Grand Exits: How To Plan An Exit You Love That Matches Your Day

The grand exit on your wedding day can be a magical moment. It can be a quiet moment of intimate connection between you and your new spouse while you kiss under the stars. It can be a dramatic event complete with a sparkler tunnel and a fun vintage getaway car waiting at the end. Or it can be a fun, personality-packed moment with guests wielding lightsabers! 

Jennie and James went with the third option, and man, was it fun to photograph! 

“When we were planning our wedding with a Star Wars theme, we knew right away that we wanted to give lightsabers to our guests during the reception,” Jennie and James said. “I had seen a few pictures online of people walking or posing under a lightsaber arch, and I thought it would be a really fun way to finish the wedding with our friends and family!”   

The key is to plan a getaway that blends seamlessly with the overall vision of your wedding day, feels true-to-you, and puts the perfect button on a perfect day.

So, how do you plan the best grand exit for you? And, do you even need to have one? Let’s dive in!

6 Grand Exit Ideas To Explore

• SPARKLERS

A sparkler tunnel is one of the most trendy grand exit options around today. Especially during a late night exit, they bring a last sprinkle of magic to the celebration, and when photographed well, they are the perfect addition to your final image in your album!

However, they are fire, so if you expect your guests to get pretty rowdy and really enjoy the bar, you might not want to give sticks of fire to everyone and then watch them get dropped in grass and bushes. If you want to opt for something a little safer, there are lots of options listed below!

If you do go for a sparkler exit, plan ahead and buy them right after the fourth of July to get them for cheap! You might also want to ask the venue to provide buckets of water so guests can put them out at the end. And you may not be aware of this, but there are actually a wide variety of sparkler types! You’ll want to choose sparklers that are low on smoke so the glitter isn’t hidden in fog.

When it comes to walking down the tunnel of sparklers, make sure to take your time. Don’t just sprint through—although I know it’s super tempting! Take a moment to twirl and steal a kiss. Then, at the end of the tunnel, grab a sparkler from a trusty bridesmaid so you can get in on the fun, too!

Jordyn and Matt went with a sparkler exit, and they loved the experience: “Our sparkler exit was magical! We had 50 people on each side cheering for us and holding these beautiful sparklers! My husband and I felt like the stars of the show running through it! The pictures were AMAZING and are hung in our house today!”

Pro tip: Get the longer sparklers so they last longer and don’t burn out before the tunnel ends or burn your guests’ fingers. And keep some long lighters on hand to light them quickly! Also, consider sneaking out before your grand exit and take some private photos together!

• BUBBLES

Bubbles are a fun, cost-saving option for a grand exit. They also work great for daytime exits if you’re planning for a shorter reception! They reflect the light and create a beautiful rainbow effect. The only challenge is trying to convince your guests not to blow them all before you make it to the exit! So, make sure you’ve got extra bottles on hand.

Pro tip: Get a few bubble guns and hand them out to a few guests to really increase the bubble output and make the effect even more beautiful! 

• FIREWORKS

If you want to take fire up a notch, go for the really grand exit: fireworks! Of course, this is the most expensive choice of all the grand exits, but they really pack a punch. You can hire a company to set up fireworks for you, but make sure you’re following all fire regulations before using this option! 

Pro tip: One of the best ways to have a firework exit without needing to set them up yourself is to piggyback off a national holiday or nearby sporting event. Having a summer wedding? See if there are firework shows in the area! Getting married near a baseball stadium? Check to see if they’ll be setting off fireworks at the end of the game!

• COLD SPARK MACHINES

Want a fiery exit without the burn risk? I’ve got you covered! Some vendors provide these fireless options for a grand exit. While they send up a shower that looks like a roman candle, they don’t use any flammable elements, so you don’t need to worry about anyone getting caught up in the fire! And because the fountains are set up and run by a vendor, your guests can just clap and cheer, enjoying the show with you! 

Pro tip: Some states don’t allow these indoors, so make sure you check beforehand if you want to include this for your first dance or another moment in the wedding. 

• LIGHT-SABERS OR GLOW STICKS

Any light-up device looks great in pictures at night, so if open flame isn’t your thing, think outside the box! Glow sticks are really fun because you can choose a lot of different colors for a rainbow effect, or just pick one color to match your palette. 

Pro tip: Give these to your guests during the reception, maybe a few hours before the grand exit, so they can play with them and take them on the dance floor for a while. They’re an instant crowd-pleaser!

• FLOWERS / RICE

Rose petals or some sort of flowers are a timeless option, and they smell good, too! Particularly if you’re planning to have a dusk or daytime exit, the petals will add such a romantic feel to your getaway. And prep is simple, too—simply ask your florist to have baskets filled up and ready for your guests to toss by the exits. And of course, don’t forget to make sure clean up is covered afterwards! Rice is also a great option if you want something timeless!

Pro tip: The fact that the rice kills birds is a myth!

• GETAWAY CAR

A decorated car, moped, or motorcycle can be a super fun way to end the night. Or you can customize the concept to your location! Saying “I do” in the desert? Have a four-wheeler ready to go! Getting married on a mountain top? Book a jeep! You can ride horses, sail a boat, or book a party bus! And if you’re planning a winter wedding, imagine riding off on a snowboard, skis, or even a ski lift! Your “getaway car” can be anything you want!

Pro tip: Rent a cute vintage car and take pictures with it beforehand in the daylight! Vintage car wedding photos are very fun.

• LAST DANCE

One more option that you can explore is doing a last dance as your exit! You can have a last dance outside under the stars while your guests sway (or jump!) along with you, or get everyone on the dance floor for one last fun line dance. Consider rolling out a cute carpet or rug to have your last dance on before you hop in your getaway car, or combining this with a sparkler exit! Of course, check with your venue beforehand to make sure you can get speakers outside, or you’ll want to do your last dance inside the venue. 

Pro tip: Start the last dance as just you two, then invite all your guests to join you for the second half of the song! That way you get the best of both worlds: an intimate last dance together followed by a fun celebration with everyone!

What to avoid for your grand exit 

Here are a few things you don’t want to include in your grand exit:

• Sky lanterns: Even though they’re super beautiful (I mean, have you seen Tangled?!) they’re still a serious fire hazard, cause a lot of litter, and can actually hurt local wildlife.

• Light up balloons: These also cause a lot of litter that animals can mistake for food. 

How do I have a grand exit if my guests won’t stay until the very end? 

If you want all of your guests involved, even the early birds, consider staging a “grand exit” a little earlier in the night. If your guests love being on the dance floor, having a grand exit at the end of the reception is probably going to work out. But, if you have a more relaxed group, you might want to stage an exit earlier in the night. 

Pro tip: Keep in mind that some guests might see the staged grand exit as an excuse to leave the event, so be prepared for some of your guests to leave after the staged version. 

If you and your partner are having a brunch wedding, another option is to hang out with your photographer after the fact and take some memorable portraits! It can be less stressful to do risky activity, knowing that your wedding day is over, and your dress can get as dirty as you want!

Do we have to have a grand exit?

Nope! If you don’t want to have a staged exit, you absolutely don’t need to. Just party with your guests until the night is over and enjoy every minute of it! I can’t wait to chat with you more about your grand exit and hear which way you decide to go! Then, we’ll work it into your photography timeline to make sure it’s captured to perfection.

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