Some people I know had goldfish in the centrepieces at their wedding reception. The after party clean-up begins and the groom's sister wants to know what he's doing with the goldfish. They were going to get flushed down the toilet. The sister was very upset, and took them all home. She ended up with 24 goldfish. The next day she bought a huge aquarium. It was an autumn wedding, so they were in the house until spring. She put a custom pond in the backyard and had to cage the top because it took exactly 1 night for the neighbourhood raccoons to figure out there's a pond full of of fish. 12 years later and her brother is divorced and she still has 4 of the goldfish

I had no idea this was a thing. I love butterflies. I wish a pox on the people that thought of this service. You can buy cards/little boxes that will shoot paper butterflies, flowers, etc. Why can't that be enough?!?

Beyond the cruelty part there’s also the chance of the butterflies being invasive species

We released pigeons at my Granfers funeral as he kept pigeons when he was alive. It was beautiful. These were racing pigeons who were going to be realised anyway for training. People just did it at the crematorium instead.

Were I live it's only allowed to release local species and it must be the right time of the year for their natural hatch from the pupae. I know a center for environmental awareness that does butterfly releases on weddings for educational purposes and to spread awareness. They have a very short time window in the year when you can book this and the venue has to fulfill certain criteria so the released butterflies have maximum chances to survive and repopulate. A friend of mine wanted to do this and complained lengthily that she couldn't have it. But they invited her to an informational visit to their site and in the end she changed her venue and the date to get the release. It was beautiful.

I'm so glad we had a 'no throwing things' rule at our wedding. Partly because the venue didn't allow it, partly because I really don't like having things flying at me. We did have the unintended Rat Discovery though. Joys of having a working terrier (our pet) as a groomsmaid. The rat was outside so it wasn't like, a problem.

Okay, the butterflies got screwed and I feel sorry for them. But on the other side of the equation it's hard not to laugh at the instant karma doled out to the people doing that c**p. If chrysalis / butterfly symbolizes rebirth and whatnot, I wonder what "DOA" symbolizes. I feel a bit more sad for the kid one though. Not their fault if they didn't know and a kid attending a kid's funeral is already a heavy trip for them.

Decorative parrots??? If you want creatures at your wedding who will just sit there and mindlessly repeat things they don't understand, look at your guest list. You probably already have plenty.

Dogs in weddings: so cute and yay. :) using animals as props that will die: sad :(

Animals are not wedding decor. I wonder what they expected, putting butterflies in small box with no air during hot day? If you want butterflies at your wedding, have wedding outside, near plants that attract them.

Here in the UK doves released into the wild won't survive, they are usually tame and don't know how to look after themselves plus local wildlife will kill them. Yet still people have them at weddings here :(

This makes me think I should do a snake release at my wedding, I live snakes, they’re just adorable boop noodle and not actually scary, I should bring three big terrariums with my three king snakes (snakes live a long time so most likely will still be alive during my wedding and because of the breeds each will be a min of 4 feet long and anywhere from 4-8 feet) and at the end instead of releasing butterflies I should just release my three snakes and see how my guests react, though I do have many friends who like snakes so most likely my snakes will just get picked up and pet, I love butterflies but I also know that releases are cruel and they should be in a big open environment and they also don’t just fly out they’ll just chill there, but my snakes like people and like cuddles and wrapping around your arm and over your shoulders, or one just likes curling in a ball on your warm lap (ball python, very chill)

AWww I LOVE butterflies, that is so sad. And while we are at it lets stop crushing bugs just cause we see them!! Yeah I know you are afraid of that spider, it's afraid of you too! Leave it ALONE!

I didn't know this was a thing. This is just an ignorant waste of life. The people selling the butterflies are the guilty party, the customers just assume all is fine. We learn, time and again, that life requires oxygen. I wonder how many people were dumb enough to think they were sold a bunch of dead butterflies.

I feel like the only animals acceptable in a wedding are those of the bride and/or groom and only if they're happily bouncing around the alter like the good babies they are lol

What's even sadder is that a butterfly's life is so short. To waste in a box is tragic.

This exact scenario happened on Bob's Burgers

TiL: if i or anyone I know is using animals for a event; make sure the transport is not like the Caged Chickens for eggs. Wtfudge. (Also weather. Account for weather.)

I’m having animals in my wedding hopefully but I’m a devoted pet owner and zoo worker and *I* will take care of it.

Gosh - how horrible and sad. I mean, I celebrate and welcome the butterflies that return to my garden in the spring and summer, and get excited when one of my milkweed plants hosts a monarch caterpillar. Animals are not props or toys.

If you want butterflies at your wedding, there are companies that will set up a tent with the butterflies in it. So you can take as many pictures as you want with the knowledge the butterflies aren't going to be injured. And to the people who use fish as wedding/party decor: I hate you. I hate you so much.

You can make wind up butterflies by yourself. Just google it, it’s easy. I used to make wind up bugs when I was a kid. Then I’d put one in a matchbox, draw a picture of a bee (or something else that stings/ bites) on the cover, hand the box to someone and see their reaction when they opened the box 😇🐝 (My dad taught me how to make them in the early 80’s)

We got a surprise dove release as a sweet gift from a local lady but the doves were in a big enough box and the ceremony was fairly short. 10/10 would absolutely do it again

So many AHs these days. From gender reveals gone wrong to those capturing nature to make a statement at weddings. Public displays have gone too far! It's more about creating a perfect Insta/ FB pic/ TikTok video and getting swag than actually living in the moment and enjoying those in your company. It's so sad...