It's become traditional to end a wedding reception with a sparkler sendoff. We'll miss them much, but a lot of work needs to go into making sure their farewell goes smoothly. We have witnessed numerous sparkler farewells, some of which were spectacular and others of which were utter disappointments. Here is a checklist of things to keep in mind as you prepare for your big exit. Check it out.
Assuming a sparkler send-off is permitted by the venue and a level, safe area has been selected for the exit.
You wouldn't be the first couple to think of utilising sparklers as their wedding departure. It was difficult to find any resources to help me come up with the idea of using sparklers as our wedding's grand exit instead of the more conventional route.
At the time, wedding sparklers were not a popular choice. Unfortunately, all we were able to discover were pictures of a magnificent exit with attendees holding lit sparklers. To ensure that everything went smoothly, I spent a lot of time formulating a plan. But the good news is that everything worked out well in the end.
Sending the happy couple farewell with a blaze of fireworks is a spectacular cap to a wonderful night spent with loved ones. If you want your beautiful sparkler departure to go off without a hitch, there are a few details to keep in mind. So let's get started: here's how to perform a sparkler exit that the happy couple will always remember. Saying “I do” at Cosmopolitan events is an elegant and luxurious affair.
FAQs About Weddings
Regardless of what you choose, aim to purchase one lighter per six guests. The best way to light sparklers for your send off is to use the lighter to light the first sparkler in a group, then use the lit sparkler to light the rest in that group.
One way to display your wedding sparklers is to add a few sparkler display buckets. Simply fill the bottom of one of our sparkler buckets with sand to stick the sparklers into and to keep the bucket from accidentally falling over easily. Then, simply decorate the bucket so it becomes an exquisite centerpiece.
We recommend using two sparkler buckets of either sand or water. Even though the sparklers are out, does not mean they are not extremely hot. Most brides forget to include a safe way to dispose the wedding sparklers. By having two buckets allow the wedding party to easily place the sparklers as they walk by.
If you're having a rustic outdoor ceremony, you might use vintage tin pails or milk jugs to hold the sparklers. For a more formal modern event, glass vases lend elegance to your display of unlit sparklers. A beach wedding might feature sparklers placed in a sand-filled planter.
One of the most popular methods to light multiple sparklers is to light one wedding sparkler, then use it to light the rest of the wedding sparklers one at a time. You can designate 1 person as the “lighter”, and have the rest of the people line up to take turns.
Just what is a "Exit" at a Wedding?
The custom of a bride and groom leaving a wedding together is well known. Yet, we believe that introducing the concept from the ground up will benefit from a review of the fundamentals. First of all, there are a few different names for the moment when the wedding guests leave the reception. There's nothing to worry about; they all have the same meaning.
Almost everyone has watched a movie with the standard wedding scene where the bride and groom leave the chapel. Doves are flying away as visitors play music and fling grains of rice or birdseed into the air.
Finally, they walk to a car that has a "recently married" sign on it and a trail of cans behind it. This is the most overdramatized account available. In contrast to popular belief, however, the actual wedding exit is typically quite uncomplicated. A single or pair of the aforementioned components is all that is needed.
Picking the Perfect Fireworks to Send You Off
Suppose you want to make a big entrance and leave your wedding with sparklers. After that, pick out some suitable sparklers. There are a variety of sizes to choose from. It might be difficult to decide on a sparkler size if you are not familiar with the different options available. Luckily, it all boils down to how many people will be attending your wedding. The length of time that each one persists is also important.
Nowadays, a wedding often has 250 guests or more, making 36-inch sparklers a must-have for celebrations of this scale. Due to their long duration of about four minutes, you will have plenty of time to complete the task at hand. There is no need to feel rushed as you wait in line to leave. You should factor in time for everyone to get ready. They must walk the length of the departure line with their sparklers blazing. Your wedding sparklers must be at least 36 inches in length to enable you enough time to do both.
There are some couples that opt for more low-key ceremonies. The 36-inch model is unfortunately often overkill in such scenarios. Sparklers measuring 20 inches in height are perfect for intimate celebrations with a guest list of 150 or fewer. Quite frankly, there aren't as many people trying to light sparklers, thus the queue to leave will be lot shorter.
