How to Use Live Butterflies in a Wedding

Create a memorable addition to any wedding by releasing live butterflies as a part of the celebration. There are several ways to incorporate a butterfly release into your wedding plans. Some brides choose live butterflies instead of the traditional rice or confetti wedding guests throw at the departing couple as they head for their honeymoon getaway. It takes advance planning and care to use live butterflies in a wedding and choose the right moment for their release.

Instructions

1. Choose a reliable distributor to deal with. Members of the International Butterfly Breeders Association (IBBA) must adhere to a strict code of ethics to be included on the approved list, and these breeders guarantee safe delivery of healthy farm raised butterflies. They only send vigorous, adult, hand-reared butterflies (no wild-caught specimens). They ship only to locations where international, federal and state regulations allow them to be used, and they ship only when and where weather conditions allow for butterfly survival.

2. Determine whether a butterfly release is appropriate for your wedding. A successful release requires the right setting, the right temperature range (above 70 degrees F) and the proper staging. The butterflies can only be released outdoors, so if your ceremony is inside, the butterfly release must take place after the ceremony. Outdoor weddings or receptions are ideal, since they usually require mild temperatures. It's also important that the butterflies have a good chance of survival after their release. IBBA members will help you decide if your location and the time of year are suitable.

3. Take the proper care of the butterflies when you receive them. They are shipped overnight in individual padded, card stock containers, packed in insulated boxes with cold packs to keep the butterflies comfortable as they travel. Keep them in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight until you get them to the ceremony. Open the boxes to allow light and warmth to activate them shortly before the release. A few minutes is all it takes to get them ready.

4. Consider who will be releasing them and when. There are several options. Some brides at outdoor weddings have chosen to have someone open the individual containers and place the butterflies on their wedding bouquets just before walking down the aisle. As the sun warms them, the butterflies begin to fly off the bouquet as the bride walks toward the front, making for a spectacular entrance. Others at indoor ceremonies have placed the butterflies in a single large basket, covered with a light transparent, gauze-like material to keep them on display during the ceremony. When they are outdoors afterward, the bride and groom release them together. Still others give the individual containers to the wedding party or guests to release them as the bride and groom depart the wedding. The butterfly distributor you use can help you decide when and how to release your butterflies.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the guarantee offered by the breeder you select. Understand the advance ordering time, especially for a summer wedding when most butterflies are ordered. Follow the breeder's instructions carefully for storing and handling your butterflies.

• Understand that there is some controversy among butterfly enthusiasts about using live butterflies for weddings. However, the IBBA assures potential customers that its methods and procedures are based on sound scientific practices and ethical and environmental considerations.

Resources

• International Butterfly Breeders Association Members