Cornish Maine Wedding Photographer // Should You Do A Sparkler Exit?
Sparkler exits are one of my favorite trends. They are always so much fun! They are also a great way to close out your wedding. And it’s one of the only parts of your wedding that every guest gets to actively participate. There are a few things to consider when deciding if a sparkler exit is right for you and your wedding.
Say you have had your heart set on having a sparkler exit at your wedding even before you were engaged. (Let’s be real they are super magical and many of brides tell me that this was always the plan. They just needed to find their fiancé!) And your wedding day arrives and it’s raining. I’m not talking about just sprinkling a little bit, but really raining, raining. I have done sparkler exits when it’s drizzling and all has gone as planned, but I’ve also shot weddings that the couple absolutely wanted to have their special exit, but it was down-pouring. There is literally nothing you can do to control the weather and there is no inside backup plan for this type of exit unless you want to burn down your venue. Point being, you have to be completely okay with nixing your sparkler exit if the weather doesn’t want to cooperate.
Obviously, with mixing alcohol and fire there is always the safety factor. I typically jump in and direct your guests the best I can. I tell them where to stand and how to hold their sparkler once it’s lit. I want to give you and your new spouse enough room to run down the middle without bursting into flames. I instruct them how to light their sparkler. (As a side note: Please have lighters, not matches. Also the BBQ lighters are also preferred. The sparklers should also be the large ones, not the dinky little ones!) Your guests should be broken into smaller groups, so once one of them gets their sparkler lit, the others can light theirs off of that one. You don’t want someone’s sparkler to be burnt out before you even start to run down the aisle. Of course, there’s always that one guy who thinks that it’s funny to light all the sparklers in the pack at the same time and wave them around in the air afterwards. I’m not sure if any of the our local hospitals have a good burn unit and I’d hate to find that out the hard way.
I also will give you both an idea of what to do. For example, I will tell you not to run down the aisle. Try to take it slow that way we get good pictures. I will also ask that you stop mid-aisle and give each other a kiss. At the end, stop again, before making your get away! It’s all about the epic pictures, right!?!
Lastly, is the photography timeline. Most couples have me leave mid-reception. You know, once most of your guests are a little drunk and things get sloppy! The only reason that I have ever stayed until the very end is to capture an exit. Be prepared to add a couple of hours onto your wedding package for this. If you are doing an exit, it needs to be photographed! If there’s no pictures, it didn’t happen, right!?! Besides, I don’t mind. As a mater of fact, I love doing exits. They really make weddings more memorable. But for some couples, its a matter of budget.
Overall, I encourage my couples to do exactly as they please on their wedding day, as long as they are willing to roll with the punches. What’s right for you may not be for the next person. If you feel strongly about doing your sparkler exit, I say, go for it!
