Customized Release Readings

We like to custom-craft a poem or short reading for your event based on the birds and ideas important to your family. You may pick something from below, from our poem pages, or create one on your own. Visit the Symbolism pages for ideas or talk with us about your hopes and dreams for the future so we can create one especially for you.

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Symbols of Love & Devotion

For thousands of years, doves have been symbols of many things we value in a marriage: love and devotion, fidelity, fertility, and partnership. The symbolism is based upon their devotion to each other and their family:
»Doves "woo" their mate and mate for life.
»They treat their partner with kisses and gentle touches.
»The male selects a site for their nest and the female has to approve.
»The male brings home building materials and the female arranges the nest.
»Both parents incubate the eggs, the male during the day, the female at night.
»Both parents guard and feed their babies.

Knowing all that, it is easy to understand why in ancient Greek and Roman cultures, a groom would give the bride's family a dove as a promise of his devotion and fidelity.

So now let us celebrate the traits of the white dove as they carry aloft our hopes and dreams for (insert Bride and Groom's names).

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Navigate Home

Speaker 1:
"These doves love flying, but their biggest desire is to return home, and they do so faithfully even in the face of obstacles and adversity. They use a variety of skill to navigate home:
» their eyes seek familiar landmarks
» their brains have an internal compass that senses direction
» they listen carefully for sounds unique to their home area
» the rising sun provides additional clues on long journey."

Speaker 2 (the bride, groom or someone in the wedding party)
"Like the doves, we (or insert name of bride & groom) will use a variety of skills to navigate through our life together:
» Our eyes will seek familiar sights for comfort and novel experiences for growth.
» Our internal compasses will help determine the right path towards fulfilling lives.
» We will listen carefully to those around us and strive to do them justice.
» We will greet the rising sun as a refreshing sign-- a reminder of the path upon which we embark together."

Then someone can read a short poem, or the children in the audience can count down to the release.

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6 Dove Release for bride & groom, parents, and/or a child.

Reader 1.

"It has been said that if you see a dove on your wedding day, a happy home is assured. Perhaps this is because doves mate for life and have a fierce desire to return home."

Bride & Groom say: "One dove as a symbol of our love."
Then open basket 1

Reader 2.

"Dove parents work together as true partners to raise their young:
Both parents select the nest location.
Both parents build the nest.
Both parents take turns incubating the eggs.
Both parents feed the young."

Fathers hold Basket 2 while one or two parents read:
"Two doves represent two families joining together
Two devoted parents working together."
Then the mothers open basket 2

Reader 3.

"Husband, Wife (and child)-- a new family begins. Three birds representing: one wish, one hope, one dream: (or Three birds represent three wishes (or three hopes, or three dreams)

OPTIONAL: Each of you could say a line:
     "I wish ________________________________
              "I hope ________________________
                        "I dream _______________
Then bride & groom (or child) opens basket 3.

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