How Acts of Dove Took Flight and Where We Are Heading Next
August always feels like a turning point. The pace of summer slows, schools return, and life begins to settle back into routine. It is a natural moment to pause and reflect on what matters most. For Acts of Dove, that has always been about creating moments that families can hold onto when they need them most.
The Beginning
My dad has always kept pigeons, but it was only after he had triple heart bypass surgery that I began helping him properly. I took on more of the day-to-day care so he could rest and recover, and in that time I learned a lot about the birds.
One afternoon, he mentioned that someone in his pigeon club had been talking about releasing white doves at funerals. He said he thought I could bring something more personal to it, something that would focus on the families and the memory of their loved one. That thought stayed with me.
I imagined it might be something for weddings, and I am lucky enough now to be part of many different life events, weddings included. But my very first booking was a funeral. I said yes, not knowing exactly how it would feel. The service was heartfelt, and when the dove took flight, there was a stillness among everyone watching. It was more than a gesture. It was a way for the family to express something words could not.
I cried in the car on the way home, feeling their pain and wondering if it had been enough for them. Later, they messaged to say how much it had meant. That was the moment I knew dove releases could be a lasting gift for families.
Growing with Families in Mind
Since that first release, Acts of Dove has grown through families sharing their experiences with others. Many have seen a release and decided it was the right way to remember someone they love. Funeral directors, hospitals and hospices have invited me to be part of their services, including annual memorials where families gather to reflect together.
In the early days, releases were much simpler. There were no poems, no videos, just the doves taking flight. As I attended more services, I watched closely and put myself in the families’ shoes. I thought about what would make the experience more personal and more complete for them. I cared deeply about what would help, and I made changes to create something that gave more. This gradually became the complete package that families receive today.
I have now released doves for all kinds of occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, baby loss remembrance, football matches and memorials. Each is unique because each person is unique. The annual Christmas memorial began with just 20 people in a park. Last year more than 200 attended and there was a waiting list. That growth is not about numbers. It is about how many people now have a moment to share and remember together.
The Details Families Remember
Every release now includes flowers for the basket in a chosen colour, a bespoke poem written for the occasion and read before the doves fly, a keepsake feather and a packet of bird seed to take home. Families also receive a filmed and edited video of the release to share with those who could not attend or to keep as a private memory.
These details are part of every service, but they are often the things families tell me they treasure most. They are reminders that someone listened, understood and wanted to honour their loved one exactly as they were.
Family at the Heart of Acts of Dove
My own family is still part of this work. My dad’s knowledge and care keep the birds healthy and safe. We share the responsibility for monthly health checks, even down to noticing changes in their droppings which tell us so much about their wellbeing. It might not be glamorous, but it matters because the birds are at the centre of every release.
My children help with feeding the doves and training. They have yet to actually catch one but they love the practice, and it’s great for the doves to be familiar around children.
When you book a release, you are inviting us into one of the most important moments in your lives. That trust is never taken lightly. Behind every booking is a story, a set of memories and a deep love for someone no longer here. Acts of Dove exists to help them hold onto that love.
Looking Ahead
The coming months are already filled with a mix of occasions including autumn weddings, winter memorials and the next Christmas memorial. As Acts of Dove grows, the aim is not to do more for the sake of more, but to make each moment as personal and meaningful as possible.
I have been looking at ways to help more families know that doves are available if they would like them. Part of this will be finding ways to work more closely with funeral directors and wedding venues so they can share the option with the families and couples they support. My hope is that this will make Acts of Dove a little busier than it is currently, while still giving each booking the same level of care and attention that has always been at the heart of what I do.
That might mean finding new ways to include someone who cannot be there in person, or sharing more behind the scenes so people can see the care that goes into every release. Whatever comes next, the focus will remain on creating memories that last long after the doves have flown.
A Thank You
Every family who has invited Acts of Dove into their lives has helped shape what it is today. Funeral directors, hospices, wedding venues, celebrants and supporters like yourself have made it possible for more people to experience the comfort of a dove release. And my dad, whose idea first sparked this journey, continues to support it in ways that matter most.
Acts of Dove will always be about more than the moment the birds take flight. It is about the people watching, the memories they hold and the love that will always remain.