One of my favorite things at weddings is the GRAND aspect of it- from grand entrances to grand exits, I love the moments of celebration where the guests get to stop and celebrate by showing the couple with their attention and much, much more.
Here are just a few suggestions and photos of “grands” that I’ve worked with in the past. Getting creative with this is the best! Let your guests have fun on your day!
Bubbles!
*Bubbles after “Mr. and Mrs.___”; bubbles during the first dance, bubbles at the getaway after the church; bubbles as a formal exit for a daytime wedding. BUBBLES is a great, cost effective way to involve your guests!
Candles!
*Candles are GREAT to light a getaway path for the end of the reception, and they also add a friendly warm glow to your pictures. I’ve also seen weddings where the guests are each holding a small candle and they line the getaway path for the bride and groom to walk down. Both are equally gorgeous. Candles are also a great cost effective option! Keep in mind, you can use paper bags [white] as luminaries and that makes them MUCH more reasonably priced than hurricanes or other candle holders.
Champagne!
*One of my brides had her wedding theme as “Old Hollywood” and going along with that had a red carpet grand entrance. She wanted all of her guests to line the sides of the carpet, like paparazzi and raise their glass, toasting them as they entered. The result? Lovely pictures and truly the royal treatment!
Flags!
*These were from my own wedding. I got this idea from a Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and instantly loved it. It took quite some time to make each of the flags [which consisted of cardstock and dowels, basically] but my pictures and video spoke for themselves! I loved walking through my guests, huddled around our car and each of them waving wildley at us!
Petals
*Petals are another very popular choice. These petals were tossed during the first dance, but they are SO popular for the post-ceremony aisle walk and they make for a GREAT grand exit as well! Plus, like rice, you get to come up with cute and unique ways to package these for your guests!
Rice!
*The expressions are priceless! Rice is the classic stand-by in weddings and “grands” [exits, entrances, everything!]. In times like these, the most common rice is the eco-safe wedding rice that’s heart shaped and bird safe. Still, the effect is great and it really gets the guests involved!
Sparklers!
*Wedding sparklers are SO fun and so great! Make sure you order wedding sparklers online, because it will take some time to get them all lit and the guests lined up to get those amazing pictures that you desire. Also, these definately need an OK from the venue… but, nothing can top the look in pictures!
Whatever look and feel you’re going for on your wedding day… keep in mind how personal it is to get the guests showering you with their affection, attention and whatever else you may have them throwing your way. hint hint!
:)
