Brides who turn to butterflies as a wedding theme (or just a delightful accent) have all kinds of visions when it comes to their special day.
Still, there's a common thread. Most are charmed by this small creature's fairy wings ... not to mention its timeless ties to transformations and happy marriages.
Butterfly Themes in a Nutshell
Butterfly brides are a creative lot, drawing from all kinds of inspirations. Fans of pure white, for example, might combine white nylon butterflies with porcelain placecards and calla lily bouquets. Garden lovers might blend more colorful winged creatures with table lanterns, herbs in terra-cotta pots, and romantic votives that hang from bare-branch centerpieces.
A springtime bride might pair butterflies with blossoming branches and pastel petit fours, while a bride who's planning a summertime wedding with a funky, modern vibe might weave them in with colorful ribbons and eye-popping Gerber daisies.
High-Flying Attire
Popular accents for a butterfly bride include pretty silver and rhinestone jewelry sets, crystal butterfly hairpins and hair combs. Another popular touch is to pin a Swarovski crystal butterfly brooch to a sash at the waist, or at the base of the neckline in a V-neck or halter top bodice.
A single fabric butterfly is a lovely way to set apart a groom's boutonnière. As for bridesmaids, try gifting them with crystal butterfly brooches of their own, pinned to lusciously long satin sashes with the ends trailing down near the hem of their gowns. No sashes? Ornament their hand-tied blooms with sparkling crystal bouquet jewels.
A Fabulous Flower Girl
Have fun with your flower girl! All by herself, she can carry out some of your wedding's most ooh-and-ahh-worthy moments. Choices that range from adventurous to subtle: dress her in a pair of gauzy wings, or give her a pretty white butterfly net tricked out with flowers and ribbons to walk down the aisle with. Or, have a pair of flower girls carry adorable pink and green pomanders bedecked with butterflies.
Want to stick with the classic? Simply pin a butterfly brooch to a white satin petal basket that's filled with silk butterfly petals instead of the usual rose petals.
Favorite Favors
The most beloved favors for butterfly weddings often reflect a garden theme.
Plantable favors, often embedded with no-fuss
wildflower seeds that come up a treat, top the list. Romantic crystal butterfly votives are another favorite, especially for brides with a fairytale bent. An elaborate frosted butterfly cookie in a cello bag, placed on each guest's plate with a smattering of rose petals, looks and tastes divine.
Divinely-Designed Tables
The butterfly's ephemeral charms are a gorgeous thing to pair with long, fluttery ribbons and sun-kissed garden flowers. Want this lucky little creature to help guide guests to their seats? Pin a nylon butterfly to every escort card for a table full of wings. Or even more dramatically, hang long satin ribbons in your colors from a clothesline, and pin die-cut butterfly cards down the ribbons.
A butterfly-trimmed birdcage makes a classic, feminine container for cards, while pale pink parasols and colorful ribbon wands fill out the scene. For a little animatronic drama, try adding an electric-powered butterfly to photo or guestbook tables.
Butterfly brides with a garden theme find these tiny creatures look smashing with traditional cottage flowers such as ivory hydrangeas and fluffy peonies, anchored with gorgeous green or hot-pink amaranthus. Surround your main florals with small table lanterns, and terra-cotta pots filled with lavender, thyme and other aromatic herbs. You can even wire delicate fabric butterflies to your wine glass stems. And instead of emphasizing your focal points with scattered rose petals, use silk butterfly petals.
Small potted trees and bare branch arrangements make great scaffolding for butterflies, too. Try hanging romantic votive mini-lanterns from the branches of a centerpiece, punctuated by few sweet butterflies. Or instead of votives, combine your winged things with cherry blossoms. Butterfly cards and cherry blossoms make for a gorgeous wishing tree, too.
Even something as small as table napkins can create lasting memories. Emphasize your garden style by tucking herbs or lavender into linen folds. Or use a beaded butterfly napkin ring to dress up rolled napkins. Still not enough drama? Look into Magic Flyers: mechanized wind-up butterflies that flutter out from a folded napkin when your guests prepare to tuck in.
Butterfly Releases: Yay or Nay?
It may be controversial, but for some brides, a butterfly release is a non-negotiable part of their wedding. While some people say the practice is a bad idea, the reality is probably more nuanced. Still, whenever dealing with live creatures, it's crucial to choose an educated, reputable supplier who knows butterflies inside and out. Do your homework, get recommendations from people who have actually done it, and avoid suppliers who over-romanticize the process, or instruct you to hand out butterflies in little glassine envelopes, which can easily harm their wings.
While some people feel butterfly releases are insensitive, others point out that butterflies are an important renewable resource in some countries, which give local farmers an alternative to cutting down rain forests. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.
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Hi, I’m getting married in June 2009 and I’ve always wanted to have a butterfly release at my wedding. I was wondering if anyone knew of a reliable website to purchase butterflies from? I was also thinking I may have the butterflies released as they pronounce us husband and wife because we’re getting married in the evening and if I wait it will be getting dark when we leave, what do you think?
