After a full day of celebration, a grand exit is the perfect way to end the day on a fun note. As a wedding photographer, I’ve captured countless grand exits, and each one brings it’s own kind of magic. This guide will help you visiualize what a grand exit looks like and how it photographs at night, tips for choosing the right one, and how to make your photos turn out stunning.
How to choose the right grand exit for your wedding:
- What is the vibe of your wedding? Romantic, playful, high-energy, elegant? Choose an exit that matches that.
- What are your venues rules? Every venue is different in their rules and what the allow. Some do not allow sparklers or confetti, so ensure you check your venues rules.
Photographer tips for a perfect grand exit:
- Hold hands and go slow. Running makes your grand exit fast and go by in a blur for you, it also makes it harder to photograph. I recommend going slow and have fun interacting with all your guests.
- Add a dip or a kiss halfway through, this is a favorite photo of most couples!
Examples of exits:
The sparkler exit:
Sparkler exits are the most common grand exits at weddings. If you are considering a sparkler exit, ensure you get longer burn sparklers. This gives you plenty of time to walk through. Also, look into a couple torch lighters to help quickly get all the sparklers lite.
Bubble exit:
Bubbles actually photograph well both day and night time. When photographed at night, they get lite up by a photographers flash. If you want a ton of bubbles in your photos, give a couple people in the middle of the line a bubble gun to shoot up in the air. This will help add a ton of bubbles.
Foam dance party prop exit:
I love a good foam glow up light on the dance floor and they can also be used for the grand exit. Honestly, they don’t look as good in photos as some of the other options. Sometimes the light of them are hard to pick up from a photography perspective and they just look white.
The firework exit:
Having a summer wedding or really want to pack a punch? Opt for a full on firework display for your grand exit. It really makes it GRAND.
Metallic pom-pom exit
These metallic pom-poms photograph well and a super fun for everyone to use
Fabric wand exit:
These wants are similar to pom-poms but were made using fabric in the couples wedding colors.
Sparkler + cold sparks exit:
Have your DJ or rental company add in come cold sparks to your grand exit
My thoughts on faux exits:
Faux grand exits have become a trend in recent years. But, here’s my honest take – as a photographer who deeply values both the experience of you and yours guests and the photos – they aren’t usually worth it. Before choosing a faux exit, ask yourself this: Are those couple of photos worth interrupting your guests’ expienece? When the dance floor is full and everyone is having a blast, you stop that momentum to pull everyone outside. It really shirts the energy and breaks the mood. The biggest issue? It gives people an excuse to sneak out early – and I promise, they will. Even when you announce the night isn’t over, many will leave. The concept is confusing, especially for older guests. Almost every time, a large percentage of people don’t come back inside and if they do, the dance floor vibe isn’t as fun anymore.
Incorporate a private last dance
Before your grand exit, incorporate a private last dance while your guests are lining up outside for the send-off. This gives you one last intimate moment before your wedding day is over. After a day surrounded by other people, the last dance is a sweet way to just slow down for a minute. As a photographer, I love to photographer the first half (or less) and allow my couples to truly have a private moment.
Incorporate a cool getaway car
There’s something undeniably grand about ending your wedding nigh in a cool getaway car. It’s not just transportation — it’s the final scene of your wedding story, how the day ends. The glow of sparklers, the cheers of your favorite people, and being carried away in a grand way. A classic car adds instant character and timeless elegance, elevating your photos with movement, romance, and a touch of nostalgia, creating a purposeful ending to the celebration.
Tulsa Oklahoma wedding photographer and videographer team serving couples throughout Oklahoma
