after ceremony....bubbles, butterflies, what?

We are having an evening wedding and I really want to use sparklers :-)

We were planning on birdseed, but now no one is going to toss or throw anything because I don't want to harm the environment or end up picking birdseed or rice out of my updo, dress, and bra for the rest of the evening. I would NOT suggest releasing balloons for any reason because it will harm innocent animals.

Bubbles would make for great photos, and I believe releasing butterflies runs about $80 - $100 depending on where you get them. (I haven't researched it, so I'm not sure if it involves harming the butterflies, I would imagine so)

I agree with Rae, if it's an evening wedding, sparklers would make for incredible photos. (:

I've heard of people using ribbon wands. They seem easy enough to make them on your own and you can pick your colors or people are selling them on etsy. Some have bells so as they wave them they ring.

My ceremony is in the afternoon. I did research on the butterlies. They are not harmed. They actually migrate to Mexico after they are released, from what I've read. They come from california from a "farm" that breeds them I suppose. They really do tell you how to care for the butterflies and are shipped over night. They even feed them before shipping! It really is interesting. They are $85 per dozen. But we would need at least 4 dozen because in our city, EVERYONE comes to the mass even if they werent invited to the reception. Thats just the way it is. LOL

Just make sure no one puts the butterflies in the fridge.

We're using Sparklers I found on etsy.com

@Rae you can design them to match your color scheme!

Ugh, don't use butterflies. I hate insects/animals being used for props and photo ops. I think bubbles are awesome and I love the idea of the ribbon wands or flower petals.

It's poppers or sparklers for me!

http://www.sandsationalsparkle.com/34Have-a-Blast34-Biodegradable-Celebratory-Wedding-Poppers-Set-of-12_p_2868.html

http://www.sandsationalsparkle.com/A-Perfect-Sparkle-Wedding-Sparklers_p_15831.html

Ribbon wands!! lol why does this seem to be the only advice I give out anymore... I'm crazy about ribbon wands!

I was gonna do sparklers, then someone posted ribbon wands and I liked that idea better.

I figure its more safe and I wont have to worry about keeping up with the sparklers or people leaving them on church grounds. I just started making my ribbon wands yesterday and was going to show them

A balloon release will give you a huge effect for little $$. And it DOES NOT harm the environment or any animals!! They must be 100% biodegradable latex balloons with no or biodegradable ribbons and they must be hand tied...no plastic clips. If any of you are concerned about balloons and the environment please educate yourself and visit http://theballooncouncil.org/myths-facts.html for the facts.

Think how cool it would be for the bride and groom to release a 3' latex heart balloon and all the guests to release standard 11" latex balloons! You and your guest will be able to see that heart floating into the sky dancing around the smaller balloons for miles...a very cool effect!

Find a balloon pro in your area to help you execute the release responsibly. I would be happy to help anyone find a balloon pro in their area, just contact me privately.

I have in mind butterfly or dove releases. I checked online varies of places and it's not too bad of the prices like 100 something. If we have enough money in our budget most def used butterfly or dove release. If all fails I was thinking either bubbles or rose petals. It's beautiful. I have research a lot of photos. Rice birdseeds is such a mess. Thinking of having it thrown at your hair and dress plus I have heard that harms animals. Balloons is bad cause it could get stuck in a pole or something I love love love butterfly. I want to corporate it in my cake too even though my theme is fairytale

I will most likely do bubbles because we can't do sparklers, or confetti or anything like that with the venue we want and it will be in the middle of winter in Alaska so butterflies and such just wouldn't work, besides bubbles are easier to get a hold of and much less expensive than butterflies or anything like that and i won't have to pick anything out of my hair, dress or bra...not to mention I don't like balloons....

The thought of butterflies sounds beautiful. My cousin did this at her wedding and the guests were outside shaking the boxes they were in waiting to release them...needless to say many of the butterflies were not able to fly, people were actually throwing them into the air trying to make them fly. A sad sight indeed, and a true story! There is a horror story for every post ceremony celebration...someone gets bubbles in their eye or it stained their dress...the sparklers caught a veil on fire...the doves that were released pooped on the groom's head...I could go on but we all get the idea! Bottom line...do whatever makes you happy! But, do it responsibly...do your research and be sure nothing and no one is harmed and follow the venues rules as well as local laws. :-)

My church is not letting us use anything that can harm the environment, or fall to the floor. But I do love the idea of the ribbon wands with the bells. =)

IMO, I wouldn't do butterflies. I went to a wedding where they did a butterfly release (every guest got a butterfly) and many of them were dead and those that weren't were either still "frozen" (you have to keep them cold to keep them asleep) or totally freaked out. Anyway, I would like to do ribbon wands (makes for great pictures!) and maybe bells. Our venue doesn't allow confetti/birdseed or sparklers.

Ballons for me! I did a wedding last year when I made a ballon arch the bride got one end the groom got the other and let go. It made for great pictures and the ballons made a great decoration as well.

Dual purpose means MONEY SAVER!

Love the sparklers!!!! I think I will use bubbles, totally agains using buttterflies or any other animal though :-/

If you decide on using sparklers, be sure to ask the venue if you can use them before you buy them. Depending on the season and where you live, they may say no (parts of Texas had a total ban on them last year because of the draught). I found good pricing and free shipping on sparklers at www.sayanythingceramics.com/sparklers.php If anyone knows someplace better, let me know.