Thanks for your advice!!!
hello nicole,
Butterflies were a huge success at my wedding. I went to
“butterfly Release” site. they were so helpful, , I was concerned that they may die before the big monent, {not a good look!] but the people that do these butterflies put my mind to rest. Just a thing to remember, if your in the country area, the butterflies come a day before and you have to keep them on ice until one hour before you want them. good luck, you will be glad you had them. cheers
Thanks Kim I appreciate your input!! Do you think it would look bad to release them after they pronounce us husband and wife? Do you recommend any company over another?
Thanks,
Nicole
Can anyone tell me where I can get the butterflies that are in updo hairstyle? I have been looking all over for them. My wedding is in august and I am having a butterfly themed wedding.
Hi there,
I to had butterflies for my wedding, nov 08, I got some diamante ones from, “Kleins” jewelry (australia), they worked well, I had 6 mixed in amoung my up-do. When I moved my head the light hit them and they showed just enough sparkle. hope that helps. cheers
mariea, there are lots of butterfly hairpins on google images. or try ebay, I have attached some pics of the many butterfly hairpins for sale there. They are mostly the smaller diamante type, but I think that’s elegant. The ones above you could easily make with hairpins and the larger white craft butterflies from Michaels, joanne’s, like that.
* eBay link: butterfly hair pins
HTH
MARIA!
I have found the most beautiful Hairpieces with butterfly theme. They are hand made and have to be ordered from england. They are not that expensive and they get to you in two to three weeks.
http://www.wedding-favours.com/Crystal%20Butterfly.htm
this is the one i got but there are more.
Hi,
My wedding is August - i’m trying to find rose pink and ivory butterflies for my flower arrangements - i cant fins any nice ones or any the correct colors any one got any suggestions.
thankyou x
Kat,
check out your local craft store, they always have butterflies and with spring coming you are sure to find plenty!!
*Butterflies, oriental trading
One of the fun things to do with a big theme like “butterfly wedding” is to break it into smaller, more specific ideas.
I wanted to imagine a super-romantic, fairytale, grand-style butterfly wedding with little touches of Marie Antoinette (so big over the past year) and this is what I came up with — a Butterfly & Feathers wedding, in pale pink and cream.
The keystone to this look is that beautiful pale-pink ostrich feather centerpiece — but you wouldn’t put those on every single table, or it could start to look “casino.” Just here and there for impact. Then something like those lower-profile rose arrangements with the sparkling faux ice crystals in the vases.
Also: shine and sparkle in swarovski butterfly bouquet picks, or a sparkling pin attached to a silk bouquet wrap. Pink organza chair sashes, feminine roses, a fluffy quill pen in pastel pink. Crystal chandelier beads, rhinestone craft buckles on pink satin ribbon, and silver candelabras. This is a sweeping, coquettish theme with a big “wow” factor. What do you think?
What other kinds of butterfly themes would you like to see?
Hi butterfly brides, just wanted to share some tasty cake inspiration. I wish I could say this had a theme other than “cakes I love from flickr,” but that’s about it!
There are so many styles here, though. You could design a whole, very different wedding around each of these cakes. I LOVE the boho garden style of cake #1, for example. Or that unexpected chocolate brown/slightly Asian-cherry-blossom style of cake #2, who woulda thought of that? Then for traditionalists, there’s that lovely white and ivory butterfly and crystal cake in #3 — pure fairytale.
A lot of blue cakes here, ranging from pastel blue to deep aqua — I know we have a lot of blue butterfly theme brides. If I had to pick a favorite tho, I think it would be that wedgewood blue and bright orange butterfly and poppy cake at #7. The credits for these awesome cakes are below.
What do you think? Is there a style of butterfly cake you’ve been searching for but haven’t turned up?
1. boho/garden butterfly wedding cake, 2. chocolate & cherry blossom cake, 3. Karen’s Butterflies & Crystals Wedding Cake, 4. butterfly garden cake, 5. blue cake and fresh sugar daisies, 6. blue butterfly waterfall cake, 7. Butterfly and Poppy Wedding Cake, 8. “zen” clean white butterfly cake, 9. aqua blue cake with daisies and green trim
looking for flying butterflies to come out of napkins at reception
any help truly appreciated.
thanx
kimmy
http://www.magicflyer.com is the only place I have found for the napkin butterflies but they’re expensive.
If anyone has any other ideas?
Sarah
What about getting butterfly patches at the craft section and sewing them on yourself if you are using cloth napkins.
hi,im planning 2 hv my wedding in december & my theam is buterfly. my colours are gonna be bottle green with matt gold. please give some ideas with designing my cake, wedding cards and table decorations.
thanx!!!
We have kind of decided the date. I have an idea of having a butterfly themed wedding with blue & silver with a touch of glod could you help out in designing theme any help would be appereciated.
Nethania & other silver and blue butterfly brides, please check out our fairytale theme page. This theme is a classic for a fairytale atmosphere, VERY dreamy and romantic! Scroll down into the comments and you will see some cakes, inspiration boards etc. in these colors. All you need to add are some sparkly butterfly accents and you’re there!
