A magical beginning A magical beginning (February 11, 2005)

Butterfly releases add splendor on wedding day

By Sue Dremann

Most people probably associate butterflies and weddings with flutters in the stomach. But butterfly releases are adding colorful life to the wedding party.

Imagine the moment when bride and groom say "I do," to the release of dozens of orange butterflies. Attracted to vibrant colors, they land on bouquets of flowers and bridesmaids' dresses. It beats cleaning up rice.

"Many churches and reception areas don't allow throwing rice, birdseed or confetti outside anymore," said Chris Hundley of Magical Beginnings Butterfly Farms in Los Gatos. "With butterflies, there's no mess, no clean-up." Butterflies are recommended as a substitute for the rice-throwing tradition by Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, according to Hundley.

Hundley sells only monarch butterflies, which are the hardiest and are found naturally in most parts of the United States. The large orange and black butterflies are carefully selected and inspected to make sure they are 100-percent disease-free, he said. And Hundley gets a permit from each state to which the company delivers. Each butterfly is hand-fed before shipping. Its wings are carefully folded against its body, and the butterfly is placed into its own origami-like paper packet. All of the packets are placed into a protective box and packed in ice. "Ice prevents dehydration, and the dark, cool conditions keep the butterflies in a comfortable resting state," Hundley said.

The butterflies are shipped overnight, timed to arrive the day before the wedding.

"They can last for five days without food. At release at the wedding, they're ready for dinner. They're attracted to vibrant colors, and will land on bouquets and dresses," he added.

Hundley recalled one elaborate wedding where the groom, a realtor, wanted to highlight his spectacular garden during his outdoor wedding. "He released 500 butterflies right before the guests arrived, and they could be seen fluttering throughout the garden."

Weather can affect the butterflies' performance. The best time to have them perform their magic is in spring or summer, and during warm autumn weddings, when they fly about in the sunshine. During cloudy and cold weather, they gravitate toward places to hunker down, often high in the shelter of trees.

Butterflies can be tricky to photograph. The easiest shot to take is when they're resting on a flower. To catch them in flight, stage a background such as a building or a tree, otherwise, they tend to get lost against the sky, notes the company Web site. Butterflies are cold-blooded, and 10 minutes in the refrigerator will also slow them down. They will "pose," gently flapping their wings to warm up.

They can be purchased individually or in wedding packages. An individual butterfly costs $8. Discounts are available for large quantities. The company also offers a mass release box where up to 75 butterflies can be released.

Magical Beginnings raises 25,000 butterflies annually, but don't wait until the last minute to order. Just so many butterflies can be hatched each year, and Hundley recommends booking at least a couple of months in advance.

Magical Beginnings can be reached at (888) 639-9995. www.butterflyevents.com.
Butterflies and the environment: a concern

Not everyone is happy with butterfly releases. According to the North American Butterfly Association, mixing up butterflies from different locales mixes the butterflies' genetics. A monarch isn't just another monarch, but may have characteristics specific to its location.

And their delicate migratory physiology may be disrupted, according to an article "There's No Need to Release Butterflies -- They're Already Free," written by Jeffrey Glassberg, president of the association. In addition, Glassberg notes that existing over-wintering sites are being decimated by poachers, and diseases can spread from butterflies raised unscrupulously.

For more information about the ecology of butterflies, and the arguments against and for butterfly releases, visit North American Butterfly Association's Web site, www.naba.org or the International Butterfly Breeders Association site at www.butterflybreeders.org.

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