Therefore, if you're in that kind of situation, a minute and a half should be more than enough. No of how few people you expect to attend your wedding, we strongly advise against anything less than a 20-inch diameter cake. Typically, they'll go up in flames before you even reach the front of the evacuation queue.
A Photographer's Perspective: The Sparkler Send-Off
To help my clients, and anybody else organising a wedding, make the most of their photos, I'll be writing a series of pieces like this one. Obviously, the first step is to secure the services of a competent photographer. But there are several things you can do ahead of time to make sure everything goes smoothly and give your photographer the greatest possible shot. The traditional sparkler farewell comes first.
You've seen the pictures on Facebook, Instagram, and wedding blogs all over the web, right? They're of those perfect moments that could have been plucked from a movie.
In reality, though, these occurrences are everything but unplanned. A well-planned fireworks display is the ultimate farewell. Here are some suggestions for doing just that!
Buy Big & Good Quality Sparklers
It's all about the dimension with regards to sparklers. In order to fully appreciate your sparkler send-off, it's best to use a larger sparkler. That gives your photographer more time to set up and take stunning shots.
More importantly, not all fireworks are created equal. Some of the cheaper options sold online create significantly less light, smoke excessively, and even stink. Sparklers for the wedding should be ordered from a reputable company, and should be either 16 or 18 inches in length.
Buy More than you Need
Every time you have a party, make sure you have at least two sparklers for each visitor. To a photographer, having two is like having four times as much light. Sparkler message writing is a fun activity for two, so stock up on extras if you'd want to try it.
Don't Forget Lighters
The urgency with which sparklers must be lighted is often disregarded. If your party lasts only three minutes, there's no point in getting super long sparklers and watching everyone fumble with matches for the entire duration.
Sparkler flares can be ordered to quickly light multiple sparklers, or a box of disposable lighters can be purchased.
Check with your Venue
Inquire about the use of sparklers and whether or not they are permitted at the venue. Obviously, common sense rules the day, and you won't burn down the house with just a couple sparklers. However, you can never predict which drunk patron may light 50 cigarettes at once and leave them besides your marquee. A bale of hay, too. Cosmopolitan events is your perfect wedding venue in Melbourne delivering fairytale weddings for the bride and groom.
Timing your Exit
The more inebriated your guests are, the more chaotic the sparkler send-off will be, therefore I always suggest to my couples that they consider having it earlier in the evening. It's hardly a proper "send-off" if you light your sparklers before dark. That said, it's still a great activity for you and your guests to enjoy together. At least two sets from the band you hire for the reception are to be expected. Try to time your sparkler send-off for when the band is playing one of these songs.
Organising People
Now that everyone has arrived outdoors with sparklers, it's up to the photographer to make some announcements and direct the guests to the proper location. Before the big day, talk to the photographer about how you want everyone seated. There are two long lines of guests for you to dash between, or there is a large crowd surrounding you. It's hard to choose between the two options because they're equally attractive.
Instead of the two lengthy lines that would be used for a standard sparkler send-off, a huge group of individuals clustered together creates a blanket of warm, soft light that is likely more photogenic.
There's probably enough time to accomplish both if you choose the longer sparklers we referred to above. Have everyone in your line run the entire length and then have them follow you to the finish.
Invest in Good Sparklers
Regular fireworks on the Fourth of July won't do the trick. The maximum time they stay lit is 30 seconds, which is simply not long enough. The problem with using sparklers is that the first guests to light theirs at the front of the line are out of sparklers by the time the last visitors light theirs at the end of the line.
Therefore, the desired effect of many sparking sparklers at once is not achieved. Instead, invest in these wedding-exclusive, long-burning sparklers. Before the pair makes their way through the crowd, others waiting in line can light up and begin shining with their 20- to 36-inch sparklers.
Buy Enough and Have Plenty of Lighters
In all likelihood, some of your guests will have left by the time your reception ends, so you won't need to provide a sparkler to each and every one of them. If 75% of your invited guests RSVP, you should be alright. Guests can hold two sparklers each if you want to go all out, which will create a brighter trail of light as you leave the party.