Does anybody know any ideas on butterfly center pice?
Claudia, there are SO many things you can do for butterfly centerpieces, where to start??
Here are some pics for inspiration. #1 is from Martha Stewart. This is great for a garden wedding, you can simply insert some lovely wired craft butterflies into potted plants. Paint the pots to match your wedding colors, and give them away at the end of the day.
#2 just shows how great butterflies look with bright, funky centerpieces and lots of ribbon. #3 is hard to see, but you can submerge butterflies and branches or flowers in clear glass cylinders. You don’t have to use water as long as the branches will stand up inside. This is a chic look!
#4 is a totally romantic design. Partly this shows how lovely any traditional flower arrangement looks with butterfly accents. #6 is interesting, glitter pillar candles on little stands. You can make these butterfly-themed just by sticking wired butterflies into the wax. I love how they “fly” around the candle instead of just being glued on. Looks great and so easy.
#7, butterflies on paper lanterns! Martha Stewart did this first.
So cool, easy and colorful! #8, a little asian twist … butterflies look great on cherry blossom branches or wired into lucky bamboo, like here! And finally, #9. What could be simpler than floating butterfly candles in glass bowls? You can tint the water to match your colors if you like. So where to get these butterflies? Try craft stores like Michaels or check eBay for feathered craft butterflies. HTH!
where cn i get the paper butterflys that fly out the servats on the tables for my wedding
clarissa, have you checked out butterfly-wish.com? they provide great live butterflies for release. I used them at our daughters wedding as a centerpiece and it was beautiful. at the end we released them and it was so much fun!
Hey, I found some really pretty butterlies made of feathers and covered in glitter at JoAnn Fabrics yesterday! Some had clips on them and some had long wires you could use to attach them to things!
Am getting married in August and have a blue butterfly theme. Stuck on flower ideas, have hayfever so may have to have silk flowers but can’t decide what flowers to have?
hi, I wanted to know where can I find that light blue butterfly on top of the bouquet and at the corner of that white cake. I will really appreciate . Thanks
Im am having a butterfly theme for my wedding. My colors are watermelon pink and rose petal pink. I need centerpiece ideas…. Please Help Me….
Thanks
On a wedding channel a few months ago i saw wind up butterflys that were put in the napkins. as the guests opened them they flutterd out. Whare can I get some ?
I’m also looking for the wind-up butterflies. Known as book butterflies. I only found one site with them and they are expensive.
i too am looking for the wind up butterfly bookmarks… i know that hallmark carries them , but i would like to directly order from the manufacturer.. please if you can help… i havent been able to locate them anywhere… on the net..
I would like to know where to get the wind up butterflies also. My wedding is on June 9th, and I have been looking for butterfly decorations EVERYWHERE. I am really starting to get stressed out, so any help would be great.
Thanks.
Danielle, Nora you can get them at magicflyer.com
I hope that helps
Have a wonderful wedding
I am also having a butterfly themed wedding. I found a lot of decorating and favour ideas on E-Bay. If they don’t have the colour of silk butterflies that you want, e-mail the people and most will make the colours you want. I sent a picture of my bridesmaid dresses in blue and they were able to paint the butterflies to match. Hope this helps!
i saw these wind up butterflies several years ago at a hallmark store. you might find out if they still have them available. they were sent in cards.
I found some of the wind-up butterflies at http://www.flutteringdetails.com. Hope that helps!!
http://www.magicflyer.com
http://www.flyingbutterfly.com/FB/default.htm
here is a site I found that has them. They are expensive, but the shipping is cheaper. If you are having only a few guests, it might be cheaper to get them here because of shipping.
Im looking for fuschia pink butterflies to decorate my cards with. Any idea where i can find them? Many thanx
hey, im an aussie girl who is having a buterfly themed wedding and im having hot pink oreiental lillies as my flowers, with silver butterflies, throughout the bouquets, with the flower arrangements on tables, etc, just to break up the brightness of the pink, hope that could help a little
rhiannon, can you tell me where to find your silver butterflies for my bouquets? I am doing pink and butterflies also.
Can anyont tell me where to get silver butterflies for my bouquets?
Was wondering if anyone knew where I could buy butterfly decorations, the ones what a wound up on a rubber band and when opened the fly up.
Eg. You hind them in the napkin and when napkin is opened the little butter fly will fly into the air
hi Sharan,
I’m looking for the butterflies that are wound up too, can u pls let me know when you find out where..
Thanks!!
i want to incorporate red roses with butterflies wedding theme? any ideas?
im have a pink butterflies theme and want any pink ideas..
Pink butterflys would look great with Gerbra Daisys
Gerbers would be gorgeous! You could have a “pastel pink on hot pink” theme with butterflies and gerbers. Or try soft pink roses (classic) or pink hydrangeas (more casual but very romantic). If you wanted something chic and mod you could swag feather boas (pink or white) around head chairs, guest book tables, so on, and attach silk butterflies to the swags.