Butterfly Release Tips

A butterfly release can be a unique and special way to celebrate your wedding day. Just imagine watching several dozen of the gossamer creatures flit around through your guests and then land on your bouquet. What a unique photo opportunity. Not to mention, how amazed you and your guests will be. Butterflies will lend an almost magical feel to the moment. If you are thinking about a butterfly release for your wedding there are a few tips to help your event go smoothly.

• It must be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer and preferably sunny for the butterflies to fly well. If it is cooler than that or dark outside, the butterflies may not fly. Check the average temperature for your area on your wedding date.
• Order your butterflies at least a month in advance. This will help assure that your order makes it in time for the wedding. Check with the vendor to see what their return and cancellation policies are in case of bad weather.
• When your butterflies arrive, keep the container in a cool, dark place. This will keep the butterflies in a dormant state and keep them from harming themselves. Move the butterflies to a warm location about an hour before the ceremony. This will wake them up and prepare them to fly when released.
• When picking a butterfly breeder there are a few important questions to ask. Ask the butterfly breeder how long she has been in business. Ask what their fatality rate is when shipping. The International Butterfly Breeders Association can give you a list of professional breeders.
• Choose a butterfly attendant. This should be someone you trust who can take care of the butterflies until the release and may even be in charge of the release. You will not have time to care for the butterflies and need to know they will be well cared for.
• If you would like the butterflies to stick around after the release, have flowers that attract butterflies in the area. You can even use butterfly attracting blooms in your bouquet. Butterflies like aster, black-eyed Susan, butterfly weed, daylilies, lavender, verbena and rosemary. Butterflies on your bouquet will create a great photo opportunity.