Make sure there's enough fire to light these babies, too! One lighter won't do, and even three won't make things easier. Get your hands on a few (or as many as you can borrow) lighters. So, everyone's sparklers can be lit quickly and efficiently if lighters are distributed along the line. Read more on What Is The Difference Between Wedding Sparklers And Regular Sparklers.
Prepare the Guests
Don't forget to write your sparkler exit into the reception's itinerary. Put the huge send-off on the chalkboard schedule along with the entry, supper, toasts, first dance, cutting of the cake, etc. Then, no one will leave before the proper farewell is given. To achieve this, you can use a sign, but it's also important that your DJ makes the sparkler send-off announcement and provides clear directions.
Have the DJ announce to everyone at the reception that after the last dance everyone should head to the designated send-off area, where they may pick up a sparkler and wait in line to send the bride and groom off in style. In this way, even if some visitors don't see the "send-off" sign, they'll still know what's going on.
Put Someone in Charge
Having a planned will guarantee your success. It's important that your planner communicates with your photographers to choose the best location for your images. Let's be honest: getting "the shot" of the big sendoff is the whole point. You may be dissatisfied with the results if your photographer is unable to get the perfect snap.
You should have the planner or person in charge of the event meet with the photographer to discuss the optimal location, timing, and lighting condition.
Depending on how many people you invited, you may have anywhere from twenty to one hundred people waiting for you to give them instructions as to how to make this send-off a reality. Not having someone in charge of planning the farewell means that it won't happen.
We guarantee that someone will be in charge of directing attendees to the designated area, distributing sparklers and lighters, and assisting with lighting. We have found ourselves in the role of sparkler send-off coordinator on numerous occasions when no one else was available. We have found that the following format best suits a farewell:
Walk, do not run!
The thing about a sparkler exit is that you should maximise its impact. Your photographer will only be able to capture a handful of candid moments if you rush past your guests. Just saying, "that's not enough" isn't enough. Thus, we caution all of our couples to "walk, do not run" as they leave. Laughing and holding hands, take your bouquet and exit the party.
Going through a section when many of people are cheering for you. Smile and wave back, and don't forget to flash your photographer a few grins of your own. Due to the low light and short shutter speeds we will be using, it is imperative that you move gently.
KISS HER!
Don't leave without giving that special someone a passionate goodbye kiss! It's the dream come true, and it would make for a stunning photograph. Make it substantial in length and quality, and don't be afraid to dip in and out of it.
Just go ahead and smooch the whole audience if you want to. Plan to share a passionate embrace midway down the aisle and again at the end. For as long as the sparklers remain lit, we shall continue to document the occasion with photographs. Make the most of your two minutes of freedom by elongating your triumphant exit.
Guidelines for a Firework Funeral
- Verify that your planned location will allow for a sparkler exit. Inquire about a prime spot. Check for dry brush, leaves, and overhanging branches that could spark a fire.
- The answer is cat litter. Obtain a sizable bucket from Home Depot (there's no need to go all out here, as it won't be seen in any final product images). A large bag of kitty litter and one of those orange buckets from Home Depot should do the trick. Fill it up as much as you can. Keep away from water. So what if it doesn't? The sparkler might not be extinguished quickly enough with water. There's a chance the sparkler will keep burning even if it falls into water. Sparklers can be extinguished rapidly using either sand or kitty litter.
- Replace your Fourth of July sparklers with these extra-long ones made for funerals. You need lengthy sparklers to avoid burning your hands or others. There are many resources online that can help you get sparklers that are at least 20 inches in length.
- In order to ensure that everyone's sparklers burn for roughly the same amount of time, you should have at least one long butane lighter available for every 10 attendees.
- Guests should be seated in two rows, with plenty of space between them to prevent burns, and the wedding coordinator should be hiding in the rear with the butane lighters and lighted sparklers for when it's time to fire them all at once.
- When the countdown timer reaches zero, the wedding organiser will have everyone hold their sparklers aloft for the bride and groom's exit.
- If your reception is scheduled to end late and you want to make sure everyone can attend this exciting part of the wedding, discuss when it should take place with your wedding planner.
