Butterfly Release Ceremony: Remember. Release. Love Lives On.
About this Event
There is something magical about holding a live butterfly in your hands, taking a quiet moment to remember someone you love, and then watching that butterfly rise into the sky. 🦋✨
Join Widowhood Real Talk with Tina for our Butterfly Release Ceremony, a beautiful outdoor experience filled with love, connection, remembrance, and hope.
This is not a gloomy gathering. It is an opportunity to celebrate the love that remains, reconnect with nature, reflect on treasured memories, and experience an unforgettable moment alongside a supportive community.
Our afternoon will include:
- An uplifting message from Dr. Keith McNally
- A heartfelt poem written by Catherine Fornwald and read by Dr. Tina
- Guided time for personal reflection and journaling
- The magical opening and release of live butterflies
- Complimentary beverages, chips, and mints
- Time to connect and take photographs
This ceremony is open to everyone who wishes to honor someone who has died. It is not limited to widows or widowers.
Each $10 ticket includes one live butterfly. If you would like to release more than one butterfly, an additional ticket is required for each butterfly.
Only 40 butterflies are available. Once all 40 have been reserved, registration will close.
Please bring a comfortable lawn chair or blanket. The event area is flat and accessible to guests with special needs, and free parking is available on-site.
Experience the beauty of releasing love, releasing hope, and remembering that love lives on.
Reserve your butterfly today. 🦋💜
This gathering is not just about remembering; it's about embracing life, finding support, and honoring the ones we hold in our hearts. Reserve your place today for this unique experience. Space is limited, so secure your ticket now. We will obtain your butterflies from the Butterfly Release Company.
Meet Our Guest Speaker: Dr. Keith J. McNally
We are honored to welcome Dr. Keith J. McNally as the guest speaker for the 2026 Butterfly Release Ceremony.
Dr. Keith is a coach, trainer, mentor, speaker, and suicide attempt survivor whose work centers on helping people rediscover meaning, purpose, and hope after profound pain and loss. Through his lived experience and his work supporting others, he understands that surviving a difficult chapter is only part of the journey—learning to move forward with purpose is another.
During our ceremony, Dr. Keith will share an uplifting message:
“Love Lives On: Honoring the Past While Choosing Hope.”
His message will invite us to remember the people we love while also making room for hope, meaning, and the life that remains before us.
The Butterfly Release Ceremony is not intended to be a gloomy gathering. It is a beautiful outdoor experience centered on remembrance, reflection, nature, community, love, and hope.
Together, we will pause to remember.
Together, we will release.
And together, we will be reminded that love lives on. 🦋
Special Thanks to Our Wonderful Photographer, Joshua Langlois
We are deeply grateful to Joshua Langlois and his talented team for capturing the beauty and emotion of today’s Butterfly Release Ceremony. Your generosity and artistry help us preserve these precious moments of healing, hope, and remembrance for everyone who attends.
Thank you, Joshua, for lending your time, skill, and heart to support Widowhood Real Talk With Tina. Your contribution makes this inaugural event even more meaningful and memorable.
If you’d like to see Joshua’s incredible work or connect with him, please visit his Facebook page: Joshua Langlois Photography.
A Glimpse Into Joshua Langlois’s Artistry
We’re excited to share a few stunning examples of Joshua Langlois’s photography—moments beautifully captured through his thoughtful eye. These images give you a sense of the heart and skill he brings to every event, including today’s Butterfly Release Ceremony.
Enjoy these snapshots.
Agenda
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:10 PM
Welcome & Music
Info: Guests will be greeted with soft background music as they arrive and settle in. Dr. Tina Fornwald, founder of Widowhood Real Talk with Tina, will welcome the community, receive journals, and introduce an afternoon centered on love, remembrance, nature, and hope.
🕑: 03:10 PM - 03:30 PM
Guest Message by Dr. Keith McNally
Info: Dr. Keith McNally will share an uplifting message, “Love Lives On: Honoring the Past While Choosing Hope.” His words will encourage guests to honor the people they love while remaining open to hope, meaning, and the life still before them.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 03:35 PM
Poem by Catherine Fornwald, Read by Dr. Tina
Info: Dr. Tina will read a special poem her daughter, Catherine Fornwald, wrote in tribute to her late father. The poem offers a heartfelt reflection on love, loss, and the enduring connection between those who have died and those who continue to carry them forward.
🕑: 03:35 PM - 03:50 PM
Journaling and Personal Reflection
Info: Guests will have time to reflect on the person or people they are honoring and write in their journals. Soft instrumental music will accompany this peaceful moment of remembrance.
🕑: 03:50 PM - 04:05 PM
Opening the Butterflies
Info: Together, guests will release their butterflies into the sky in honor and memory of their loved ones. This magical moment represents love, transformation, remembrance, and hope. Take photographs and experience the beauty of the butterflies and the surrounding community. ✨
🕑: 04:15 PM - 04:20 PM
Closing Words by Ulanka Beckom
Info: Ulanka Beckom will deliver the ceremony’s closing words, honoring the loved ones remembered and encouraging guests to carry the afternoon’s love and hope forward.
🕑: 04:20 PM - 04:30 PM
Refreshments and Community Connection
Info: Guests are invited to enjoy complimentary beverages, chips, and mints while connecting with others before departing.
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Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 12.51
