An increasing trend in the wedding market is incorporating butterflies in weddings. Butterflies are a beautiful symbol of the meaning of marriage. Butterflies symbolize new life, new beginnings and a transformation from old to new. This is highly symbolic of marriage; the joining of two lives to create a new one. This is why so many brides are choosing to have butterflies or butterfly related items in their wedding.

Previously, couples were showered with rice, birdseed or bubbles by their guests as they left the ceremony. Today, many couples are choosing to have butterfly releases at the close of their ceremony to symbolize their new life. Butterflies can be purchased from a variety of online retailers who usually ship the live creatures via overnight air to the couple so they arrive on the day of the wedding. Butterfly releases are relatively inexpensive, although the shipping may be pricey. They normally come in a decorative box or container so that they do not need to be transferred to a different box for the ceremony. You or your guests simply open the box and release them into the environment.

There are other ways to incorporate butterflies in weddings too. A close friend, Susan, who is getting married in August 2008, told me of her idea for live butterfly centerpieces. She plans on purchasing tall glass vases with wide bases, placing butterflies inside and closing the tops with sheer fabric. The inside will be landscaped with natural items: stones, plants and flowers. After the reception, she will release the butterflies. This will look beautiful on her reception tables as long as the vases are tall and wide enough so that butterflies can fly inside.

If live butterflies at your wedding are not something you may be interested in, there are a variety of inanimate butterfly wedding items you can incorporate into your wedding. From unity candles to guest books, serving sets and toasting glasses to beautiful butterfly wedding favors, butterflies can still be everywhere for your special day. You may also want to consider purchasing fabric butterflies which can be found at craft stores, which you can integrate into your flowers, table decorations and even tie onto the backs of each chair at the reception.

Butterflies also fit into the color trends for weddings in 2008. Wedding planners tell us that yellows, oranges, gold and browns will be the hot color scheme, and butterflies suit this trend beautifully.