Don’t forget to plan your send-off on your wedding day. This is a time to say goodbye to your guests and get some final photos. But you don’t want to turn the night sour by starting a fire, causing an injury, or damaging the environment. That’s why I have five send-off ideas you should avoid on your wedding day. Let’s dig in.
What Is a Wedding Send-Off?
A wedding send-off or getaway is the time of the night when the couple leaves to go off to their hotel or honeymoon. Traditionally, they get into a getaway car decorated with bells or cans. But it also becomes one of the last photo ops of the night.
Guests all gather to say goodbye to the couple. You’ll likely see them lined up on two sides while the couple walks through. Some may throw confetti, wave sparklers, or simply cheer as the couple leaves.
A send-off can make a fun and memorable moment for everyone. The bride and groom may also change into a going-away outfit.
Do You Have a Send-Off If You’re Doing an After Party?
Many weddings comprise several parts. First, you have the ceremony or actual wedding. During cocktail hour, guests mingle and snack while the couple takes photos. The reception includes food, dancing, and other traditional moments such as the cake cutting and bouquet toss.
But some weddings will also have an afterparty. This sometimes will be in a new location or simply an extra time to dance and party and let loose.
So, what if you want to do a send-off but don’t want to leave? Can you do a getaway and still have an after-party? Yes, you can!
At our wedding, we had everyone gather for the send-off so we could get pictures. Then, we said goodbye to any guests who were ready to leave. Then I went and changed into a different dress and rejoined the party.
So it was like we left and came back a few minutes later. This can make a good way to end the night and transition from the official reception to the after-party.
5 Send-Off Ideas You Should Avoid at Your Reception
You probably have seen many beautiful send-off ideas on Pinterest or from other people’s weddings. But that picture-perfect idea may not be as good as you think. Here are some send-off ideas you should avoid, from being dangerous or not working to causing harm. But don’t worry; I’ve also compiled a list of the best send-off alternatives that are fun, stylish, and easy.
Confetti
Confetti is so fun and flirty. It can look great in pictures and sometimes add that vintage glamorous vibe. However, this send-off idea may not be as fun as you think. First, the small pieces are so hard to clean up. Many venues may actually ban confetti as it gets everywhere and is time-consuming to remove.
Secondly, plastic confetti can harm the environment. Plastic doesn’t break down and can harm wildlife and wilderness areas. Some people have been fined for using even paper confetti in state and national parks. But this goes for any venue as well.
Some frequently banned confetti include rice, birdseed, and real flower petals. These things don’t belong there, and you must clean them up.
Petals won’t decompose on manicured lawns, and many venues don’t want tons of birds on their property eating all the seeds. Check out our article on sustainable and eco-friendly wedding ideas that include a confetti option.
Sparklers
Sparklers are a hot send-off idea. But that might be a problem. Sparklers can cause a fire hazard if you don’t take the proper precautions. Children may run around waving them. A spark might catch on your big tulle ball gown or fall on dry grass.
You run a high risk if you don’t have a bucket of sand or water nearby and a fire extinguisher. Learn more about fire safety in our article, “How I Almost Caught Fire at My Wedding.”
Paper Floating Lanterns
Like the last item, floating lanterns can pose a fire risk during your send-off. A sky lantern or Chinese lantern works similarly to a hot air balloon.
It has a frame of metal or bamboo covered in paper or a thin material. At the bottom, you light a small flame, which makes it rise into the air. They can float very high and can burn for 40 minutes or more.
The wind can also blow them several miles away. You never know where they’ll land, and it can also damage the environment, even if it doesn’t start a fire. For safety and the environment, reconsider using a floating lantern for your wedding send-off.
Balloons
Some people like to release balloons for their weddings or other events. But this send-off idea can have destructive consequences. Once those balloons go up, they have to come down. When they pop, all those pieces fall and can cause litter. This litter can harm wildlife and nature.
Additionally, they can cause problems for air traffic, birds, and other things in the sky while they float.
If you want to use balloons for your send-off, consider holding them tight instead of letting them free. Or you can release them indoors so you can clean up easily after.
Smoke Bombs
Smoke bombs seem to be the new craze for wedding photography and send-offs. Walking through a cloud of colored smoke makes for a cool photo. But why should you avoid them?
A smoke bomb causes a spark at ignition and warms up. It can cause fires if lit in dry areas. Holding them can also cause burns on your hands. They can still be warm after the smoke ends.
Furthermore, avoid inhaling the smoke from smoke bombs. This may be difficult to avoid if walking right through them. Smoke inhalation can cause lung injury, especially in children. Never use them in enclosed areas. Even non-toxic ones can cause breathing issues in some individuals.
Additionally, smoke bombs can stain clothing. If you don’t want your wedding dress dyed like Aurora’s in Sleeping Beauty, then I recommend not using smoke bombs for your send-off.
If you want that photo style, consider wearing a different outfit that you don’t mind getting stained. Have someone else set it off away from you, and ensure the wind won’t blow the smoke in your direction.
But from fire danger, respiratory issues, and staining, smoke bombs are a no-go for me.
Do You Have to Have a Send-off for Your Wedding?
No, you don’t need to have a send-off for your wedding. Most wedding photographers have a set amount of hours they’ll stay. So you may not have the photographer there at the end of the night when you want to do the send-off. Also, don’t feel you need to budget extra money for send-off supplies.
But if you do want a send-off, consider doing one right before the photographer leaves. But then invite guests to stay for the after party. That way, you can get all the photos you want and can keep partying.
Then, any guests who need to leave can do so without feeling like they’re skipping out early. This can make a good transition into a comfier dancing or getaway outfit.
And if you don’t want the party to go on too long, doing an exit tells your guests that the party is over. You don’t want to stay too long, as most venues have a time limit you need to leave by. Either way, don’t forget to thank your guests and say goodbye at the end of the night.
Will you do a send-off after your wedding reception?
Love, Laurel
