Who has done a butterfly release?

Please don't do this. A majority of the butterflies will die before you release them.

It's not that people don't think it's a good idea, we KNOW it's not. When this is done a lot of the butterflies will be dead. It's cruel. Besides that, do you really want your wedding to be remembered as the one with all the dead butterflies? Even with the places that say their butterflies will arrive alive they will still be mainly dead. It's awful. The places saying it works great are only saying that because they SELL the butterflies! It's not like these *businesses* are going to tell you to come buy their butterflies and admit that you will end up throwing butterfly corpses at your relatives.

Ahhh puppies!!!

But really- no to the butterflies

You could always place rose petals in little cones and petals could be thrown on you. (It sounds weird but it's actually pretty- mix the colors)

Do people actually release butterflies? Is this a thing? That's horrible....wow. I have never heard of that before.

@reggie..."Throwing butterfly corpses at your relatives"......laughing so hard I might have peed a little.

OP - I've seen this done at a wedding, and it really is horrible. They die. Most of them die before they are released, and a few live long enough to take flight but are so stressed and unwell that they just drop dead in midair. The bride was in tears. Just use bubbles.

As everyone has said, this is extremely cruel. Butterflies need a very specific temperature and humidity to survive. Changing climates does NOT work. The keepers sedate them during transport and during release they are often still drowsy and therefore don't have the energy to fly away. The "good" reviews probably don't tell the whole story from cruelty during transport (if they usually arrive dead, do you imagine that transport to be very humane?) to how long they survive after release, if they aren't already dead.

And let's take a look at the word humane, shall we? As everyone has already drawn the comparison to kittens, puppies, and children - all animals deserve the right to their bodies and life. We seem to recognize that with some animals but not with others, although the differences are arbitrary. When you do something like a butterfly release, you are taking that choice away from them for your benefit and at their expense. I take that philosophy a step further than that and include what goes on the end of my fork, what I wear, and what entertainment I support. That is why I am vegan.

Man, I never intended to comment on veganism, but it just keeps coming up on this forum! you guys rock xD

LOL @pancakes "glitter is the herpes of the craft world"!!!!!!

Ask hat.

I've done two. Most of them were dead at each one and the photos are basically the look of horror on the couples faces when they are faced with a box full of dead things. So I actively try to talk people out of it, but from the hundreds of couples I talk to every year, maybe one will mention it. Because it sucks.

Enough proof for ya?

I didn't think so.

Doesn't someone make butterfly shaped drones? There's a dramatic thought.

I also have a slight fear of birds flying directly above me.

OP, others have said it well, don't do this. Some have even given examples from weddings where it's been done with bad results. Please reconsider. If you truly love butterflies then you won't subject them to this cruelty. Bubbles, confetti, sparklers, glitter, candy, rice and other typically used items are used for a reason. They look nice and don't subject animals to in humane treatment.

Let loose the hounds, lol

They do actually make artificial butterflies that you wind up and let loose.

I have officiated several weddings with butterfly releases -- with mixed results, so I will answer your question.

The first time, the bride's young son released a batch. He was wearing a white jacket so several landed on him and he started to panic. I went to him and told him that it was good luck to have a butterfly land on him and that calmed him down. I saw one of the butterflies get eaten by a lizard, but didn't let the little boy see it.

Another wedding had butterflies in the centerpieces at the reception. The problem was the netting used to contain them. They kept getting their little feet/legs caught in the netting.

Another wedding had a grown woman dressed as a butterfly handing out the packets. Most of those seemed to be alive.

Another wedding only had the B&G releasing butterflies and all were alive.

The butterflies should be given a chance to warm up before being released into an area with blooming flowers (they will be looking for food -- which is how photographers are able to get a pic of the butterfly on the bride's bouquet).

I've also officiated several weddings with dove (actually, small white homing pigeons) releases. They must be released at least a couple of hours before sunset so the birds can find their way home before dark. They are treated very well -- not released during high winds or rain.

Oh, and fish in centerpieces -- that didn't work. They were all floaters by the time the reception started.

I'm sorry OP. Besides what the rest of the ladies mentioned about the cruelty to the butterflies, IMO any type of release just rings very 1980/early 1990s. Just so dated.

Here are a few alternative ideas.

Especially if you'll be near water, don't release balloons. Fish and turtles think they are jellyfish and eat them.

This is what I am doing. I don't want to be responsible for dead animals and I didn't want people throwing things at me. I just started on these yesterday. Very cheap and easy to make.

Oh goodness, don't do balloons either!! What goes up must come down. They end up as litter and animals eat them and are killed. I've seen what happens to animals when they eat the balloons and it's not pretty. It's bad near water but it's also bad on land. The colors attract animals to eat the balloons and then they choke or even if they manage to swallow them they cannot digest them.

Paper lanterns instead? I have seen one butterfly release and it was A NIGHTMARE.

*Facepalm* Sorry - I didn't even think about the nightmare the balloons may cause. Thanks for correcting me :-)