How to get the perfect confetti shot on your wedding day
Picture this. You’ve just finished your ceremony and officially got married to your best mate. You’re about to head outside and have your guests throw confetti at you in celebration of your marriage! If you want to know how to get the best confetti photos, here are my top tips on how to get the perfect confetti shot on your wedding day.
Where will it take place?
First things first. Where are you going to have your guests throw the confetti? Usually, couples have two options.
Ceremony Room Exit (As soon as the ceremony finishes and the couple walk back up the aisle)
Outside The Venue (After the ceremony, once guests have got themselves organised into two lines somewhere in the venue grounds)
There are pro’s and con’s to both.
Ceremony Room Exit
Pro’s
You can have your confetti laid out on guests chairs before the ceremony so they’re prepared when you walk back up the aisle
It’s a nice thing to do as you walk back up the aisle
Con’s
If your ceremony is indoors then there might be restrictions for confetti being thrown indoors
Not all of your guests will be able to reach you to throw the confetti
The lighting might not be ideal from that angle
It’s over very quickly and not every guest might be prepared to throw it and therefore miss the opportunity
Outside The Venue
Pro’s
Your guests can line up in two lines as you walk through them, so everyone has the opportunity to throw it
The photographer can choose the right backdrop based on the light and location
The photographer is able to address the guests and instruct them on how to throw it to ensure the photographs are amazing
There’s usually more space outside of the ceremony venue so the confetti lines can be longer and you can enjoy it for longer
Con’s
If your schedule is strict with timings then it may be best to do confetti during the ceremony exit as it may take a short while to organise guests into two lines
It’s completely up to you what you choose to do, I’d just be mindful of any restrictions inside and outside of your venue.
How much confetti do you need?
It will be dependent on how many guests you have and what type of confetti you’d like to use. Usually I’d recommend couples getting enough for each guest at the wedding and then doubling their order for mega impact. This is to ensure your photos are filled with it. I’ve never heard couples say “we’ve got too much confetti” but I have heard them say that they didn’t have enough.
What type shall you use?
There are a few types of confetti out there so it can be a bit confusing as to what to buy. I recommend doing some research for different styles of confetti and see what they look like in real wedding photos to get a better idea. You should also check with your venue what type to use as they might have restrictions with certain types. You should definitely be conscious of this and try to buy biodegradable or natural confetti where you can.
The look and feel of the confetti will depend on the style of wedding you’re having too. If you’re going big on natural florals for your day, it might be nice to emulate this in your confetti by using dried petals. Equally, if your wedding features a lot of vibrant, bold colours, then a huge bag of biodegradable multi-coloured confetti discs or confetti cannons might be the best option for you. Or maybe bubbles! My personal recommendation would be biodegradable paper discs because they have a great float time and make the biggest impact.
How to organise the confetti
I’ve always found having a dedicated guest/trusted wedding party member to help me organise the confetti so needed. It always helps this part of the day run smoothly. Guests are more likely to listen to someone who’s a close friend of the couple. Having someone to help the photographer on the day organise confetti and the group shots will help make sure things get done to time so you can get back to enjoying the day as quickly as possible. Usually guests are asked to form two lines and create an aisle for the couple to walk through. If you’re planning a smaller celebration, it might be a nice idea for your guests to create a semi-circle around you so everyone is in the photo throwing confetti over you. This works well at Town Hall weddings where there are steps so the guests can be staggered and everyone can be seen in the photos.
Prep your guests
Have your chief helper on the day tell the guests as they’re handing out the confetti, how to throw it as this will result in the best photos. You will always get some guests that want to throw the confetti right in the mouth of their friend because they think it’ll be funny but if they’re prepped beforehand, we can try and make sure they’ll listen to the advice being given. The trick is to throw the confetti UP and not AT the couple so it rains down on them slowly rather than it being tipped on top of their heads or thrown directly into their mouths. Not fun.
Prep yourselves
The confetti moment is supposed to be a joyous memory! Make sure to stay present during it (as it’s usually over quickly) and remember to smile. Looking at your partner can help if you’re a bit nervous walking through the arch or saying hi to guests as you walk down can be nice too. It’s also a nice idea to stop mid-way through the confetti walk and share a kiss with your partner as this makes for a fab photo.
How to perfect the confetti shot
And those are my top tips! I hope you’ve found this blog post helpful. Want to see my favourite confetti photos? Check out my wedding gallery.
Be sure to stick around and see what other handy wedding photography tips are on the blog.
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See you in the next one,
Beth xo
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