Butterfly Wedding Favors, Gifts, And Accessories

Live Butterfly Releases

More Information About Having A Butterfly Release

When should I place my order? Place your order at least 4-6 weeks in advance during April through July as these are popular months for weddings. We recommend you place your order as soon as possible to avoid any last minute disappointments. We take orders up to 1 year in advance, but can usually fill orders even at the last minute.

How many butterflies should I order? The average order is 2 dozen per 50 guests. For an individual butterfly release you can order one per guest or couple, or select certain guests to participate, such as the wedding party and family. Or releasing several dozen butterflies at once from a mass release box or cage by the bride and groom is also very attractive.

How warm does it need to be in order to have a good release?  The temperature needs to be at least 55 Deg. F or greater in order for the butterflies to fly. Please see below for our butterfly release instructions for warm weather.

What if I place an order, but the weather turns bad?  If the forecast is unfavorable, call us at least four days before the event, and we will gladly cancel the order and refund the full purchase amount. We don't penalize you for Mother Nature's indecisions!

Can I release butterflies at night? There must be at least 30 minutes of light left once you release them so they can find a place to roost for the evening. To find the exact time that the sun will set for your date and location visit http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html.

How do the butterflies survive shipping? Each butterfly is fed and carefully placed inside our special packaging for their safety. They are surrounded by soft padding and packaged in an insulated cooler with a "cool-pack." The cool temperature combined with minimal light keeps the butterflies calm and naturally inactive during shipping. Butterflies are sent via overnight delivery to arrive the day before your event.

What should I do when my butterflies arrive? Complete instructions on how to care for and release your butterflies will accompany your order. A sample of our instructions is seen below.

** Warm Weather Instructions **

First - Locate the Freeze Pack. You may need to remove or disassemble any shipping materials (popcorn, etc.). It is important that the shipping materials be put back after.

Next - Check the Freeze Pack. It will likely be thawed. Place the Freeze Pack in the freezer. Store in a cool room at or below 74ºF. Once it is refrozen, return it to the shipping container.

Last - Continue to store in a cool room at or below 74ºF. For very hot or humid weather, try the basement, a wine cellar, tile or linoleum floors, or even inside a dry bathtub!

Now that you have inspected and attended to the Freeze Pack, you will at some point the next day need to recheck the pack to insure it is still cold. Refreeze if necessary. If you are unable to refreeze the ice pack, you may fill a zip-lock bag with ice instead (just be sure that it does not leak!). You can be assured your lovely butterflies are resting safely inside their boxes, tucked securely in our Original Shipping Container.

Listen to the weather Forecast for the day of the release. If the forecast is to be 90ºF or warmer, then proceed to refreeze the pack the night before and replace it in the morning.

Traveling? Then transport your butterflies in the Original Shipping Container. If travel is long, or the ceremony/party is not until the afternoon or evening of the next day, then refreeze the pack the night before and replace it in the morning. Avoid leaving your butterflies in direct sunlight or exposure to high heat for more than 15 minutes. (No parked cars or hot door steps please!)

Fly Away …! The time is drawing near to set your butterflies free! So, at about 2 hours prior to the Release time, remove the butterfly packages from the Shipping Container and display them in a basket or transfer them if using a mass release container. Try to make the warm-up gradual - avoid a sudden change from cold to hot, such as taking directly from the cooler and placing in the hot sun. At this time, you may hear a bit of movement, do not be alarmed, they are living creatures and this is perfectly normal. Be sure to store your butterflies in the shade until you are ready to set them free. Do not set in direct sunlight or extreme heat for more than 15 minutes!

Ideas, Suggestions ! If you want to place a butterfly anywhere, for photos, for the first kiss, the announcement of Husband and Wife, or "Happy Birthday!" on your flowers or gift boxes, or even place them in a larger box for a mass release, simply place the desired number of butterflies (kept in their original packages) into the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. This brings down their body temperature. You will have approximately 30 seconds before each butterfly warms up enough to take flight!