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Symbols and signs
The tradition of releasing doves on a wedding day appeared in sunny Italy. Leaving her parents' house, the young bride gave freedom to a gentle white-winged bird, symbolizing love, tenderness and fidelity. This was a sign that the girl was now free from the care of her mother and father and was ready to start a new family. Idea! Instead of doves, butterflies or ordinary balloons are also released into the sky.
All guests of the holiday are waiting for the moment when the newlyweds release snow-white birds into the sky. This is not only a beautiful sight. A number of signs are associated with the ritual:
- If the dove took off first and broke away from her partner, then it was assumed that the bride would be the main one in the house;
- Another version of the superstition says that a more efficient dove is a sign that a girl will appear first in the family. But if the male gets ahead of his girlfriend , then the first-born will be a boy;
- Pigeons scattered in different directions symbolize a troubled family life;
- Birds flying quickly and high were considered a good sign and promised the young couple the fulfillment of a wish that the heroes of the occasion had made before the ceremony;
- If a pair of birds flutters in the sky for a long time and inseparably , the newlyweds will have a happy life;
- If a bird stains the newlywed's outfit , then there will be prosperity and wealth in the family.
To distinguish in height which of the doves belongs to the bride and which to the groom, red and blue ribbons are tied to the birds’ legs. Not everyone adheres to this tradition, fearing for the safety of pigeons.
After all, ropes can get tangled in branches or wires.
Launch: where and when?
The ceremony does not require a mandatory time and place. Usually the pigeons are released into the sky after the painting. After leaving the registry office, the ceremony symbolizes the birth of a new family and loyalty to each other.
It is not so important whether this happens immediately after leaving the registry office, during the traditional walk of the newlyweds or in the middle of the banquet. Sometimes, as a sign of farewell to single life, a ceremony with birds is organized before the painting - at a bachelor or bachelorette party.
The flight of birds looks most impressive in open areas, where trees and buildings do not interfere with enjoying the beautiful spectacle and observing the behavior of pigeons. Often the ceremony is held outside the city or in a park.
It is also important not to delay the ceremony, since no one will be able to observe and evaluate the flight of birds in the dark. Birds should be released during daylight hours.
How to hold and let go?
Pigeons are delicate and fragile birds. You need to be able to hold them correctly so as not to injure them. To do this, the wings of the birds are carefully pressed to the body, and the paws are fixed between the fingers. This way the birds will not break free ahead of time.
When the moment comes to release the pigeons into the sky, it is advised to slightly push the birds upward. You should not make sudden movements. It is important that the birds are released at the same time, so the bride and groom should agree in advance. You can, for example, launch birds on the count of three.
In order for the photographer to take several successful shots, you should not suddenly let go of the pigeons. At the same time, the bride and groom must have time to pose for the camera both with birds in their hands and against the backdrop of birds soaring in the sky.
How to buy pigeons for breeding?
When buying pigeons, they take the same number of males and females - so that each bird has a pair. Pigeons take “family ties” seriously - having chosen a partner, they remain faithful to him all their lives.
It is not advisable to buy pigeons in winter. The best time to move in a dovecote is February-March. At this time, birds require special care, which cannot always be fully provided. If you have decided on the breed, all that remains is to select healthy individuals.
Signs of healthy pigeons:
- breathe evenly;
- active;
- have shiny plumage;
- eyes open, shiny;
- The chest should not protrude.
Beginners buy pigeons wherever they can. And this is their big mistake. Experienced pigeon breeders prefer to take pigeons not from the market - from unknown persons, but from a specific dovecote. Moreover, they will first learn as much as possible about it - how pigeons are kept, how they train, and other details.
Peculiarities
Today, not only the bride, but also her betrothed takes part in the ceremony. The newlyweds release the doves into the sky together. There are two versions of the ritual. The first case involves two birds, which the bride and groom hold in their hands. The second option involves the participation of a flock of birds, which at a certain stage of the ceremony soar into the sky. It turns out to be a kind of “live fireworks”.
