Adding Butterflies to Your Wedding Celebration

If you’re a 2024 or 2025 bride or groom looking for the perfect element to distinguish your wedding day from all others you’ve attended, consider adding a butterfly release to your ceremony. More than just a fleeting trend, butterfly releases create a sense of magic that will make your wedding day feel like a real-life fairy tale.

What’s the Symbolism of the Butterfly?

Butterflies have important significance for many cultures. In general, butterflies symbolize transformation and beauty, making them a perfect complement to outdoor nuptial celebrations. As you and your partner embark on your next phase of life together, the butterfly signifies the beauty of new beginnings—a poetic complement to your special day. 

What Types of Butterflies Can You Release?

One of the appeals of a butterfly release compared to other traditional wedding practices like a rice or confetti toss is that it’s much more sustainable. Rather than being harmful to the environment, a butterfly release can actually support a healthy ecosystem — as long as you choose a native species.

This way, you can have the peace of mind that you’re simply returning these beautiful creatures to their natural environment while enjoying their simple grace and elegance during your ceremony.

The Best Time to Release Butterflies in a Wedding

Since there’s no designated time for a butterfly release during a traditional wedding, the couple can choose the right moment to make their vision come to life.

Many choose to do so right after the marriage vows are pronounced or during the first kiss. Others opt for the recessional as they leave the venue for the first time as a married couple. Feel free to get creative and incorporate the release into your wedding day however you’d like. The point is to create a moment you and your partner will cherish forever. 

Regardless of when you decide to time the release, make sure your photographer or videographer is in the know so they can capture this timeless moment.

Final Considerations

A butterfly release is a one-of-a-kind wedding experience that you’ll remember for years to come. To extend the theme throughout your wedding, consider thoughtfully adding butterfly decor or motifs to table centerpieces, bouquets, invitations, and jewelry.

With the allure of their natural beauty and the fleeting moment of their release, butterflies can be a magical and ethereal addition to any wedding. As the butterflies flit into the wind, you and your guests can look on as your love takes flight.

– Written by Bailey Schramm