There are so many options for your grand exit from your wedding! By far the most popular here in Asheville is the sparkler exit for a reception that ends after dark. These exits are one of my favorite parts of a wedding day, it’s such fun! Everyone is cheering the couple on and you can’t help but smile. It also makes for some great pictures, like these three photographs from the last two New Year’s Eve weddings, one in downtown Asheville and the other in Black Mountain, NC.
Sparkler wedding exits give me a chance mix things up. I will usually take a few pictures with the flash and a couple without the flash to give my couples some variety in the pictures. With these winter weddings, since it gets dark so early we took advantage of that. Both of these couples stayed where they had their receptions which lasted until midnight and ringing in the New Year, they were not actually “leaving” after the reception. So since it was already dark after their wedding ceremony we had them do their “exit” before the reception and it worked just perfectly.
One tip with sparkler exits: you MUST get the longer sparklers for the exit, they burn brighter, and longer which gives the couple time to get through the line of people. Also you will want a couple of people in charge of lighting the sparklers with long lighters. Once you get a few sparklers lite then you can use the sparklers to light other sparklers. Check with your venue as well! While some venues do not allow sparklers; several of the venues that do allow them will provide the lighters, staff to oversee the lighting and a metal container filled with sand to extinguish them.
Another fun option is fireworks. I have seen some gorgeous firework send off photographs from weddings at the Biltmore House. Please be sure to let the photographers know if you have a surprise for the couple such as a firework send off. It is great when the family want’s to surprise the couple with fireworks, but please don’t surprise us with only a moments notice that it is happening. We promise we won’t spoil the surprise! 🙂
Who says it has to be dark for your sparkler exit. I love this photo taken as the sun was setting at Honeysuckle Hill Venue in Asheville, NC.
But what if you want a grand exit but your photographer is not staying the full length of the reception? Here are a couple of suggestions: After the ceremony, you can do your “exit” and then get into your car and just go around the block and circle back around. Then when you come back to the venue, enter in through a back exit. If you drive around the block and come back to the same spot, some people may still be lingering and talking to each other. They will want to congratulate you talk about how gorgeous you look and this will slow down your photographs and getting to your reception on time. So driving and meeting at a predetermined location to start your wedding party and bride and groom portraits will prevent this. Another option is to gather your wedding party and some family members and leave the reception for just a few minutes and do a faux send off. Why not have a grand exit from your ceremony? Blowing bubbles, flower petals or lavender tossed as you guys make your exit from the wedding ceremony itself which make for great wedding recessional pictures.
These two did not have us stay until the end of the ceremony but they had a super fun celebration while “exiting” from the ceremony. I loved it!
Ted and Lucy, left their wedding ceremony and headed to the reception in this vintage car from Mingle Events. See more of their beautiful New Year’s Eve wedding.