Birds, as mentioned earlier, are released before or after painting. In some cases the ceremony is performed twice. It all depends on the preferences of the couple.
At the appointed time, the birds are brought to the young in a beautiful wedding cage. It can be only two doves for the bride and groom or several birds at once. If desired, they are also presented to witnesses and guests of the holiday.
Before releasing the birds into the wild, it is important to arrange a short photo session. The ceremony footage looks spectacular and romantic in the photographs.
When the birds are in the sky, the guests and heroes of the occasion watch the flight and remember the signs associated with the ceremony.
The process of launching doves at a wedding
Once you have planned your celebration and chosen the date and time of your wedding, consider flying the doves. Find a good company that specializes in breeding pigeons for weddings and other events. Such organizations look after their birds, they keep them clean and train them to return home.
Agree, it is much more pleasant to hold a well-groomed bird in your hands than a dirty and sick one . Ordinary street pigeons, which are abundant on the streets these days, are carriers of infection.
But specialized pigeons are absolutely safe and well-groomed, one might say they are accustomed to culture.
Therefore, do not be afraid to trust professional poultry farmers. All modern organizations conduct individual consultations and presentations of their capabilities, which will really make your choice easier and will undoubtedly decorate your celebration or anniversary.
Ordering pigeons
As for the order itself, you can:
- Come in person/order by phone.
- Pick up yourself/arrange delivery to the event site. But if you are planning to transport the pigeons yourself, check with the company: is the distance from the launch site to their home large? Therefore, the option of delivering pigeons to a wedding is more optimal. Moreover, professionals will take care of the birds at all times.
After the wedding ceremony is over, the newlyweds pick up the doves. They take a few pictures with it and release it into the sky. The birds, having made a couple of circles over the newlyweds and guests, fly back to the dovecote.
Newlyweds in love can make show doves. Place an order not for one pair of birds, but for as many as they have guests. And launch white doves at the same time as everyone else. It will look even more impressive, touching and beautiful.
Everyone will remember this show!
Where can I get it and how much do they cost?
Pigeons are unusual birds. They are used for wedding ceremonies not only because of their beauty and tenderness. Birds symbolize peace, love and fidelity.
Renting birds for a wedding ceremony is easy. You can contact bird breeders or special nurseries. Here, for a particularly elegant wedding, newlyweds can order pigeons with a pedigree.
Important! Renting birds from a nursery is a guarantee of safety, because birds are carriers of a number of diseases. You need to be sure that the pigeon infection will not be transmitted to the bride and groom.
Sometimes birds are offered for rent right outside the registry office. This service is convenient because you don’t even have to prepare for the ceremony in advance. However, when choosing pigeons from the registry office, you cannot be sure that they are properly prepared to participate in the celebration. The advantage of this service is its low cost.
Carrier pigeons are used for the ceremony. They are able to travel long distances and will always find their way home. By renting such birds, you don’t have to worry about their safety.
The cost of the service is affordable to everyone. A pair of birds will cost an average of 1000-1500 rubles. Thoroughbred individuals are somewhat more expensive - approximately 2000 rubles each.
Breeds of wedding pigeons
Most often, wedding pigeons are white carrier or racing pigeons. Carrier pigeons are distinguished by good terrain orientation, the ability to fly over long distances and flight speed. Homing pigeon owners do not have to worry that the bird will not return home. Of all types of carrier pigeons, the most common are German carrier pigeons and Russian carrier pigeons.
German homing pigeons
The breed was obtained as a result of selection of Antwerp and English pigeons. The birds are more reminiscent of decorative pigeons, because the producers were selected more for their appearance than for their flight qualities. Zootechnicians sought to breed beautiful, early-maturing and fast birds. German homing pigeons have a compact body, a long neck, a neat head with a short beak and large eyes, a short tail and long legs. In addition to white ones, there are brown, gray, red and yellow pigeons.
