Wedding Exits: What Is A Grand Wedding Exit and Do You Need One?

Let's talk about wedding exits. You know the ones I'm talking about. Those photos you save on your social media or pin to your wedding Pinterest board. The couple is walking through a tunnel of their wedding guests surrounded by sparklers, confetti, flower petals, etc. Yeah, those ones! When it comes to whether or not you need one for your wedding day, that is entirely dependent on you. However, before you make any decisions on the matter, here are my thoughts on wedding exits. What wedding exits are and if you truly need one for your wedding day.

What Is A Grand Wedding Exit?

A grand wedding exit is usually the final send-off at your wedding reception. Your wedding exit can consist of something incredibly simple and more subdued, to a full-blown send-off with your wedding guests. Whichever one you go with will be dependent on two things! One, you and your partner's preference, and two, the rules allowed at your wedding venue. Your wedding venue can play a role in what type of wedding exits are allowed, so make sure you ask your wedding venue manager/coordinator before purchasing any of the goods for your grand exit.

So maybe the thought of having a grand wedding exit is a bit more intriguing to you. You must know that if you're planning on having a grand wedding exit there are a plethora of options for you to choose from. Depending on what type of vibe and feel you're going for, will determine which props you use for your wedding exit send-off. Some examples of props that you can use for your grand wedding exit are:

• Sparklers - This can be one of the props that many wedding venues view as a safety hazard. So if you're wanting to have sparklers for your grand wedding exit and this is a non-negotiable for you, I recommend asking your wedding venue in advance prior to booking.
• Glow Sticks - Make sure that you are picking up glow sticks that are long enough and bright enough to be seen at night. I recommend getting more than less, as these can be a bit more difficult to show up in photos.
• Streamers - Streamers are a great grand wedding exit prop and are easy to transport and fairly inexpensive. This type of grand exit prop will be approved by most wedding venues as it doesn't pose as a safety hazard
• Paper Lanterns - This is one of the more unique grand exit props, but requires a lot of planning. Paper lanterns are the kind that floats in the sky and can be very beautiful. In this case, make sure that you have plenty of paper lanterns so that they don't get lost in the night sky.
• Biodegradable Confetti - Biodegradable confetti is perfect if you're wanting to protect Mother Earth and have a bit more of an earth-friendly option for your grand exit
• Flower Petals - Another great grand exit prop that doesn't cost a ton of money, is very beautiful, and is not harmful to the environment
• Bubbles - Bubbles are a great and unique way to send off your wedding day. It makes everyone feel like a kid again and can photograph beautifully when done properly!
• Getaway Car - Renting out a getaway car for your grand wedding exit is one of the most fun wedding exit ideas. You and your partner can ride off in style and leave your wedding day with a *bang*!

Naturally, there are pros and cons to grand wedding exits like everything else. Below is a list of just a few pros when it comes to incorporating a grand wedding exit into your wedding day.

They Make For Great Photos

This one may be self-explanatory, but I'll say it anyways. Grand wedding exits make for some of the most fun and lively wedding photos that you will have. There, I said it but it is 100% true! A grand wedding exit is a perfect place to send off the wedding night and make your wedding day feel like an epic movie. They can be some of the most iconic shots that you can get throughout the whole day and are some of my favorites to capture. Especially when it's dark out, your wedding grand exit can certainly make a statement and be a moment on your wedding day that you and your wedding guests will never forget.

A Memorable Ending To Your Wedding Night

One of the biggest reasons that couples will choose to have a grand wedding exit is the sole reason that it will be an incredibly memorable ending to their wedding night. Many couples want to end their wedding day on a high note and having a grand wedding exit is the perfect excuse for this. Your grand wedding exit can be the perfect way to *wow* your wedding guests and make sure that no one forgets your wedding day. What do they say? Go hard or GO HOME!

They Can Be Staged If You Want

One of the many benefits of having a grand wedding exit is that you also have the option to have a staged wedding exit! Yes, you read that correctly! While some of you may love the idea of ending the night with a *bang* some of you may not want the party to end early and that's fine! So instead of sending off your wedding day and calling it a night, you can have a staged wedding exit. Staged wedding exits are usually a bit earlier in the night and give you the chance to still have fun at your reception even after your "grand exit". The benefits of this are that you have more of your wedding guests in attendance since it's a bit earlier in the night and you can continue partying after! It's a win-win for everybody and is a good alternative if you're not wanting to have a full-blown send-off on your wedding night.

Of course, I have to be here and play devil's advocate and share some of the cons when it comes to having a grand wedding exit.

Venue Restrictions

I touched briefly on this before, but depending on your wedding venue this may impact whether or not you can have a grand wedding exit. Many wedding venues will tell you prior to booking, but it's always important to ask the wedding manager or coordinator to see if they allow grand wedding exits. Some wedding venues may flat out just tell you no, that they don't. Others may have restrictions on what sort of props you're allowed to use. If having a grand wedding exit is a non-negotiable for you, please make sure that you ask your wedding venue about these rules and restrictions prior to booking.

You May Feel Rushed

Having a grand wedding exit means that you need to have a carved-out time in your wedding timeline to do it! This usually means having to gather your wedding guests towards the end of the night and make sure everyone is ready for the actual send-off. This in turn can be incredibly frustrating to organize and some of your wedding guests (and you) may feel rushed in the process. Especially if you're trying to fit everything in all at once before your wedding photographer leaves. Make sure that you keep it not only when you feel like leaving your wedding night but when your guests want to leave as well. At the end of the day, it's your wedding day but you want to make sure that all of your wedding guests are aware of what the plan is.

It May Not Go According To Plan

Like a lot of things in life, things happen that are unpredictable. As much as we want to say that your wedding day will be perfect, in reality, that might not be the case all the time. Things happen, plans go awry and we always have to be expecting the unexpected. One of those things that we have to plan for is that your grand wedding exit may not go according to plan. Your props end up breaking, there aren't enough of them, not enough wedding guests have gathered to join, etc. Whichever the case may be, the unpredictability of this may be enough to have you consider foregoing a grand wedding exit.

Do You Need A Grand Wedding Exit?

So here is the question, do you need a grand wedding exit? As much as you don't want to hear this, it completely depends on you and your partner and your preferences. Many of you may love the idea of sending off the night with some bright and shiny sparklers and having all eyes on you, that's perfectly fine! Some of you may not love this idea and would rather keep things casual and more subdued, but that's cool too. At the end of the day, like I say with most things, your wedding day is completely up to you.

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