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We’ve all heard the warning time and
time again… “Don’t have guests throw rice at your wedding because it is harmful
to birds!”But is that really true?
You may be surprised to learn that it
is an urban legend. Rice is no more harmful to birds than birdseed or
breadcrumbs.
Don’t believe us? Just ask the experts!
National Wildlife Federation says: “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 Cornell Lab of Ornithology responds
to the question, “Will birds die from eating rice thrown at weddings?” Answer: “This
is a good example of an urban myth. And like many myths, it doesn’t go away
easily. Many wild birds eat rice in agricultural fields, including House
Sparrows. Some birds cause so much damage to rice crops that they are
considered agricultural pests. You can throw rice at weddings without worrying
about the birds…”
USA Rice Federation, Mary Jo Cheesman
says: “This silly myth pops up periodically, and it is absolutely unfounded.
Many migrating ducks and geese depend on winter-flooded rice fields each year
to fatten up and build strength for their return trek to northern nesting
grounds. Uncooked, milled rice is no more harmful to birds than rice in the
field.”
Biology Professor Ned Johnson at Berkeley says: “It’s a
myth. There is no reason why birds, including small songbirds, can’t eat rice.”
Ornithology.com says: “These statements
are ABSOLUTELY NOT true… don’t throw rice at weddings because birds will eat it
and their stomachs will explode.”
So… if it’s a just a myth, why do so
many churches and ceremony sites prohibit throwing rice? It may be that they
have bought into the urban legend, but more likely, they prohibit it for
another reason. Rice can pose a safety hazard to your guests! That’s right,
because rice is very starchy, it forms a slick layer when wet and it can make walkways
very slippery for wedding guests in dress shoes. To avoid an accidental slip
(and a lawsuit), many venues simply don’t allow it.
Looking for an alternative to throwing
rice at your wedding? Maybe your ceremony site doesn’t allow guests to throw rice. Maybe you’re still not sure if you want to take a gamble with the
birds. Or perhaps you simply want to skip tradition and do something more
original. Whatever the case, here are some fun, romantic and unique alternatives to throwing rice at
your wedding:
- Blow bubbles
- Toss flower petals (rose, hydrangea, jasmine, daisy)
- Release doves
- Throw confetti
- Pop party streamers
- Release butterflies
- Ring mini wedding bells
- Toss birdseed or dried berries
- Throw rice paper
- Wave sparklers
- Spray silly string
- Throw popcorn
- Raise candles
- Release balloons
- Toss potpourri
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