Top Tips For A Great Confetti Experience On Your Wedding Day
One of the first questions I ask my couples, when we’re getting their planning in place for their big day, is whether they’ll be having a confetti throw. I’m often surprised by how many couples haven’t thought about it, and the ones that have aren’t sure they want it. Some couples think it’s a bit “fake” because it’s an organised part of the day. But I’m here to defend the wonder of the confetti throw because it’s honestly one of my absolute favourite parts of the day. Here are my top tips for a great confetti experience on your wedding day.
Why Have Confetti?
Ok, so I’ve shot hundreds of weddings over the years, and I can say, hands down, that the confetti throw is one of the most authentic and joyful parts of a wedding. It really is!!
Of course, everyone is going to be joy-filled and happy because it’s a celebration and it’s your wedding. But there’s something about that moment where people get to throw handfuls of coloured paper (or whatever you have) into the air that brings about a certain sense of glee. It’s the moment your guests get to let go, let their inner child come out and have a whole lot of fun covering you in confetti. I LOVE it!
It’s also one of the moments I manage to capture some amazing expressions. People aren’t posing for the camera; they’ve forgotten I’m even there. So there are always some fabulous faces being captured while the confetti experience is happening. Both yours and theirs!
Can You Have Confetti?
Once you’ve decided whether you want to have a confetti throw or not, the next thing to figure out is if you have permission to have the confetti experience. Folks, this is a crucial step – one that people often forget and then find themselves disappointed and out of pocket on the day when they realise the baskets of confetti they have can’t be used.
Before anything else, check with your venue about their rules for confetti.
This isn’t venues being party-poopers, by the way. For some venues, it may be that they’ve had unpleasant experiences. They may have environmental factors to consider (have you ever tried to clean up handfuls of thrown confetti? It’s not easy!).
Do the responsible thing and ask your venue if you’re allowed confetti and what their requirements are. It may be that you can, but it has to be a particular kind of confetti (such as biodegradable paper or other eco-friendly options). You may have to have your confetti experience in a set location on site. Or there may be other alternatives they’ll suggest, but we’ll get to those in a minute!
Choosing a Location
Ideally, you need space for a good confetti throw, especially if you’ve got a lot of guests who want to take part. And who wouldn’t want to?
Be mindful of asking your venue if there are set places to have a confetti throw. Some churches, for example, ask that you do it just outside of the church grounds. Some venues ask that it’s on hard standing or indoors, so it’s easier to clean up afterwards.
But if your venue is giving you free rein, look for a wide-open space where your guests can form a lineup or gather around to shower you!
Types of Confetti
When you think of confetti, the most obvious thing that springs to mind is multi-coloured pieces of paper. They might be little circles or a variety of wedding-related shapes like hearts and bells. Some might include sparkly bits or glittery pieces. The options are endless. As I mentioned before, these days confetti is biodegradable as standard. But do double-check, as I’m sure there are some less environmentally friendly options floating around out there we need to be mindful of.
Another option is to look at flower petals or dried flowers. There are pros and cons for both. Flower petals look stunning when thrown in large handfuls, but they can be pretty expensive. Dried flowers are more affordable, but they’re a nightmare to get out of hair and clothing afterwards. I’ve even had couples dry their own rose petals over the months before their wedding to use as confetti on the day.
Let’s Do This!
There are some key points to make here.
#1: There’s No Such Thing As Too Much Confetti
In fact, the more, the better! Minimal amounts of confetti won’t have the same impact as showers of the stuff. So, if you want a glorious confetti experience, bring lots and lots and lots of it!
#2: Don’t Expect People To Bring Confetti
Most people won’t even consider it, so if it’s a moment that’s important to you, avoid disappointment by ensuring there’s a good supply for your guests to throw.
#3: Make It Easy To Distribute
Have it in little bags or paper cones to hand out to people, or in a huge basket that someone can carry around, making sure everyone grabs a handful. Also, give the job of distribution to one of your wedding party. You could also have confetti canons, if you prefer, making it much easier to distribute to just a few people. But make sure the users coordinate setting them off!
#4: Have Help To Organise It
You’ll need someone, or several someones, to gather the guests and get them to go where you need them to for this moment to happen!
#5: Choose Your Method
The two main ways you can do a confetti throw are to create a line with your guests on both sides that you’ll walk down the middle of or have your guests form a big semi-circle around you. Either works well, although my preference is to have you walk through your guests as it creates so many lovely photographic moments. Get your organisers to make sure your guests leave just a couple of metres gap for you to walk through. We want to make sure the confetti actually falls on you and that they’re in the shots too!
#6: Confetti First
Plan with your venue to do confetti before your drinks reception. The last thing you want is a confused guest with confetti in one hand and a drink in the other to throw the wrong thing at you! I say this as someone who has seen this happen, eek!
Quick Tips For Your Guests
Take a BIG handful of confetti, the biggest you can grab. Less is definitely not more here; we want lots of colour showering down.
Throw up in the air as the couple come through, not at them. If you’ve a glass of fizz in the other hand, check which one you’re raising up – I’ve seen fizz thrown over couples by mistake!
And For You, The Couple
You’re about to get covered in confetti! But rather than look horrified at the prospect, embrace the moment! Biggest grins and smiles, eyes open so you can see where you’re going, heads up so the photographer can get your lovely faces. Then grab each other’s hands and go for it! Yee-haa!
Enjoy the moment, it really is a lovely one to capture, and I promise the photos will be well worth it.
Some Confetti Alternatives
Can’t have confetti at your venue? Here are some possible alternatives to consider:
Streamers
Bright coloured streams of paper attached to sticks that people can wave around as you walk through. They’re a lot of fun, very “village hall”, and much easier to clean up than confetti.
Bubbles
Because of their quick disappearing act, bubbles are a great alternative. But my advice is to invest in bubble guns for this, as you’ll get a lot more bubbles.
Sparklers
These make a lovely nighttime alternative but ask your venue again about these as they may have restrictions. Like confetti, there’s quite a bit of planning needed for this too.
Rice
Used in various cultures around the world, rice is environmentally friendly and also looks great.
And if that all sounds wonderful and you’re ready to have me capture your confetti experience on your wedding day, do get in touch. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got planned.
