THE REALITY OF HAVING A SPARKLER EXIT AT YOUR WEDDING

ARE YOU PLANNING ON HAVING A SPARKLER EXIT AT YOUR WEDDING??

They are a beautiful thing. And here's some help to have your dream sparkler exit at your wedding become a reality.

Image: Elysia Van Der Toorren (www.shotfromtheheart.com) — Image: Elysia Van Der Toorren (www.shotfromtheheart.com)

Sparkler exits don't 'just happen'.
They take skills - and not just from the photographer!

Some words of wisdom from those experienced in such matters...

You need a 'no-shit-taking' person willing and able to control a large crowd of possibly slightly pickled guests (some maybe more than others!) - this can either be a reliable guest (preferably one who doesn't partake in alcoholic beverages or other substances!) or the venue manager, or wedding planner.
Make sure you have the longer sparklers - as they last a little longer once lit.
Have a plan! And pre-warn your photographer that this is something you want to do.
Be prepared for it all to go a bit arsed-up and just enjoy the evening anyway!
Saftey first - make sure you have a bucket of water or sand close by to dispose of sparklers! And whatever you do - only light one sparkler at a time - don't be going and holding like 10 sparklers in your hand and light them - no if you value the use of your hands. No joke.

Image: Michael Briggs (www.michaelbriggs.com.au

Image: Sabine Legrand (www.sabinelegrand.com)

I've done a couple of them now and they really are a beautiful thing - but drunk people and fire don't go terribly well together. So although you may have your heart set on a sparkler exit, it might actually be worth working the 'sparkler tunnel' into your timings as soon as it is dark - or at least earlier into the evening - at which point you may have a bit more control over your guests and a higher success rate for some kick arse images - maybe have the sparkler tunnel just before your first dance or cake cutting - rather than just a random act during the night.

Image: Anna Taylor (www.annataylor.com.au)

If you don't have a plan, or put a little bit of thought into it, your photographer may experience the following..( cos they HAVE actually happened)

Having a drunk groomsman light a sparkler between the photographer's legs as the newly weds approach - yeah that's really not good
Drunk guests stumbling into the aisle (of sparkler tunnel) and prematurely lighting sparklers
Venue managers screaming at guests to get their shit together - kind of ruins the vibe a bit!
Short sparklers being handed out INSIDE the venue by the bride's drunk brother, who was also the only person with a lighter and started to light sparklers INSIDE said venue prior to any tunnel/rows/aisle/order of any kind being formed. Needless to say there was NO sparkler tunnel shot taken at this wedding - you can't relight sparklers people!

Image: Mark Clarisse (www.clarissephotography.net)

Image: Corey Wright (www.coreywright.com.au)

And just remember - even with the best laid plans, sometimes shit just happens! But have faith in your photographer - you picked them for a reason right! And just enjoy the evening for what it is! I had a bride, with said 'best laid plans' and as mentioned before - the proverbial hit the fan - not in a bad way, just in a way that prevented her 'sparkler exit' dream. But then in the end, as they didn't have an exit, they didn't leave and got to party on with their guests for another 2 hours! I'd say that's one helluva silver lining!! xxx