How to Plan a Successful Sparkler Send-Off for Your Wedding!
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My husband and I got married in August of 2019, and one of my most treasured memories was the “sparkler send-off” at the end of our wedding.
I’m sure you have seen photos like this before:
And while the photo looks joyous and effortless, oftentimes the photo is much better than the actual event - which may end up being chaotic rather than festive.
I wanted to share my tips on how to plan a successful sparkler send-off for your wedding that not only goes as planned but is fun for everyone!
Tip #1: Set aside time in your itinerary for the send-off, and make sure everyone knows that it’s happening.
The easiest way to notify everyone on your guest list that there will be a send-off at the end is to put up a sign. I bought one of these signs and had it placed on the table next to the guest book. That way, everyone knew there would be a celebratory exit at the end, and the guests who wanted to participate stayed! It was such a fun way to end our wedding.
Tip #2: Go over the event with your Maître d', or wedding day coordinator.
Make sure your wedding day coordinator knows exactly what’s going down, and ensure that there will be attendants passing out and lighting the sparklers so that it moves smoothly. It may be a good idea to chat with your bridesmaids about assisting with this as well! A surefire way to take away the fun of sparklers would be to have an unstructured set-up where guests are waiting around too long. (Remember, this exit isn’t just for you but a celebration for EVERYONE.) By planning the details beforehand, you can prevent this from happening.
You will also want to confirm beforehand that this is allowed at your venue.
Tip #3: Make sure your photographer knows to expect a sparkler send-off.
It’s always good to give your photographer a heads up when there will be an event at your wedding so that they are prepared with the right camera settings. With sparklers especially, these photos are taken at night but need to be captured with the right speed so that the sparks don’t come out blurry. This is tricky for even the most skilled of photographers, so it would be a good idea to let them know beforehand. (We gave our photographer a detailed list of our itinerary.)
Tip #4: Purchase the right-sized sparklers.
This might be the most important tip that I have for you. But how do you know what size sparklers you need for your send-off?
We ended up purchasing the 36” sparklers, and when they came, I was worried about how long they were. Well, turns out that I made the right choice because sparklers burn out QUICKLY.
The sparklers.us website (where we bought our sparklers) tells you the approximate duration of each rod:
- 10 inches: 40 seconds
- 20 inches: 120 seconds
- 36 inches: 180 seconds
Remember to account for the number of guests you have. The more guests you have, the longer your sparkler should be because it takes time for everyone’s to be lit.
Tip #5: Practice some poses with your fiancé!
This is one I wish I’d done for my wedding. There are so many ways to post with your soon-to-be husband during the sparkler send-off, but when the time comes, photos are often taken in a frenzy. It’s scarier than it looks to be surrounded by all of those sparks going off! Make sure to practice some poses so you’re not caught off guard or frozen when the time comes (like we were)!
Hope you have a fantastic send-off to begin the next chapter of your life.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions!
