I have a two-fold question?

Question

First off, which is better to throw at a wedding? Rice or bird seed? I've heard that rice isn't a good idea, but I don't know why. I was thinking of using bird seed anyway, because it's an outdoor wedding in a park.

Secondly, what would I package the bird seed or rice in to give it to our guests? I need something very inexpensive, so any ideas would be helpful!

Answer 1

I think bubbles would be better.

If you want to use bird seed or rice, just put them in a little piece of cloth tied with a ribbon.

And, those saying rice kills birds, this has been debunked on snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/birdrice.asp

Answer 2

Bird seed. Rice will swell in the bellies of the birds and can kill them.

You generally wrap it in tuelle netting. You can use any type of fabric though. I wouldn't use palstic wrap, that is bad for the environment. A lady I know just set up a few bird baths along the walkway when they were leaving the church. They were filled with the birdseed.

As for the bubbles, sometimes they don't work out and it isn't as pretty as you may have hoped. For about $20 you can get a bubble machine at walmart, plug it in and have people blow bubbles. You will be sure to have great coverage.

Answer 3

Personally, I say throw nothing. You'll have a heck of a time trying to pick all that birdseed out of your updo, your dress, etc. I spent almost an hour helping a girlfriend of mine dislodge birdseed from her hair, veil and dress (she was on her own to get rid of all the birdseed that got stuck down her dress! - lol). And trying to get birdseed out of hair without wrecking an updo is NOT FUN.

With that said, check with the park and make sure it's okay to throw anything. Some places have rules, and it's different anywhere. Most places don't allow rice - apparently it's not good for the birds.

If you're still going to have the throws, your best bet is to use tulle - not very expensive at all. Cut into squares using pinking shears, and then tie into a little bundle with a satin ribbon. Done!

Best wishes!

Answer 4

Rice is worse because it hurts/kills birds. Rice expands in the stomach because of the moisture. The birds eat until they are full and then the rice starts to expand which at minimum has to hurt but I originally heard that it kills them. Regardless, go with bird seed.

I would recommend getting some cheap fabric and cutting it up. Basic colors like white are usually available for less than $1/yd in fabric stores. Then use ribbon to tie up little bundles. You can use the ribbon from fabric stores but I think ribbon that is used for wrapping presents and gifts is much easier to tie.

An alternate would be tissue paper which would be cheaper and easier for guests to open. There would still have to be ribbon or some kind of tie.

Hope this helps. Congratulations!

Answer 5

I think that birdseed is better than rice at a park if you are going to throw something. Rice is dangerous to birds and other animals. Another idea that I thought was cute is you can find paper confetti - http://www.advantagebridal.com/ecbicoinco.html - something like that, which is probably going to be even better than birdseed because birdseed might get stuck all over your hair and in your dress and just everywhere. They sell all kinds - I probably wouldn't recommend the hard plastic-y confetti though, because that is probably awful for birds. Bubbles are always cute too, although you have to have people start well before you walk through them, otherwise it will just be people blowing bubbles at your back.

As for packaging, little tulle or organza bags can get expensive so I would recommend using paper. One thing you can try is folding paper envelopes like this one: http://www.yasutomo.com/project/origamicard.htm or cups like this: http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-cup.html which are super-easy.

If you have someone who is willing to do a little work to pass out confetti, I think it is really cute to have paper cones, and have your helper put a small handful of confetti in each one. It's hard to fill them ahead of time because it might spill out. I think using origami paper will also make that brighter and prettier. You can find this ribbon at Michael's called Spool O Ribbon for a dollar (or less on sale) in almost any color and just tie a little bow around the cone or punch a hole in the cone and use the ribbon as kind of a handle.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be great. Good luck!

Answer 6

Use the bird seed. If the birds eat the rice they could die. Just get some little lace circles and put some in and tie it with some ribbon that matches the color scheme of the wedding.

Good Luck with the wedding and the marriage.

Answer 7

Bird seed is better. The birds clean it up and it hurts less when hit with it.

Use left over dress material. Something sheer, possibly matching the bride maids dresses. You could find the material at secondhand clothing outlets, or anywhere they sell material, they will often have leftover material package fairly cheap. You could also use tissues, that way if they don't get cleaned up, they will still biodegrade. You can make flowers out of tissues as well. (Lay 4-5 sheets on top of each other, fold them like a fan, tie it in the middle, and carefully peel the sheets apart). You could use coloured tissues or spray them, lightly, with water and food colouring, or dip them in sparkles.

Congratulations! All the best for the future.

Answer 8

You can throw small sugar candies, usually in the shape of hearts or flowers. They are white and about the same size as rice and you can find them in any wedding center. Bubbles are a problem if it's windy.

Rice absorbs water when it cooks and expands. Birds eat the rice and the rice expands so much that is ruptures there stomachs and they die. Many churches, temples, etc. will not allow rice to be thrown at weddings for this reason.

Answer 9

Definitely no rice. (Especially since your wedding is in a park)The reason people tell you not to throw rice is because it kills birds when they eat it. It expands in their stomachs and their stomachs are too small to handle the expansion. Go with birdseed. You can get huge bags of it at any hardware or garden store for relatively inexpensive. The easiest way to package it is to get pre-cut tulle circles and put about a tablespoon of the birdseed in the middle, then gather up the edges and tie it off with ribbon. The tulle circles are super inexpensive. Way cheaper than the organza bags and you can find them at any craft store like Michael's or Garden Ridge or Hobby Lobby. You can even order them online. You can get personalized ribbon online that has your names and wedding date on it and it comes in a plethora of colors sure to match your wedding decor. Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 10

Traditionally, its rice. The whiteness of rice emphasizes purity. Then technology came along and created instant rice. Cheap people buy instant rice, and birds eat and die. So, you will have to buy birdseed. The little bags to put the birdseed in can be found in the wedding department at Walmart, Target, etc. The bags come in an array of colors and don't run as high as the ones that are embroidered with initials.