

QueerFemme · July 2013

Another vote NOT to do this. Animals aren't props

ElcaB · July 2013

Since you're asking, I'd refrain from doing this. Like you said, often times the "release" is more of the shaking of a container and watching butterflies flop to the ground, which in my opinion, is not very celebratory. I've never been a big fan of the whole releasing of doves/butterflies/insert-symbolic-creature-with-wings here thing. I don't get it. (No offense to anyone who went this route.)

daniroth · July 2013

The thought of it is a lot cuter and sounds like its going to be better than it actually turns out. My best friend had them at her wedding and I actually helped her plan it. We thought it was going to be such a cute idea. The butterflies kinda grossed everyone out. It just didn't turn out well lol. I recommend to not do it.

harper0813 · July 2013

So there's a local bird sanctuary here in Missouri that rescues and rehabs wild birds of all kinds. They set up a carrier pigeon program in lieu of balloon and butterfly releases as a more environmentally-friendly option - AND it helps fund the sanctuary. They bring pigeons for a couple of people to release, as long as the venue is within 100 miles of the sanctuary, and these pigeons are trained to find their way back to the sanctuary.

If you want to incorporate nature and some sort of "release", you might look around for sanctuaries in your area and see if they offer something like this. They'll usually say on their website.

[Deleted User] · July 2013

Don't do this. I certainly wouldn't want to be kept in a tiny box all day with a bunch of other people and then pushed out just to get people to "ooo" and "ahh" for 15 seconds. Even if you don't give a shit about butterflies, logistically, this just won't work. Dead butterflies aren't very romantic.

QueerFemme · July 2013

notmarrying said:

I am a distributor for butterflies in canada and it is one of most precious and exciting thing for a couple to do. At every wedding i attend i bring the gift of butterflies, usually the couple is so surprised and excited i get voted for the best gift.

So, basically, you are a butterfly fucking puppy mill. Yeah... great gift.

lisabeats · July 2013

Since when is there an award for "best gift?" And a vote? This is beyond strange.

[Deleted User] · July 2013

lisabeats said:

Since when is there an award for "best gift?" And a vote? This is beyond strange.

Bahaha I have no idea why this question didn't cross my mind. At the next wedding I go to, I will demand that the B&G open all their gifts in front of everyone so we can vote on the best one.

RamonaFlowers · July 2013

notmarrying said:
At every wedding i attend i bring the gift of butterflies, usually the couple is so surprised and excited i get voted for the best gift.

If a box of dead/half dead frozen insects is constantly being "voted best gift", then I shudder to think what other people are giving as gifts at these weddings you attend.

QueerFemme · July 2013

RamonaFlowers said:

At every wedding i attend i bring the gift of butterflies, usually the couple is so surprised and excited i get voted for the best gift.
If a box of dead/half dead frozen insects is constantly being "voted best gift", then I shudder to think what other people are giving as gifts at these weddings you attend.

She swears (on her "ring exchange" thread) that none of HER insects die... and they are always fresh, never frozen. Either way... it's a shitty idea.

Peledreamsofrain · July 2013

LingerLonger1 said:

QueerFemme said:

RamonaFlowers said:

notmarrying said:
At every wedding i attend i bring the gift of butterflies, usually the couple is so surprised and excited i get voted for the best gift.
If a box of dead/half dead frozen insects is constantly being "voted best gift", then I shudder to think what other people are giving as gifts at these weddings you attend.
She swears (on her "ring exchange" thread) that none of HER insects die... and they are always fresh, never frozen. Either way... it's a shitty idea.

I was just about to post this. Her butterflies must be super special. Maybe they're actually bread and butterflies

The absolute best part about that pic is that the bread is properly butter-side-down, as physics demands.

Peledreamsofrain · July 2013

LingerLonger1 said:

QueerFemme said:

RamonaFlowers said:

notmarrying said:
At every wedding i attend i bring the gift of butterflies, usually the couple is so surprised and excited i get voted for the best gift.
If a box of dead/half dead frozen insects is constantly being "voted best gift", then I shudder to think what other people are giving as gifts at these weddings you attend.
She swears (on her "ring exchange" thread) that none of HER insects die... and they are always fresh, never frozen. Either way... it's a shitty idea.

I was just about to post this. Her butterflies must be super special. Maybe they're actually bread and butterflies

The absolute best part about that pic is that the bread is properly butter-side-down, as physics demands.

LingerLonger1 said:
Uh-oh! Are we going to get into a butter battle here?

Yes! We simply must use our Bitsy Big Boy Boomeroos to settle this dispute!

Hahaha, this made my day

CrazyCatLady3 · July 2013

>>Another vote NOT to do this. Animals aren't props

Someone on another board is apparently having a hawk act as ring bearer and fly the rings over the the officiant at ring exchange time.

AJuliaNJ · July 2013

artbyallie said:

No one wants their wedding to be remembered as the day they slaughtered hundreds of living creatures... unless they're in Game of Thrones, apparently.

A Dothraki wedding without at least 3 deaths is considered a dull affair. This is a great way to get your deaths out of the way while not hurting any actual humans.

Seriously though, I hate any wedding practice that involves using living creatures as decorations. That is incredibly cruel. Even in the event that there was a humane way of doing this, I wouldn't be impressed with it as a guest.

AJuliaNJ · July 2013

notmarrying said:

I am a distributor for butterflies in canada and it is one of most precious and exciting thing for a couple to do. At every wedding i attend i bring the gift of butterflies, usually the couple is so surprised and excited i get voted for the best gift.

I refuse to believe this.

AJuliaNJ · July 2013

CrazyCatLady3 said:

>>Another vote NOT to do this. Animals aren't props

Someone on another board is apparently having a hawk act as ring bearer and fly the rings over the the officiant at ring exchange time.

On TK? Please give some clues without posting the link.

Butterfly Ceremony... Thoughts?

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