Leaving your wedding in a shower of bubbles is the traditional grand exit these days instead of rice. However, many couples are creating other options - something more dramatic, or romantic, or environmentally friendly. Whatever you choose, remember this is your guests' last impression of your wedding ceremony or reception. Make it amazing!
 |
| This Couple Had a Paper Airplane Exit ! |
Toss Bird Seed
Pros: It's organic and if the birds eat the free meal, no one has to clean up.
Cons: Think how hard it will be to pick little grains out of your hair - not how you imagined spending your wedding night, right?
Natural Confetti
Pros: Major fun (without bodily harm to you) and still be eco-friendly. The confetti is light, falls slowly (for awesome photos), and dissolves in water. Or you could try plant-able seed confetti which will grow into wildflowers.
Cons: You may still need to sweep up the mess and the location may not appreciate seeds being planted and annoying sprouts coming up in the wrong places.
Toss Colored Confetti or Paper Streamers
Pros: Pretty and relatively cheap.
Cons: Rather wasteful (unless you recycle) and lots to sweep.
Blow Bubbles
Pros: Gives an affect of childlike innocence and fun. Also, if you decorate the bottles with your names and wedding date they can double as favors. It's lots of fun for kids and it's environmentally safe.
Cons: Keep it outside as it can make a mess on a floor and slippery.
Release Butterflies or Doves
Pros: Very dramatic.
Cons: Live animals can be unpredictable. They may not fly as you wish them to and there can be accidents, if you know what I mean.
Throw Rose Petals or Potpourri
Pros: To be super-romantic, use petals from flowers your finance gave you during your courtship.
Cons: Can there be anything bad about roses? Perhaps their expense can be prohibitive and there is some pick
up and sweeping later.
Wave Sparklers
If you are going all out, this option is particularly effective for a late summer evening.
Light up the night with fireworks in the background too and exit with a bang and flash.
Wish Lanterns
Wish lanterns were traditionally used in Asian celebrations, but we're seeing more and more of these beautiful send-offs worldwide. You light the small fuel cell and the hot air lifts up the lantern just like a hot air balloon.
Wish Lantern makes a biodegradable version out of bamboo and rice paper, so you can light the sky with less guilt.
Copyright © 2011 Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison