Wedding sparkler photos: how to get the perfect sparkler shot

Sparkler photos need it to be properly dark, so they usually happen a few hours after your first dance. That’s why they work perfectly with my Big Package, which has no time limit. With packages that finish at the first dance, especially in summer, it can often still be light.

Winter weddings are no problem, because it’s dark early. Any time after the first dance works.

Whatever time of year it is, I want your guests to dance and have fun first, rather than rushing into more photos. At some point in the evening I’ll have a chat with the two of you and see when you’d like to do them. There’s no set time. Having fun and enjoying your wedding is more important. You can see where the evening fits in my wedding day timeline guide.

The best spot is somewhere with your venue in the background, or an avenue of trees. It also needs to be somewhere your guests don’t have to walk too far from the dance floor, so they can get back to the party.

Organising guests who’ve had a few drinks (some a little more than others) can be a challenge, but it’s nothing I can’t handle! I do it in steps, so it always goes smoothly.

1. Hand out the sparklersSomeone like your wedding planner hands them out. Most venues prefer a member of staff to do it, to avoid any issues.
2. Don’t light them yetI tell everyone, very clearly, not to light them until I say so.
3. Two lines, just like confettiYour guests line up either side, the same way as your confetti photos. You can see Lucy and Ryan’s guests doing this at Bunny Hill below.
4. A quick chat with you bothI tell you to have fun and enjoy it. Give each other a kiss or do anything you like as you walk down.
5. Light them all at onceTwo or three people with lighters light sparklers at different spots along the line. Everyone else touches theirs together to light them.
6. Walk through and have funOnce they’re all lit, it’s time to enjoy it!

You don’t need a practice run. If it’s set up and organised properly, it always goes smoothly. Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’ve done this many times.

The biggest worry with sparklers is the first ones burning out before the last ones are lit. The trick is that a sparkler lights easily when you tap it against another lit sparkler.

So rather than passing one lighter down the line, I have two or three people with lighters at different spots. They light a few, then everyone touches their sparklers together and the whole line is lit at the same time. You can see Katie and Dan’s guests lighting theirs at Hazel Gap Barn below.

Get more sparklers than you think you need. My rule is double your guest numbers.

• 30 guests: get 60 sparklers.
• 100 guests: get 200 sparklers.
• Spare sparklers: if you’ve got enough, guests can hold two each, so the glow is even better.

Get the longest sparklers you can find. The longer they are, the longer they burn, which means more time having fun.

Smokeless sparklers are a little better, but honestly smoke has never been a problem. There aren’t any I wouldn’t use.

The one thing couples get wrong is buying the cheapest sparklers they can find. Sometimes they’re out of date, so they struggle to light or go out halfway down the line. Get fresh, new ones.

The venue usually has a bucket of sand or water nearby. I ask your guests to put their sparkler in the bucket once it’s finished, rather than throwing it away.

I make sure I say this out loud to everyone, because a sparkler left on the ground could hurt a guest or damage a lawnmower.

Some venues ban sparklers, so it’s worth checking the rules in advance. Older venues are more likely to have a ban, because of potential damage to the building.

If your venue does allow them, ask whether they’d like a member of staff to hand them out and where they’d like you to do them.

If it rains, it’s down to you and your guests. Sometimes couples say “let’s just go out in the rain” and we do. Other times guests don’t want to go outside. As it’s not something we can do indoors, the sparklers sadly get left out.

That’s absolutely fine. Sparklers are a lovely extra, not something you need. Just enjoy your wedding and have fun on the dance floor.