Kate’s Top 10 Favorite Grand Exit Ideas
The grand exit is the moment that you’ve been waiting for! The official send-off for you and your new spouse. This is the part of the wedding day where it really starts to sink in; the fact that you're now married! This is the moment where the party ends and the honeymoon begins; at long last, a chance for you and your love to be alone together!
But alas, you still want to have a fantastic send-off. A real exciting and special grand exit. One with all your guests, friends and family, coming together to send the pair of you off into the wider world! A mini celebration to end off the big celebration that is your wedding day! But how should your grand exit be executed? What elements are you going to incorporate into it to make it a truly special moment? For some, the traditional rice throw is the way to go. For others, they want something a little more unique like sparklers or glow sticks. Regardless of what you choose, there are tons of options out there, so, I thought I’d compile my top 10 for you to peruse at your leisure!
Sparklers
Sparklers hold a special place in my heart! They’re not only beautiful to watch, but they also provide incredible opportunities to capture some amazing photos! Waving them in front of your wedding dress or spinning in a circle with them are just a couple of the amazing things that you can do with sparklers for a grand exit!
Bubbles
Bubbles are an awesome choice as they present less work compared to most other grand exit ideas. They’re easy to buy in bulk and present relatively no mess. They’re also much more environmentally friendly compared to throwing rice/bird seed, or other non-natural items. Plus, they make for some truly awesome photos!
Flower Petals
Like bubbles, flower petals are an awesome choice and as they’re a natural element (as long as they’re real) and you may be able to leave them on the ground after you're done, unless you're indoors of course. You can also get flower petals in a large variety of shapes, sizes and colors, so the possibilities are endless!
Silly string
Silly string can be exactly that, or the farthest thing from it. To be fair, while silly string is cheap, easy to use and fun, it can also be a huge pain to clean up. Whether that’s cleaning it off clothes, furniture or the sidewalk, you need to consider exactly how much work you want to put into the grand exit. Definitely check with the bride and groom before going through with this send–off as they may not be game to have it all over their nice clothes!
Pinwheels
A classic, fourth-of-July type item. Pinwheels are fun for all ages and are no hassle to clean up after as they stay in your hands. Line everyone up and have them spin their pinwheels as you walk through the aisle of your guests, friends and family! They’re also relatively cheap and easy to come by, or if you’re looking to save a little cash, you can DIY them!
Flags
Big flags, small flags, red flags, blue flags. Flags are an awesome send-off element! They can be simple ones that match the wedding colors or have the imprint of a favorite sports team or alma mater. If you’re feeling patriotic then wave the flag of the country that represents the happy couple! Flags don’t present much cleanup and can be found relatively easily (depending on the type of flag you're searching for)
Confetti poppers
If you really want to go out with bang, then there are really only two options. A 21-gun salute or confetti poppers! Based on the difficulty of pulling together the necessary elements to do a 21-gun salute, I’d say the cheaper, easier and more enjoyable option would be the confetti poppers! On a side note, they are a bit messy, so be prepared to spend a good long time picking up little bitty pieces of confetti off the ground afterwards. Otherwise, they’re a huge amount of fun and if timed right, can make for some truly spectacular photos!
Sky lanterns
A personal favorite of mine! Sky lanterns are a unique way to send off the happy couple. Have the walk through an aisle of guests, friends and family as each individual lifts up a lantern to the night sky, creating an archway of brilliant dancing flames that floats peacefully up into the heavens!
Drum line
Probably the loudest option on this list, a drum line can be a phenomenal send-off. Either hire one out or search the attendees’ roster for anyone who knows how to keep a simple rhythm. This option isn’t the easiest to set up and could cost you a fair bit (unless you randomly have a bunch of drums laying around). Still, fun and musically enjoyable nonetheless!
Sword archway
A final idea. This one is not one that I recommend to everyone, however it would be insanely cool! An archway made of drawn swords is a classic piece of medieval culture and is still commonly used by those getting married who are a part of the military. That said, you don’t have to be a soldier to use this idea! All that to say, swords are dangerous and shouldn’t be handled by just anyone (unless you’re using the foam toy swords), so be careful with your planning if you decide to go forward with this idea!
And there you have it, a list of my top 10 favorite grand exit ideas! Hopefully one of these inspired your grand exit. Regardless of whether you choose to go with a simple and traditional thrown item, or a grand archway made of drawn swords, make sure that the grand exit you choose is exactly what you want! That will make it an even better way to end off the grand celebration that is your wedding day!
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