Russian homing pigeons
The Russian homing pigeon is very similar in appearance to its German counterpart. It differs only in the more graceful lines of the head, the beak is pointed, and the eyes are orange-red. The bird has strong, slightly curved wings. The legs are featherless, long and well muscled. The color of the plumage is very different - from snow-white to colored.
Decorative breeds are more often used for photo shoots - they have a more expressive and memorable appearance. Among other breeds, the most commonly used for wedding celebrations are:
- White Iranian pigeons.
- White Chelyabinsk.
- Oryol white tumblers.
- Wig pigeons.
- Peacock pigeons.
Photo session with white doves
A photo shoot is one of the most important elements of a wedding celebration. An experienced photographer will take photographs that will remind you of an important event many years later. He will not forget about several shots with pigeons.
Spectacular wedding shots are obtained with pigeons in a cage. But the birdhouse must be beautiful and match the event. The groom is asked to lift the cage and the bride to look at the birds.
Photos in which newlyweds carefully hold doves and look at each other or at the birds look especially tender. Surely guests will also want to take photos with the birds. It is important to capture the moment of flight. To do this, you will need professional equipment, which is in the specialist’s arsenal. It is extremely difficult to film all stages of the ceremony with a regular camera or smartphone camera.
The photo session must be held in an open area. The better the overview, the better the shots you will get.
How to choose a healthy, beautiful individual
You can turn to experienced pigeon breeders for help. It is also worth carefully studying all the parameters that a representative of a particular breed must meet. A healthy young individual has clean feathers, a well-groomed appearance, they are fit and slender. The bird should not be overly aggressive, but excessive lethargy indicates illness. Carefully check the feathers of the individual in the light: there should be no holes in the feathers, which are usually left by skin parasites. The anus and beak should also be examined. It is best to purchase a pair of pigeons. Birds are monogamous, but they tolerate changing partners quite easily. In a pair, the male coos, the turtledove fluffs up his feathers in response. In the spring, breeders set the highest prices - it is more profitable to purchase birds in the fall.
Satinettes
Jacobins
Recommendations
Organizing a wedding ceremony with doves is very simple if you keep in mind some recommendations:
- Before implementing the idea, it is important to find out whether the heroes of the occasion have an allergic reaction to feathers . Otherwise, the wedding banquet will be ruined;
- To prevent pigeons from soiling their outfits with feces, which the bride and groom are often afraid of, the birds are not fed a day before the event ;
- If one of the newlyweds has a dislike for birds or is afraid of them, then it is better to refuse such a ceremony. Pigeons can be replaced with butterflies or glowing lanterns ;
- To be sure that birds will not become a source of infection, it is better to rent them from special nurseries;
- White doves will look great at a wedding celebration. It is better to avoid variegated breeds ;
- Photo sessions with birds are trusted only to experienced photographers with professional equipment;
- Don't take the signs associated with the ceremony too seriously. Even if the birds fly away, the main thing in family life is to rely on yourself. Perhaps the birds simply did not like each other.
Idea! You can complement the launch of pigeons into the sky with balloons or the smoke of colored bombs. This action looks colorful and solemn.
Home of tradition
Nowadays, pigeons are an obligatory attribute of almost every wedding, but this tradition originated in Italy. The bride released the dove into the sky, preparing to enter into an independent life and saying goodbye to her father's house. These days, similar rituals can be found at weddings around the world:
- In Russia, pigeons have long brought good luck, were considered a symbol of peace and were revered by church ministers.
- Among the Greeks, pigeons are messengers of the goddess of love Astarte.
- Many European countries associate pigeons with chastity.
- In Asia they believe that the dove is the oldest and purest bird, which is why it personifies marriage and the family hearth.
It doesn’t matter how many people are present at your event, what style the restaurant is decorated in, or what outfit the bride wears. Snow-white doves are an integral part of any wedding format.
