Frequently Asked Questions
Being a fairly new idea to the UK, there are probably questions you would like answered before booking. These are some of the most common questions, but please feel free to contact us to discuss in full.
1) Is it not cruel to keep the birds locked up?
Yes, I think it would be. However our birds are free to come and go so they please themselves most of the time. Only on really bad weather days do we keep them in - and then its in an aviary so they still get fresh air.
2) I have been told it is cruel to release doves into the wild, as they are not used to fending for themselves and would either starve or become prey to hawks.
Only the Rock Dove is released by us. This is because it is the same as a racing pigeon and has a remarkable homing instinct. Your celebration is not the first time our birds will have flown from the area. Our birds are trained to return home quickly and safely. Not only do our birds mean a lot to us, but the cost involved in breeding and caring for them is quite significant. Therefore it is in our interests as responsible animal lovers as well as business people to give our birds the best training to ensure they arrive home safely. Rod once told a customer "we breed athletes not hawk food" - I think that sums it up!!
3)How do they find their way home?
From a young age the birds are let out for the first time. It takes weeks sometimes for them to get familiar with their surroundings before they range off. When the time is right, they are taken on regular training flights. We have 4 teams of birds, and each team will be trained from different geographical points. This gives them the best possible chance of "remembering" the way home. This is the "human" answer. Im sure the birds would say its sheer instinct and a love of home....we will never know 100%!
4) What if the birds do not return home and it has young ones in the nest, surley the young ones will die?
At Lovey Dovey, we are 100% committed to the success of our business. As such, we have enough birds to rotate and as yet we have had no need to take parents away from their young.
5) I would love the Doves at my event, but Im afraid they will need the loo at an inappropriate time and will mess over me?
There are 4 answers here; a) the birds like to perch before defecating and dont poo in flight. b) They are fed a special diet the day before and the morning of your event and are unlikely to need to go. c) In the unlikely event that they do need a poo, if you are holding the bird, we always show you how to best position the bird to "aim away!" d) their droppings tend to be hard - unlike wild birds, so it is unlikely to "stick" anywhere anyway. To sum up, in 23 years of handling birds, Rod has never had a bird poo whilst holding them, and we have never had this happen at an event.
6) Some of my guests are afraid/suspicious of birds, how can I overcome this?
Well being me, I would be straight with them. I would tell them your reasons for wanting Doves at your event, and ask them to put their fears aside just for one day - because it is your day. Over this last year we have helped many bird fearing person overcome their anxieties. We are happy to meet with anyone to help reassure them.
7) What if it rains on the day, does this mean the birds will not be released?
Not necessarily. Birds can fly in the rain. However if the rain is accompanied by mist, fog, lightening or gusting winds then we will not release them. In this scenario you will be offered a full refund (prior to any photographs being taken). Alternatively you can keep the birds on display for up to an hour, hold them for photographs and have a 50% refund. (pro rata for different packages)
8) Are all the images on your website your own work?
Absolutely. We take photographs ourselves, but in a lot of cases the photographers have been fantastic and sent us professional images. I would question the integrity and professionalism of any business that misleads customers into believing the work of others is their own.
9) Will our event be displayed on your website?
It may. We try and update our images as often as possible. If you have strong objections to this, please let us know at the time of booking otherwise we reserve the right to display all images.
10) If we are getting married at a venue too far for you to travel, can you just send us the birds for us to release?
No reputable company will do this. The birds need to be cared for during their journey, and prior to release. Also if it is too far for us to travel, it is too far for us to train the birds so they will not return home and probably perish in the wild. We are however happy to recommend several White Dove Release companies throughout the UK who commit to the same standards of practice as we do.
11) I can't decide between your packages, what has the most meaning?
This is down to individual choice. There is something special about having a pair of birds, it demonstrates love and is an intimate moment beteween you and your partner. To involve the family, our silver package is quite emotional and is our personal favorite. However you can have all this and then create a real WOW factor by releasing from more birds from a decorated basket!
WE HAVE THE BIRDS - YOU HAVE THE CHOICE!