Couples often decide to release white doves after they’ve arrived at the venue in their wedding car and have said their vows. But the tradition could actually do more harm than good if birds that don’t have that homing instinct are used.
A Times report, featured by the Daily Telegraph, has suggested that this could actually cause problems for the environment if numbers go unchecked.
Speaking to the Times, Destiny Doves owner Linda Milnes explained that her doves are similar to racing pigeons so they always come back after they’ve been released but people often go somewhere cheaper after they’ve been given a quote for the birds – and those birds may not necessarily be trained in the same way.
The RSPCA added that there are concerns for the welfare of domesticated doves that would find it hard in the wild if they couldn’t find their way home. A spokeswoman said: “We would always advise people to use a reputable and professional company, and never undertake releases themselves.”
The last thing you want when planning your wedding is to think that you could end up hurting beautiful birds so always do your research properly before spending any money. This is something you should do as standard when looking for wedding suppliers, whether you’re hunting out the perfect dress, flowers or vintage wedding cars.
Get in touch with us at Carol’s Wedding Cars if you’d like to find out more about the cars we have in our fleet. We’d love to help you achieve your dream wedding.