Sparkler exits are quickly becoming a tradition at the end of each wedding day. They are such a fun way to celebrate the end of your wedding day and the beginning of your lives together as husband and wife! Here’s a few tips to consider as you plan for a sparkler exit on your big day!

Golden Hour Glow

As with traditional fireworks, sparklers shine the brightest (see what I did there?) when it’s darker outside!  Unlike your Four of July or New Years Day celebrations, you’re going to be documenting your wedding day until you head off to the honeymoon, and the deep of night isn’t the ideal time for photos.  That’s why I highly encourage you to consider planning your exit (or Fake exit!) at golden hour or civil twilight! Golden hour is just before sunrise when the sun is casting softer and yellowy “golden” light. The sparklers will stand out against the growing dark while still providing enough light for the cameras to capture the action in detail without a harsh flash.  Keep in mind, though, that golden hour isn’t a fixed time, so we can work out the perfect time in the schedule together! I’ll be there to help you plan out the day or work with your wedding coordinator to make sure we time everything perfectly!

What and When

If you’ve ever had to buy sparklers for a celebration, you might have noticed that there are actually many styles and sizes of sparklers.  For this event, the longer-lasting the better.  Depending on how many people send you off it could take some time to light all of the sparklers which leaves however long it will take for you and your spouse to go through the sparkler salute without having to light multiples.  Because this process may take a number of minutes, we highly recommend delegating one or two people to coordinate when to begin gathering the guests, handing out the sparklers, lighting them, and sending you on through.  You will want to simply enjoy your wedding day and not have to consider all these details, so having a trusted point person can make all the difference in the world.  In addition to wanting sparklers that will last a number of minutes, the long sparklers also keep those pesky sparks from being attracted to your well-styled, and potentially well-sprayed, hairdo.  No one wants to add water or fire extinguisher foam as an accessory.

Picture Perfect

Now that you have everyone set up and the sparklers casting their glittery glow, how do you achieve that perfect exit?  It might be tempting to take a quick breath and run through, hand-in-hand, your hair and dress blowing behind you.  Though we all know you’re eager to begin your new life together, slow and steady is the name of the game.  Go ahead and take your time to walk through, say good-bye to friends and family, smile at your loved ones as the light guides you down to your awaiting chariot (or vehicle, whatever floats your boat).  And when you get about three-quarters of the way down, take a breath, gaze deeply into each other’s eyes, and share one last firelit kiss, lingering in your last wedding day moments.  You’ll be glad you took your time both to appreciate those who came to send you off but also those photos that will remind you of the magic of your wedding day.  And if you’re not quite ready to leave, make sure someone has a couple extra sparklers on hand and join in the fun!