Choose an article:

Wedding Timeline

Before you:
Hire Your Videographer
Choose a Videographer
Choose a Photographer
Planning for Great Photography
Hire a DJ
Choose a Bakery
Working with Your Baker
Looking for a Wedding Planner
Ceremony Location
Working with a Designer or Seamstress


Music
Wedding & Reception Music
Top Dance Track Samples
First Dance & Slow Song Samples
Music and Copyright Laws
Processional Music
Recessional Music
Learning To Dance
Top 10 Question to Ask a DJ


Make-up & Hair
Your Wedding Day Make-up
Bridal Hair for the Big Day
How to Choose a Hairstyle
Wedding Dress Shopping
Honeymoon Makeup
Destination Wedding Makeup Tips


Flowers
Choosing a Florist
Flowers on a Limited Budget
Do-It-Yourself Flowers
Wedding Floral Trends
Green Wedding
Your Wedding Wine
Wedding Favor Selection
Butterfly Releases
Thinking About A Chocolate Fountain
Wedding Stationery
Registry: Dare To Be Different


Tips & Tricks
Officiant Tips & Questions
General Money Saving Tips
Catering Tips & Questions
Wedding Coordinator Tips
Transportation Tips
Officiant Tips
Engagement Photos Tips
Wedding Gown Shopping Tips
Pre-Marriage Classes


Worksheets
Florist Worksheet
Catering Worksheet
Cake Order Worksheet
Candies/Favors Worksheet
Honeymoon Planner
Videographer's Worksheet
Photographer's Checklist

Butterfly Releases

Have you thought about releasing butterflies at your wedding? Butterfly Releases are spectacular and breathtaking .

Ordering:
Order your butterflies early; it takes butterfly farmers approximately four to five weeks to raise your butterflies for your butterfly release. This will ensure that you are able to purchase the type and quantity of butterflies that you would like. It is advisable to start looking at least three months or more in advance. Reserve your butterflies early, preferably five to eight weeks in advance. Most farmers ask for a deposit of one-half the total be paid to reserve the butterflies and the remainder is due approximately two weeks before the event.

Monarch Butterflies:
Monarchs are the most popular and recognized butterfly for releases. Monarchs are lovely butterflies with vivid orange and black wings that span 3-3/8 to 4-7/8 inches. When Monarch butterflies are released, they soar and glide through the air, dipping and landing to drink nectar and investigate bouquets and colorful dresses.

When to Release:
Release your butterflies on a warm sunny day. Butterflies are not able to fly in cold temperatures, at night, or when it is raining. You must release butterflies when the temperatures are at least 60 degrees or warmer. Butterflies naturally fly in the day. Be sure that any events where you release butterflies that the butterfly releases are held at least one hour before dark. Butterflies should not be released when it is raining.

There are other butterflies that can also be released at weddings or receptions, such as the Painted Lady, Swallowtails and others that are native to the United States. Contact your local farmer to see which butterflies can be released in your area

Shipment & Delivery:
Butterflies are shipped in individual envelopes that are packed into insulated boxes with an ice pack. This is done to protect the butterfly nature's way, simply placing them in a cool spring night situation. It puts them into a hibernation-type state and protects their wings from damage. You need to make sure that you or someone is home when your butterflies arrive for your release. Butterfly farmers do not have control of what happens to the butterflies once they put them into shipment until they arrive into your hands other than the care they use when packing your release butterflies for shipment. When you receive your box, open up the box and check to make sure that everything is okay. Your butterfly farmer will be able to instruct you on the proper care of your butterflies until the time of your release.

Butterfly Myths and Truths

Myth - You can color coordinate the butterflies to your colors.
Truth - Butterflies only come in a few different colors. The colors range between black, browns, and oranges and yellow mixes.


Myth - They will not fly and people will step on them.
Truth -If you do a release properly, you will have a lovely release experience. Talk to your butterfly farmer.


Myth - Butterfly releases are cruel to the butterfly.
Truth - The butterflies are raised and handled with the best of care. The butterflies are only sent to environments that they already exist in. After a release, the butterflies will live the rest of their natural lives in the wild.


Myth - The butterflies will have nothing to eat and will die.
Truth - Again, talk to your butterfly farmer about the proper times to release butterflies. If butterflies are released in the summertime, there are plenty of nectar flowers around for them to survive on. Some butterflies even nectar on fruit and tree sap. You do not want to try to release them in the middle of the winter. Use common sense.


Myths - Most of the butterflies will arrive dead or not make it to the release.
Truth - Thousands and thousands of butterflies are shipped across the United States and arrive live and healthy. Only a very few of those thousands of butterflies may not make it. Your butterflies are handled and packed in such a way to protect them and make sure that they will survive the journey. Extra butterflies are usually included just in case a couple would not survive.



Our Dream Photos by James DeCamp Photography | Columbus Wedding Photographer specializing in wedding photography


Bexley, Blacklick, Columbus, Dublin, New Albany, Galena, Grandview, Granville, Hilliard, Powell, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Worthington and Ohio.
Destination wedding photography available upon request.
Wedding, Engagement Portraits, Corporate Headshots, Photojournalism and more.
Stock, Commercial and Editorial services also available. Portrait and headshot pricing.
James DeCamp is available to travel for private commissions on a national and international basis.

James D. DeCamp vigorously protects his copyright interests.
All photographs, text and html coding appearing on this site is the exclusive intellectual property of James D. DeCamp and the DeCamp Family Works, LLC and are protected under United States and international copyright laws.
None of the images found on this site are within the "Public Domain".
By entering this site you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this agreement.
To obtain reproduction rights to any images or code, send an e-mail to: Rights@DeCampFamily.com or contact James D. DeCamp at (614) 367-6366.