It is very typical to expect some sort of exit at each wedding. Whether that is after the ceremony running out of the church or at the end of the night as the couple drives away to their honeymoon. Maybe even both. They are really fun and playful parts that are often characterized by confetti, bubbles, lanterns, or sparklers. The choice of what you do is entirely up to you, it can be as big or small as you want it to be. Some logistics will go into planning the best exit and that is what I am going to share with you today.
Decide when you want to do the exit: There are a couple of options to look at when choosing when you want to do a “grand exit.” If you have two different wedding locations, one for the ceremony and one for the reception, you will want to decide at what point when to do your exit. You may choose to do something fun and special as you run out the doors of your church and hop into a getaway car as you head to your reception. That is more of an older tradition but one that guests and clients love nonetheless. Or you can decide to do the grand exit after the reception with sparklers or some sort of lit object (it’s usually dark by then). If your wedding is taking place at the same location as your reception, logistically you will want to do the exit at the end of the day.
Choose a send-off material: Nowadays, there are so many options of send-off materials to choose from that you can purchase online and have customized. Some examples would include dried flowers, biodegradable paper, wands with ribbon, sprinkles, bubbles, lanterns, sparklers, glow sticks and so much more. We’ve seen and photographed it all. You might choose something that lights up if your exit is at the end of the day that way it can show up in photos. The colorful options are best suited for after the ceremony when it is still light outside.
Get the timing and logistics right: A great grand exit is one where all the guests know what they are supposed to be doing, have the materials they need and are lined up in the best way possible. This will take some coordinating (a perfect job for your wedding planner) and thought ahead of time so that things aren’t rushed or thrown together last minute. Have the materials set aside and include everything you will need to make it work (lighters, buckets of water, etc.). Designate people to pass out the materials so you don’t get clogged lines of people that slow down the process. The couple should stay hidden or inside until everything is set. Then you will coordinate with me as to how fast you run out and where you need to stand to get the best photos.
Consider doing this before the very end of the reception: Sometimes your wedding timeline will dictate the exact time that you do your grand exit. If we are contracted to stay x number of hours, we may have to do an early exit which is totally normal and something guests are used to. This means instead of waiting till 11 or 12 when the majority of your guests have already left, we might opt to do what we call a “fake exit” which is done after all the major reception events are taken care of. That way, there are more people to stand in the photos and celebrate your marriage. Afterward, you all can go right back inside and enjoy the rest of the party. As I said, it’s not uncommon to see this and it won’t totally throw your guests. Just communicate with your guests that it is happening early for photos and that everyone is welcome to go right back inside and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Make it fun and special: This is such a fun part of the day so don’t hesitate to dance your way through your guests. We love to see true emotion and joy even if you are incredibly tired. Just think, the day is almost over and you will get to jet-set off on your honeymoon in a matter of hours. Have fun celebrating your exit and snag a few kisses at the end. We like to set that up for a photo or two anyways! Run back down the line and dance with your friends. It’s a fun and beautiful day that has taken so much work so celebrate it! Maybe you want to take a moment to be just the two of you. Light some candles and do a slow dance. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing and something small and intimate can be just as special.
