White Dove Releases - Self Release

For your wedding or memorial, are you considering a "Self Release"? Consider this...

When done professionally and with class, a white dove release can be the most spectacular event at a wedding. In addition, it can be very touching at a funeral, where it helps lift the "heavyness" of the setting and can help start the recovery process. That being the case, the true professional recognizes the importance of both events and never takes these things lightly!

Each member of the White Dove Release Professionals mutually and unanomously agree to not sell, lend, rent or hire birds for "self release", and disagree with organizations that participate in such practices. Being the professionals that they are, after reading the following information we're sure you'll understand why. In case you are considering such an offer, here are a few things we hope you will consider....

Doves bought in pet stores are almost surely ring neck doves and will not fly or will only fly a few feet when released. If they do fly, hope that they don't fly into your guests or back into your lap. (This is a memorable moment but not the memory your looking for, and is not really a Kodak moment either.)

Rock doves (homing pigeons) will fly when they are released. However, if they have not been properly trained by a knowledgeable pro, they may land on the nearest roof or tree and sit. ( This definately takes away from the beautiful effect of birds circling that one should expect.)

Getting birds shipped to you from someone 500 miles away? There are very few birds, including racing pigeons, that can fly at these distances. There are some, yes, but by and large most white pigeons are not of this calbre. Are these birds ring necks? Homing pigeons? Will they fly? You receive the birds Friday morning, your wedding is on Saturday afternoon...What do I do with them? They are hungry, thirsty and stressed out from the shipment! What do I feed them? You need to water them as the weather will be in the 90's ( Dead birds don't fly ). So you water them....OOPS! 6 got away!

Do you release them out of that nice postal shipping box? No! Do you release them out of a decorative file box? Maybe. Do you go out and buy a $50.00 wicker basket, paint it (they are out of the white ones), and buy another $50.00 worth of silk flowers to decorate it? Maybe. Now you still have the problem of getting the birds into the basket ( providing that you didn't lose any when you gave them water).

The birds have a greenish tinge on there bellies? That is from them sitting in there droppings during shipping.

You are ready for the big release. Does the photographer know what to expect? Do you know how to set up the basket for the best effect?

What was your total cost? Money wise and stress wise to both you and the birds that didn't come out of the basket? After the bird rental, the shipping charges, and buying a release basket and flowers you probably paid as much or even more than it would if you would have hired a competent professional.

We hope we didn't discourage you from having a dove release! Yes, when done right, they are indeed spectacular. But no dove release IS better than a bad dove release. To find a professional in your area, please contact us!

Important information for anyone considering a white dove release - self release