Epic Exits
Epic Exits are a fun way to show off some bridal creative panache, and we just adore seeing how each couple tops off their big day. Skip to the list of Epic Exit ideas below if you must, but we do have some ideas and observation to share !
First, many exits are not really exits as much as photo ops. The days of rice throwing at the church as the newlyweds hop into a can-adorned convertible destined for Honeymoon USA are all but gone. Yes, some couples opt for this on the way to their reception venue, but it is a tradition that is waning. So, whether an Epic or "Grand" Exit is something that interests you or or is on your "must do" list, here are some tips:
PRO-TIPS
- How will your chosen favors look at your venue? Talk to your photographer about your ideas. What do they think will provide you with some great photos? Bubbles need light and contrast to really pop. Pun intended.
- What types of favors are allowed at your church or venue? Historical venues often prohibit sparkles or non-biodegradable confetti.
- Who will distribute them and collect or clean up any leftovers? Venues that supply a coordinator are great resources.
- Before you opt for the least expensive(think the tiny little bubble bottles on Amazon or the little glow necklaces), read reviews on the experiences of other brides. And again, talk to your photographer. We have seen both of the aforementioned examples fall flat. Individual bubble bottles don't always have the punch to make enough bubbles for a great photo op. They are fun for your guests, but they rarely put out enough volume for a magical bubble exit. Add a bubble machine (check Amazon) to the mix and you'll amp up the fun, creating some epic photos!
- Sparklers-If your venue allows them, don't buy the least expensive ones. Look on a website devoted to sparklers for events. They have detailed explanations on the type, length and cost. Not all sparkler are created equally.
PRO-TIPS
- Make certain your photographer is able to capture your exit. If you have scheduled sparklers for 10 pm and your photographer's contract is only for 8 hours, he or she may not be able to shoot this magic moment!
- Talk to your planner, coordinator, DJ, or photographer. It is safe to assume that if you are planning an exit for 8, 9, or 10 pm, many of your guests will have left. You wont need one for every guest who was present at dinner. Timing is key. You still need enough guests to amplify your favors, but, likely you don't need to buy one for every guest. 10 people with glow sticks aren't likely what you were imagining.
- Your DJ is your bestie for an Epic Exit during the reception. Use him or her to announce and coordinate everyone moving to the exit location. He can also announce any procedures that you may have in pace to move things along.
Browsing unique wedding send-off ideas? Check these out:
Rice is traditionally tossed when the newlyweds leave their ceremony or reception, but as weddings get more personalized, couples are opting for some more creative ideas for their going away moment. It’s now common to see a toss moment after the couple says, “I do” as they walk up the aisle, as well as when they leave the ceremony site for their reception, or at the end of the night when they leave for the honeymoon suite. Sparklers have become the go-to wedding send-off of choice for nighttime affairs because of their celebratory vibe, but here are 10 other creative wedding send-off ideas.
Glow Sticks light up the night sky with bright glow sticks! You can pass them out during the reception for guests to party with, and then have guests make their way to the exit and wave them in the air like they just don’t care during your wedding exit as you make your way to a decorated car to your honeymoon suite.
Bubbles. You can’t go wrong with this popular wedding send-off idea: bubbles. Small or over-sized, kids of all ages love blowing bubbles for a wedding exit. Give each guest a small container with a bubble wand and have them blow bubble kisses at you as you leave your ceremony or reception. To increase the quantity blowing your way, set up an automatic bubble machine near your exit path.
Confetti can be found in so many different styles. There are tiny circles or oversized ones, photofetti with pictures printed on them, biodegradable options, different shapes they can be cut into and confetti push-pops too. When deciding on what type of confetti to use, pick a type that complements your wedding’s style and palette.
Ribbon Wands Some venues won’t allow guests to toss confetti (it does make a mess!). Ribbon wands are a great alternative wedding send-off idea that can be easily homemade to match your wedding color scheme. Plus, they make a fabulous take-home favor!
Rose Petals have always been an exit toss staple. Consider adding in different colored blooms to elevate the moment even more. Buy fancy pre-filled sachets ($470 for a set of 100, Etsy.com), a bulk supply of durable freeze-dried blooms ($23 for 10 cups, Etsy.com) or even "Mr. and Mrs."-printed faux flower petals ($10 for a set of 110, TheKnotShop.com), which are best for indoors where they can easily be swept up.
Bells When newlyweds hear the sound of bells ringing, or a spoon clinking a glass, tradition dictates they should kiss. Why not have family and friends ring bells during the getaway moment and share a kiss or two on the way out?! There are a number of different bells you can choose from: tiny “kissing” bells, bells attached to a stick or bicycle bells, followed by a bike ride getaway.
Flags Give your guests small flags with celebratory statements to wave as you leave your ceremony and to take home after the party. These assorted "cheers," "hooray" and "congrats" pennants ($187 for a set of 100, Etsy.com) are perfect as place settings before the send-off. Fourth of July Wedding? American Flags, please!
Wish Lanterns. In lieu of a traditional going-away toss, ask your guests to all light and release a wish lantern. They can write a wish for the newlyweds, or for themselves, on them for an added personal touch. Wait till the sun has set and have everyone write their wish, light their lantern and release it as a group. And make sure to capture it on film too!
