Wedding Sparklers: Planning a Sparkler Send Off
You’ve got so much to think about when you’re planning your wedding. Between the ceremony and the reception, there’s about a million details. And just when you think you’re done, there’s one last question: How are you going to leave your wedding reception?
Most couples plan a grand exit, so the guests have a chance to wave goodbye. Another popular way to end the reception is with a sparkler send off.
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What is a Wedding Send Off?
A wedding send off is when the guests gather to toss confetti, wave ribbons or light sparklers as a way to “send off” the bride and groom into their happily ever after. Sometimes it’s called a formal exit or a grand exit. It can take place after the wedding ceremony, or at the end of the reception.
What is a Fake Sparkler Send Off?
The wedding send off is a great photo opportunity, especially if you’re planning wedding sparklers. But sometimes your photo package isn’t long enough for the photographer to stay until the end of the night.
In order to get all the photos, some couples set up their wedding day timeline to include all the events early in the evening. First dance, cutting the cake and even the send off will happen early. That way all the photos are taken before the photographer has to leave.
For a fake sparkler send off, the guests will gather at the exit and light their sparklers. The bride and groom can exit and pose, then return to the party and finish off the night of dancing.
If you decide to plan a fake send off, make sure your guests know the party is going to continue. If you have programs or a schedule, list the times to show that dancing will begin after the sparkler send off. Or instead of calling it a send off, you could call it a sparkler photo. That way no one will think the party is over, they’ll just think it’s another event.
How to Plan a Wedding Sparkler Send Off
1. Check With Your Venue.
Make sure your venue allows sparklers before you set your plan. If you’re having your wedding at a DIY venue, check your local rules and regulations. Once you’ve got your sparklers, read the instructions carefully and follow any safety tips. In general:
Never use sparklers indoors.
Have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Children must be supervised.
2. Choose your wedding sparkler size.
Typically, wedding sparklers come in two different sizes: 20 inches or 36 inches. The 20 inch long sparklers will burn for about 2 minutes. 36 inch long sparklers will burn for about 4 minutes.
If you have less than 100 guests, 20 inch sparklers will burn long enough for a great send off. If you’ve got more than 100 guests, it might take longer, so you should order 36 inch sparklers, instead.
3. Decide how many to order.
If you’re ordering 36 inch sparklers, they’re pretty long, so one per person is perfect. If you’re ordering 20 inch sparklers, the shorter length is easier for your guests to handle. If you want more sparkle, you can order 1 or 2 per person.
4. Set up your timeline.
Talk to your photographer before you set up your day of wedding timeline. Professional photographers usually have a schedule that they follow, in order to get all the important photos. Let them know you want to have a sparkler send off photo. They can make sure to add it to the schedule.
5. Display your wedding sparklers.
Most couples set up the sparklers near the exit. Choose a vase or a bucket and stand the sparklers up, for a nice display. Make sure to add a sign or a tag, so the guests know what to do with them. Remember to buy a few lighters, to add to the table.
6. Plan for disposal.
Make sure to have a spot for your guests to put the used sparklers. They’ll still be hot, so choose a fire safe bucket and fill the bottom with sand. That way the guests can push them down into the sand. You’ll be sure they’re disposed of safely.
7. Order your wedding sparklers.
Sparklers don’t go bad, so you can order them as early as you’d like. In fact, earlier is better. Because of shipping rules, most companies can only ship sparklers by ground, not air. That means delivery could take a bit longer, so make sure to order them with plenty of lead time.
Where to Order Wedding Sparklers
One of my favorite shops is called Sparklers Online. They offer high quality, smokeless sparklers that look amazing in wedding photos. If you’re looking for inspiration, make sure to check out their Wedding Sparkler Photo Gallery.
Wedding Sparklers Amazon
I know, I know - I love ordering off Amazon too! But you can’t actually buy sparklers from them, if you’re in the US. Due to shipping rules, they don’t offer fireworks or sparklers for sale on the website.
Although you can’t buy the sparklers themselves on Amazon, they do have lots of cute accessories. You can buy tin buckets, favor tags and ribbons for displaying your wedding sparklers.
Arranging Your Guests for the Send Off
When it’s time for your sparkler photo or send off, have the DJ announce it to the guests. Everyone can pick up their sparklers and get in place. The photographer will direct the guests, and make sure everyone’s in position.
Remember - this is actual fire, and you’re wearing a big flammable dress! Don’t try to run underneath the sparklers. Have the guests form two rows and hold their sparklers up in the air. The two of you can walk down the aisle that’s formed.
Lighting Your Wedding Sparklers
Once everyone’s in place, a few guests can light their sparklers with the lighters. The rest of the guests can light theirs from sparklers that are already lit. Even the longest sparklers will only last four minutes, so try to get them lit as quickly as possible.
If you’ve got a professional photographer, they’ll guide you on where to stop and pose. In general, it’s better for photos if you walk instead of run. Stop and pose at the beginning, middle and end of the sparkler aisle.
36 Inch Sparklers
The longest sparklers are 36 inches long. They’ll burn for about 4 minutes. If you’ve got a long aisle or a lot of guests, these long sparklers will give you the most time. Remember, 36 inches is 3 feet. So make sure you’ve got a wide space, with room for all the guests to hold up their sparklers.
20 Inch Sparklers
The 20 inch sparklers will burn for about 2 minutes. If you’ve got a shorter aisle or fewer guests, the 20 inch sparklers will be perfect for your photos. If you’ve got less guests, but want a lot of sparkles, you can give your guests 2 sparklers each.
10 Inch Sparklers
If you want to take sparkler photos in a few different spots, you can order smaller sparklers. Instead of ordering one long sparkler per person, order 3 or 4 short ones per person. That way you can light the sparklers and pose for a few photos. They’ll burn out after about 40 seconds. You can move to the next photo spot, light new sparklers and take a few more photos.
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Bride and groom holding sparklers at their wedding reception.
