The Pros and Cons of Using Wedding Confetti

Planning your wedding is all about the details, and that includes how you’ll walk down the aisle, but, also, how you’ll exit after the reception. Traditionally, this moment in your celebration is when couples leave the reception venue and head off into the sunset for the honeymoon. Of course, some couples don’t leave immediately for their honeymoon, and they may stay and party with guests. But, planning for a wedding exit is still a part of wedding day traditions, even if the couple isn’t planning to leave the premises for the night. Zola is here to help you decide if using wedding confetti to celebrate will work for your dramatic exit. Here are some pros and cons of using this wedding decoration for your big day.

Photo Credit // Unsplash

The Benefits of Using Wedding Confetti

There are multiple pros for using wedding confetti for your wedding exit. You can incorporate your personality and wedding colors into the confetti that your guests will throw as they send you off on your way. Some of the benefits include:

• The Price Is Right: It’s one of the most affordable options to toss, with the exception of rice or birdseed. Prices start around $4.00 and go up from there, depending on how much you need.
• Variety and Texture: You can find the confetti anywhere, so you won’t have to stress over where to find the perfect send off. There are so many versions available, including various styles, shapes, and colors. You can mix and match the different sizes and colors. There are petals, flowers, metallic, and even paper confetti to make your wedding day that much more special. Choosing the right confetti that falls slowly to the ground gives your photographer plenty of time to capture the magic.
• Easy Usage: Confetti is easy to use, so it’s just a matter of deciding how you want your guests to toss it while celebrating at your wedding venue. They can toss handfuls into the air, use confetti cannons, or use party wedding confetti poppers to add to the celebration.
• Environmentally Friendly: There are biodegradable options available so that you can use it safely outdoors. It also eliminates the need for a lot of cleanup, but some will still be required. Fully biodegradable confetti leaves no trace; however, this depends on the weather. If it’s wet outside, then it can break down within hours, but if it’s dry, then it hangs around until Mother Nature can break it down with wind and rain. It’s also safe to use anywhere, since there are no flames involved.

Wedding Confetti Tip: Make sure that you work out exactly how much wedding confetti you’ll need for your guests. Most often, only half of your guests will participate, but you will want to make sure that you have more than enough. Depending upon the type of confetti shot you want photographed, you’ll need to figure out if you want a confetti shot full of petals or a delicate confetti shot. For a full shot, two large handfuls per guest works, but, for a more delicate shot, one handful per two people will be just right.

The Cons of Using Wedding Confetti

While the idea of being sent off to your happily ever after under a shower of confetti sounds like a great idea, it can also have some drawbacks, including:

• Mother Nature May Not Cooperate: If you’re heading outside for your send off, and it’s a windy day, then you’ll have a problem. Confetti is super lightweight, and if it’s made from paper or light plastic, it can find itself gone with the wind, ruining your photographs.
• Cleaning Up Woes: Where there’s lots of confetti on the ground, there’s going to be a need to clean all of it up, even if it’s biodegradable. It can be time consuming to clean up all of the tiny pieces. If you choose to use non-biodegradable confetti, it can have a negative impact on the environment. Some venues require that you clean up all of the confetti, whether it’s biodegradable or not.
• Excitement Doesn’t Last: With confetti, what goes up must quickly come down, and that’s the end of the send off and photo. If your photographer isn’t ready for the shot when the confetti is thrown, then the magic of the moment is missed. After the initial toss of confetti, there isn’t a lasting impact on the excitement.

Wedding Confetti Tip: Some venues may not even allow confetti. Some may stipulate that you can only use certain types of confetti that are 100 percent biodegradable, and they will want to make sure that you clean all of it up. Decide if you want to try another option for your wedding send off, instead of having to plan how to clean it all up.

Alternative Options

Whether you go with elegant rose petals or colorful paper confetti that's covered in glitter, it's always a good idea to finish your wedding night with a fun confetti moment. Of course, confetti isn’t the only option that you can use for your wedding exit. There are other options that include bird seed, bubbles, rice, sparklers, ribbon wands, wildflower seeds, glowsticks, balloons, and doves.

Planning your wedding can be tedious, but Zola is here to help make your wedding dreams become a reality. For more information on finding the right wedding send off for after your reception, plus other wedding planning tips, visit our blog today.

Photo Credit // Unsplash