Rules of Thumb for Maintaining Personal Safety
Using sparklers as part of a wedding departure requires extra caution. Without appropriate planning, a dramatic exit might end in disaster. Have at least one fire extinguisher nearby at all times; preferably two, one at either end of the exit line.
You should also arrange for a place where people may throw away their spent sparklers after the party is over. To ensure that every sparkler is put out, we recommend using several large buckets of water.
In addition, you should always carry some sort of first aid kit. Bandages and burn points are essential components of any first aid kit in case of an emergency. Finally, plan your wedding exit between the ceremony and the reception; you don't want your guests to be drinking before they have to be responsible and put out the sparklers for your wedding safely.
Conclusion
A sparkler sendoff has become the standard way to conclude a wedding celebration. Your sparkler send-off requires a lot of planning to go off without a hitch. As you plan your spectacular exit, here are some things to bear in mind. Getting out of the ceremony is usually very easy. Just one or two sparklers will do the trick.
Celebrations of this magnitude call for 36-inch sparklers. Twenty-inch sparklers are ideal for gatherings with a maximum of 150 guests. An elaborate fireworks show is the perfect send-off for a wedding photographer. There are a number of preparatory measures you can take to guarantee success. Get at least two sparklers for each guest, and more if you need them, and make sure they are ready to go when they arrive.
Your sparkler send-off will be more hectic if several of your guests have been drinking. You can't really call it a "send-off" if you light your sparklers before it becomes dark. Instead, spend your money on these long-lasting sparklers that are perfect for weddings. Sparklers are unnecessary because some visitors will have already left by the time your event ends. You will be safe as long as 75% of your invited visitors respond to your invitation.
A sparkler send-off requires an announcement and specific instructions, both of which your DJ should deliver. It is imperative that all couples "walk, not run" away from the sparkler send-off. Extend your victorious escape and enjoy every second of your two minutes of independence. Never leave without a heartfelt goodbye kiss! Imagine your wildest dreams coming true right now!
Content Summary
- It's become traditional to end a wedding reception with a sparkler sendoff.
- Assuming a sparkler send-off is permitted by the venue and a level, safe area has been selected for the exit.
- The custom of a bride and groom leaving a wedding together is well known.
- After that, pick out some suitable sparklers.
- You should factor in time for everyone to get ready.
- Your wedding sparklers must be at least 36 inches in length to enable you enough time to do both.
- A well-planned fireworks display is the ultimate farewell.
- In order to fully appreciate your sparkler send-off, it's best to use a larger sparkler.
- That gives your photographer more time to set up and take stunning shots.
- It's hardly a proper "send-off" if you light your sparklers before dark.
- Try to time your sparkler send-off for when the band is playing one of these songs.
- Don't forget to write your sparkler exit into the reception's itinerary.
- Put the big send-off on the chalkboard schedule along with the entry, supper, toasts, first dance, cutting of the cake, etc.
- It's important that your planner communicates with your photographers to choose the best location for your images.
- We have found ourselves in the role of sparkler send-off coordinator on numerous occasions when no one else was available.
- We have found that the following format best suits a farewell: Walk, do not run! The thing about a sparkler exit is that you should maximise its impact.
- Laughing and holding hands, take your bouquet and exit the party.
- Smile and wave back, and don't forget to flash your photographer a few grins of your own.
- Don't leave without giving that special someone a passionate goodbye kiss!
- Plan to share a passionate embrace midway down the aisle and again at the end.
- For as long as the sparklers remain lit, we shall continue to document the occasion with photographs.
- Make the most of your two minutes of freedom by elongating your triumphant exit.
- Verify that your planned location will allow for a sparkler exit.
- Inquire about a prime spot.
- The sparkler might not be extinguished quickly enough with water.
- If your reception is scheduled to end late and you want to make sure everyone can attend this exciting part of the wedding, discuss when it should take place with your wedding planner.
- Have at least one fire extinguisher nearby at all times; preferably two, one at either end of the exit line.
- Finally, plan your wedding exit between the ceremony and the reception; you don't want your guests to be drinking before they have to be responsible and put out the sparklers for your wedding safely.