Pom-Poms. Have friends and family cheer you on as you leave the ceremony or reception site by waving small pom-poms in your wedding’s colors or your favorite team’s. Pom-poms can be found in a rainbow of solid shades, metallic gold and silver, or a mix of white and another color, ensuring that you can find one that’s perfect for your going away moment
By Season:
Spring Wedding
Flower(usually rose) petals have always been an exit toss staple. Consider adding in different colored blooms to elevate the moment even more. Buy fancy pre-filled sachets ($470 for a set of 100, Etsy.com), a bulk supply of durable freeze-dried blooms ($23 for 10 cups, Etsy.com) or even "Mr. and Mrs."-printed faux flower petals ($10 for a set of 110, TheKnotShop.com), which are best for indoors where they can easily be swept up.
Summer Weddings:
Mini Beach Balls: Getting married on or near the beach? Mini inflatable beach balls can be a fun beach-themed wedding exit. Have guests toss them as you make your way up a sandy aisle, and let kids play with them during the reception.
Fall Wedding-
Collect real leaves or order faux leaves off the internet. Real leaves are biodegradable and come in nature-made colors! Best of all the cost is only the amount of time or collecting, sorting, and assembling into sachets or baskets, or bags! So why not have guests toss leaves in the colors of the seasons – reds, oranges, golds and browns – as you make your exit.
New Year's Wedding-
Streamers, glitter, poppers, glow sticks, sparklers-the glittering possibilities are endless.
Rice is traditionally tossed when the newlyweds leave their ceremony or reception, but as weddings get more personalized, couples are opting for some more creative ideas for their going away moment. It’s now common to see a toss moment after the couple says, “I do” as they walk up the aisle, as well as when they leave the ceremony site for their reception, or at the end of the night when they leave for the honeymoon suite. Sparklers have become the go-to wedding send-off of choice for nighttime affairs because of their celebratory vibe, but here are 10 other creative wedding send-off ideas.
Glow Sticks light up the night sky with bright glow sticks! You can pass them out during the reception for guests to party with, and then have guests make their way to the exit and wave them in the air like they just don’t care during your wedding exit as you make your way to a decorated car to your honeymoon suite.
Bubbles. You can’t go wrong with this popular wedding send-off idea: bubbles. Small or over-sized, kids of all ages love blowing bubbles for a wedding exit. Give each guest a small container with a bubble wand and have them blow bubble kisses at you as you leave your ceremony or reception. To increase the quantity blowing your way, set up an automatic bubble machine near your exit path.
Confetti can be found in so many different styles. There are tiny circles or oversized ones, photofetti with pictures printed on them, biodegradable options, different shapes they can be cut into and confetti push-pops too. When deciding on what type of confetti to use, pick a type that complements your wedding’s style and palette.
Ribbon Wands Some venues won’t allow guests to toss confetti (it does make a mess!). Ribbon wands are a great alternative wedding send-off idea that can be easily homemade to match your wedding color scheme. Plus, they make a fabulous take-home favor!
Rose Petals have always been an exit toss staple. Consider adding in different colored blooms to elevate the moment even more. Buy fancy pre-filled sachets ($470 for a set of 100, Etsy.com), a bulk supply of durable freeze-dried blooms ($23 for 10 cups, Etsy.com) or even "Mr. and Mrs."-printed faux flower petals ($10 for a set of 110, TheKnotShop.com), which are best for indoors where they can easily be swept up.
Bells When newlyweds hear the sound of bells ringing, or a spoon clinking a glass, tradition dictates they should kiss. Why not have family and friends ring bells during the getaway moment and share a kiss or two on the way out?! There are a number of different bells you can choose from: tiny “kissing” bells, bells attached to a stick or bicycle bells, followed by a bike ride getaway.
Flags Give your guests small flags with celebratory statements to wave as you leave your ceremony and to take home after the party. These assorted "cheers," "hooray" and "congrats" pennants ($187 for a set of 100, Etsy.com) are perfect as place settings before the send-off. Fourth of July Wedding? American Flags, please!
Wish Lanterns. In lieu of a traditional going-away toss, ask your guests to all light and release a wish lantern. They can write a wish for the newlyweds, or for themselves, on them for an added personal touch. Wait till the sun has set and have everyone write their wish, light their lantern and release it as a group. And make sure to capture it on film too!
Pom-Poms. Have friends and family cheer you on as you leave the ceremony or reception site by waving small pom-poms in your wedding’s colors or your favorite team’s. Pom-poms can be found in a rainbow of solid shades, metallic gold and silver, or a mix of white and another color, ensuring that you can find one that’s perfect for your going away moment
By Season:
Spring Wedding
Flower(usually rose) petals have always been an exit toss staple. Consider adding in different colored blooms to elevate the moment even more. Buy fancy pre-filled sachets ($470 for a set of 100, Etsy.com), a bulk supply of durable freeze-dried blooms ($23 for 10 cups, Etsy.com) or even "Mr. and Mrs."-printed faux flower petals ($10 for a set of 110, TheKnotShop.com), which are best for indoors where they can easily be swept up.
Summer Weddings:
Mini Beach Balls: Getting married on or near the beach? Mini inflatable beach balls can be a fun beach-themed wedding exit. Have guests toss them as you make your way up a sandy aisle, and let kids play with them during the reception.
Fall Wedding-
Collect real leaves or order faux leaves off the internet. Real leaves are biodegradable and come in nature-made colors! Best of all the cost is only the amount of time or collecting, sorting, and assembling into sachets or baskets, or bags! So why not have guests toss leaves in the colors of the seasons – reds, oranges, golds and browns – as you make your exit.
New Year's Wedding-
Streamers, glitter, poppers, glow sticks, sparklers-the glittering possibilities are endless.