Why Can't I Throw Rice at a Wedding?

Question

My sister is getting married this Spring in an outdoor, garden wedding. Being a very traditional family, we wanted the guests to throw rice as the newly wedded couple exit the garden. We were told that we could not throw rice but had to use rose petals or bird seed.

What in the world is wrong with throwing rice? It has been done for hundreds of years.

Answer 1

Many churchs and reception halls have rules prohibiting the throwing of confetti or rice. These rules work to keep the property clean so that the next happy couple doesn't get its send-off amid the leavings of the previous pair. Confetti is notoriously hard to clean up; not even vacuuming a lawn will return the grass to its pristine condition.

Rice poses a unique danger. Not to birds, though; to people. Scattered on a hard surface (such as the steps of a church or a dance floor) it puts anyone who walks across that surface at risk of taking a nasty spill. Far better to prohibit rice throwing at a wedding than to end up with an injured guest

Answer 2

It has been shown that rice may kill the wild birds. It swells up before they can digest it and therefore should not be thrown.

There's nothing wrong with throwing rose petals or bird seed, so why fight it? No sense killing the birds over an old fashioned tradition.

You could get the seed called millet rather than the mixed bird seed of many "colors," that way it would look more like something that should be thrown at a wedding rather than the typical bird seed. Most feed stores carry millet...it's a pearl-like tiny seed. Very nice to put into a piece of organdy with ribbon for the guests to throw. Enjoy the "new tradition."

Answer 3

Sorry (((((Frog))))) - but that's a myth. Exploding birds is a myth started by extremists who blame humans for all ills of the world. If, in fact, birds were to explode by eating rice, militaries around the world would be feeding birds rice and using them as live hand grenades to lob at their enemies Many birds eat rice. The tradition of throwing bird seed started mostly because women wear slippy high heels to their weddings....and when they step on the rice, a lot of them end up slipping and falling. Oh and to answer your question - stop trying to override our culture with yours, OK?

Answer 4

Actually for a unique alternative, they have heart shaped puffed rice available for weddings. So if you want to have the tradition of rice, without making the Church angry or the birds...consider using the puffed rice. It's very cute and classy and would work perfectly. Often times people slip on bird seed and rose petals can also stain runners and other fabrics. Try the links below:

Answer 5

I don't know. It's a myth that has been taken as fact. Rice does not make birds bloat then explode. Complete and total hooey.

"You may have heard that, when birds eat rice thrown at a wedding, the rice swells so much inside their bellies that they pop. Sounds awful, doesn't it? But have you ever seen any exploding birds after a wedding? It never happens. In fact, birds are often big pests in rice fields. Some rice farmers may wish the pesky birds would explode, but they never do!" The National Wildlife Federation

Answer 6

For most places its about cleaning up afterwards. Unless you want to get down and pick up every grain of rice that is thrown, there will always be some left laying around on the ground. Most places won't let you use it (or confetti etc) because they don't want to be stuck with the clean-up. If people break the rules and use rice/confetti etc at the place we have chosen, there is a $200 clean-up fee.

Answer 7

you will be surprise with what you are not allowed to do anymore at weddings, i was told you can't throw rice because it attracts birds on to the front of the church and it makes a big mess ( we couldn't do bird seeds either)

For my wedding, i wanted to walk down the aisle to the TRADITIONAL song (tan, tan, tara.. )well, certain churches don't allow that song anymore, i was crushed when i was told that...

Answer 8

Birds and other small animals can/will eat the rice. The rice expands in their stomachs and can kill them. I don't think you want a bunch of dead squirrels and birds around at the wedding do you? =)

Answer 9

It kills birds... when they eat it, it swells in the stomachs and they die. You can buy bird friendly rice at stores though. Walmart used to sell it and I'm sure there are other places you can find it. I also got married outside and we just blew bubbles.

Answer 10

i heard somewhere that throwing rice can give birds certain diseases so throw bird seed cuz its meant for birds and throw rose petals cuz they wont eat it!hope u have fun-rose petals look pretty so throw those