Symbolic Soaring: The Significance Of Releasing Doves At Weddings

Releasing doves at weddings is a way to commemorate the occasion and celebrate the newlywed couple's unity and new beginnings. Doves are a universal symbol of peace, purity, new life, monogamous love, and hope for the future. In ancient tradition, a groom would give his bride a dove as a symbol of his devotion. The colour white is closely tied to wedding traditions and is seen as a symbol of purity and grace, which is why white doves are used.

Doves are a symbol of love, peace, happiness and prosperity

Releasing doves at weddings is an ancient ritual, with doves representing many elements of married life. Doves are monogamous and mate for life, reflecting the lifelong unity and devotion of the newlyweds. In ancient tradition, a groom would give his bride a dove as a symbol of his devotion. The white dove also represents the bride and groom's purity as they begin their life journey together.

The number of doves released can vary from two to twenty, with each number carrying a different symbolic meaning. Releasing two doves can symbolise the unity between two individuals or families, while releasing twenty doves creates a stronger sense of grandeur and awe for guests. The doves are usually released during an outdoor ceremony or as the couple leaves the church, circling the couple before flying away to symbolise the couple's departure from their families and their journey into a new life together.

The act of releasing doves at weddings dates back to biblical times and the story of Noah's Ark. After the great flood, Noah sent a dove to search for land, and it returned with an olive branch, signifying a safe new home. This story, deeply rooted in American culture, adds to the symbolism of hope and new beginnings associated with releasing doves.

White doves are not natural and are bred specifically for release

Doves are often released at weddings as they are seen as symbols of love, peace, purity, and unity. However, the practice of releasing doves has come under scrutiny due to animal cruelty concerns. While doves may appear pure white and natural, they are not. White doves are the result of hundreds of years of domestication and selective breeding. They are specifically bred for release at events like weddings and are often sold without the necessary survival skills.

White doves are bred to be flock animals, and as such, they rely heavily on their flock or their human owners for survival. When released at weddings, these doves are suddenly on their own, confused, and vulnerable. They have little chance of surviving on their own, just like a family dog abandoned in the woods far from home.

The time of day when doves are released also matters. Doves are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day. If released at night, they are immediately put at a disadvantage. Come morning, they are on their own and must find a flock to join, or they will not survive. Even if they do find a flock, they remain disoriented and susceptible to predators.

The birds used in white dove releases are typically white homing pigeons, which are related to the dove species. Actual doves are too fragile for long flights and lack a natural homing instinct. White homing pigeons, on the other hand, are larger, stronger flyers, and possess a homing ability that allows them to find their way back home. However, even these trained pigeons can sometimes get hurt, lost, or killed during their journey back.

The release of white doves at weddings can have severe consequences for the birds, especially when non-homing pigeons are used. It is essential to prioritize the well-being and safety of these creatures and consider alternative options that do not involve the release of live animals.

Doves are monogamous

Doves are often included in weddings as symbols of love and peace. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was often associated with doves. The white colour of the doves released at weddings represents the bride and groom as they begin their life journey together in purity and with no regrets about their past.

Doves are also included in weddings because they are monogamous. While many dove species are lifelong mates, some only mate for a breeding season. However, doves are monogamous while they are together. The majority of dove species do mate for life, and if a mate dies, the survivor will find another partner. In the wild, doves rarely live longer than five years, but domestic doves can live 20 years or more.

Doves symbolise lifetime love, and they are also great parents. They build nests together and take turns incubating their eggs. Doves feed their young "pigeon milk" or "crop milk", a milk-like substance produced by the parents a few days before the eggs hatch. After a couple of weeks, the parents introduce seeds, which are the main source of food for young doves.

Releasing doves at weddings has become a popular tradition, but it is important to consider the welfare of the birds. White doves are bred specifically for release and do not have the necessary survival skills to fend for themselves. They are flock animals, so if they do not find another flock to join, they will not survive.

Doves are fragile and too weak to survive in the wild

Doves are gentle and make great pets, but they will not survive in the wild. They will fall victim to hawks, cats, and the elements. Releasing doves at weddings is a custom based on cruelty. They are confused and disoriented, becoming easy targets for predators. Even when done "properly" by hiring professionals to release trained white homing pigeons, casualties are still common.

The white dove cannot handle urban survival. It is cruel to release a white dove, for it will starve or be eaten in a city. They will be eaten by other birds, starve from not finding a food source, or get lost trying to get back home. The white dove sold for release has no survival skills in the wild, and they will die. Even in the media, there have been occasions when releasing doves has resulted in a tragic moment where a larger bird will attack the fragile dove right in front of the crowd.

The "dove release" business perpetuates the idea that white birds can be "set free" and will just fly away and live happily ever after. The reality is very different. Trained "wedding doves" are hurt, lost, and killed trying to get home. This custom needs to end.

Releasing doves is controversial

Doves are seen as symbols of love and peace and are believed to represent the bride and groom as they start their new life together. The practice is thought to bring good fortune, happiness, and everlasting love.

However, the doves used in these ceremonies are often bred specifically for release and lack the necessary survival skills to survive in the wild. They are usually kept in captivity for their entire lives and are then released and left to fend for themselves. This can be extremely dangerous for the birds, as they are likely to fall prey to predators such as hawks, gulls, ravens, and cats.

Some dove release companies claim to have the utmost respect for the animals and maintain that the release process is safe. These companies use homing pigeons, which have a strong instinct to find their way back home. However, PETA and other animal rights organizations do not condone dove releases, as there are still risks involved for the birds.

There are alternative ways to incorporate doves into your wedding without causing them harm. For example, you could use decorative cages with doves inside as part of your wedding decor or choose an ethical alternative, such as a butterfly release, to mark your special day.

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