There are no set standards although most couples choose to include their guests in the release. Here is how it goes: For a church wedding, butterflies are distributed after the guests have exited the church and are waiting for the couple to exit. A pre-designated person or persons distributes the butterflies and explains how the butterflies are handled and released. The bride and groom receive their butterflies when they exit. Traditionally, either the bride or groom or a designated person recites a verse that explains the significance of the butterfly at a wedding. Then the bride and groom release their butterflies and the guests follow suit.

The same procedure is followed at a outdoor wedding except the butterflies are distributed before the ceremony begins and they are released immediately after the bride and groom exchange vows, recite the verse, and release their butterflies.

So-called "mass releases" are normally done by the bride and groom. Bird's Butterflies provides complete instructions for the procedure. Bird's Butterflies also will help acquire a suitable release cage or container unless the bride and groom procure one themselves.

Yes. The best scenario is a bright, sunny day with air temperatures of at least 60 degrees F. But, butterflies will also fly on cloudy days or even in a slight mist. Butterflies do not like rain and cold. And while you can not control the weather, you can release the butterflies at another point in your wedding day if it happens to be raining right after your ceremony is over. Some couples have distributed butterflies to their guests to take home and release a day or two later when it becomes obvious that rain is not going to allow a release on the wedding day.

The butterfly release season in most of the country is from May to mid-October.

No two couples have the same approach to a butterfly release or the same budget. Many brides plan a wedding with butterflies being the main theme and order one for each person attending the wedding and each person in the bridal party. That is not the norm. More than half of the couples we deal with who want their guests involved wind up ordering one butterfly per couple or family attending, plus one butterfly for each member of the bridal party and, of course, the inlaws. (After all, let's start this marriage on the right foot!)

Other couples limit the release to the bridal party and parents and some choose to release the butterflies themselves from a single container. As you can see, there is no set rule. It's a personal choice dictated by your dreams and your pocketbook.