Exits

Real Wedding Advice: Did you know that your formal exit doesn't have to take place at the end of the night??? If your photographer will depart before the part ends, you can plan a **fake** exit and early send off to document it before people have partied a little too hard or left for the evening.

There are tons of exit options for you to choose from. For example, you can perform an “Irish Goodbye” and leave without saying a word to anyone, or the complete opposite - a “Midwest Goodbye” when the conversation really starts as you have one foot out the door.

But in all seriousness, the end of your wedding night is nearing - are you planning to celebrate it in a fun and unique way? Here are some exit ideas that we love.

• Sparklers

  Sparklers can be beautiful, exciting, and dramatic. Just be mindful if you are doing your exit later in the evening, that heavily intoxicated guests and flames don’t mix well. Don’t want to mix alcohol and fire, or have lots of kids in attendance? Glow sticks work just as well and are far safer.

  PS…supplies to make a sparkler exit easier - a butane torch and a bucket half-filled with sand or cheap kitty litter (yes - you read that right). The large butane torch can light many sparklers at once, ensuring the initial sparklers haven’t gone out by the time you do your exit. And the bucket of sand answers your guests’ question of “Ok, so now what do I do with THIS??” after the sparklers have burned down.

• Streamers

  Hung above you as you depart, streamers can be coordinated with your wedding colors, and add color and texture to the photos of your grand exit. If you aren’t able to hang a temporary installation of streamers over your exit area, handing out ribbon wands to your guests to shake as they line your exit path is a great alternative.

• Blowing Bubbles

  You will be surprised how many bubbles your guests can blow all around you. Memorable and fun, your pictures will have a whimsical magic to them!

• Smoke

  Yup, you read that right. A couple well placed smoke machines and your exit has added drama and enchantment!

• Phone Flashlights

  This exit is simple and easy. Most everyone has a phone with them - ask them to turn on their phone flashlight and your exit immediately gets the vibe of a phenomenal ballad at your favorite concert.

• Leaves & Flower Petals

  A biodegradable option that can be very festive, depending on what season you are getting married in!

• Fireworks

  Do we need to say more? This is the biggest and most-epic exit on the list. If you can fit them into your budget, and your venue will allow them, your guests will talk for years about the firework show that closed out your wedding.

• Hankerchiefs, Flags, or Fans

  Give your guests something to wave around you. Palm fronds are another alternative that provide a great tropical vibe.

• A Final Song

  Not necessarily an “exit”, but a final song can be a great way to end the night on a wonderful note (pun intended).

  If your family and/or group of friends has a special dance song, plan this to be your finale so everyone can join in on the wrap up to your night!

• Form a Parade

  Why do you have to be the only ones to leave?? Form a Parade Line with your guests! This can be especially fun if you are headed to your after-party and want to make sure everyone knows where to go.

• Rice, Confetti, Sky Lanterns, Glitter, and Balloons

  Throwing rice is traditional, however, we try to steer our couples towards other options, as the small items (glitter, confetti, rice, etc.) can be hard to clean up and many venues outright forbit it. Sky lanterns and balloons can be destructive to the environment. Other options are just as pretty and do not pollute or harm the environment like these can. If you absolutely must do one of these options, go for:

  • Throwing Herbs, Greenery, or Birdseed

  • Throw Airplanes - a new take on tradition!

  • Balloons, but we suggest forgoing the helium so that the balloons can be tossed or hit into the air, and fall gracefully back to the ground for fun interactive scenes in photos.

  • Champagne Showers: If you are not worried about ruining your dress, and already have an outfit change planned, this would be memorable - and epic.

Photo Credits: The Event Sisters, Winding Roads Photography, Jacquelyn Potter Photography, Hilary Eyestone Photography, Blooming Photo Company, and Nicole Sauer Photography.