How to Release Butterflies in 4 Easy Steps

A butterfly release is a moment you only get once, and ensuring it unfolds beautifully starts with understanding how to release butterflies and the simple steps behind it. At Cloverlawn Butterflies, we guide you through the process to ensure your butterflies are healthy, ready, and properly cared for, so you enjoy a smooth, picture-perfect release. We’ve helped thousands of customers, and we’re here to make sure your butterflies take flight safely, gracefully, and right on cue.

Buy butterflies to release for a wedding ceremony and get a FREE dozen Painted Ladies with any order of 100 or more live butterflies! ORDER NOW!!

Your free butterflies will be automatically added to your order of 100 or more butterflies!!

Butterfly Release Instructions

As a highly regulated industry, strict standards specify how LIVE butterflies must be prepared and transported to protect their well-being. We ship every order via FedEx Priority Overnight using insulated containers designed to maintain the right conditions during transit. Our aim is for clients to receive their butterflies the day before their event, typically by 10:30 AM in non-rural areas and by 4:30 PM in rural regions. This schedule ensures you have enough time to keep them settled upon arrival and have them ready for a seamless, memorable release.

Butterfly Release Instructions in 4 Easy Steps

Step 1: Receive & Inspect Your Butterflies

When you order live butterflies for release from Cloverlawn Butterflies, you will see our instructions start on the outside of the package. We never leave our clients wondering what to do with their butterflies.

Step 2: Keep Them Cool Until Release

When you open your package, you’ll find the butterflies safely placed inside a 1-inch-thick, foam-lined, insulated cooler-type box, AKA a baby refrigerator. On top of the cooler lid, you’ll see detailed instructions on how to release butterflies along with our business card, ensuring you have everything you need for a smooth and successful release.

Step 3: Let Them Acclimate to the Environment

Your goal is to keep your butterflies nice and cool for 45 minutes to an hour before you release them. That does mean you can put your butterflies still in the shipping box in the refrigerator, just do not put them in the freezer.

Step 4: The Moment of Release

Once you are ready to move into your moment of releasing a butterfly, you take them away from their cooler at least 45 minutes to an hour before releasing them. Let them warm up in their natural environment (which is outside), and they will get ready to fly!

Our Shipping Policy for Live Butterflies

You will choose the type of release you want when placing your order for your butterflies, along with the decorative box or personalized origami envelopes you prefer. Since every order is prepared with the release process in mind, including the basic principles of how do you release butterflies safely, they are shipped to arrive the day before your event.

When they arrive, regardless of your choice, they will all be in a box in their own envelopes (which will be plain if you have chosen a mass release) with an ice pack. The ice pack keeps the butterflies dormant, which is done for their own safety. Be sure to change the ice pack in order to keep them asleep until the following day. Your goal is to keep your butterflies nice and cool for 45 minutes to an hour before you release them. You can put your butterflies still in the shipping box in the refrigerator; just do not put them in the freezer.

Ready to Add a Magical Moment to Your Wedding?

A butterfly release adds an eye-catching moment to your wedding that looks beautiful in photos and videos. Butterflies create natural motion that brings your wedding photos to life without feeling staged, adding a soft visual effect that makes your ceremony feel more special. With Cloverlawn Butterflies, you get healthy, well-prepared live butterflies for weddings that make this moment easy to include in your event. Order online or call 407-896-8389 to plan your butterfly release and make your wedding day memorable.