Wedding Confetti Do's and Don'ts: A Photographer’s Top Tips
As a wedding photographer, the confetti photo is always on my list of must have moments. As with all things wedding-related, there are a few tricks to getting it just right. Here’s your ultimate guide to wedding confetti do's and don’ts so it goes off without a hitch!
Do: Check Venue Rules
Believe it or not some venues now don't allow confetti! So make sure you check if they allow it and ask for any restrictions around where you can throw it. Some places have strict rules about what can and can’t be used, so always double-check to avoid any last-minute surprises. Generally confetti that is natural and biodegradable will work just fine but always be up front with your venue and ask what is allowed.
Alternatives to confetti could be a sparkler tunnel in the evening or giving your guests bubbles to blow instead.
Don't: Choose Non-Biodegradable Confetti
These days most confetti is paper but avoid plastic or anything that's not made from real flowers or paper. It means you won’t have to worry about the clean-up as much. Many venues actually require wedding confetti to be biodegradable so it's a no-brainer. I personally love medium to large size paper confetti that's lots of different colours. Dried flowers are also really nice. I had a wedding recently where the bride had made her own confetti from dried flowers her fiancé had bought her during the engagement. If you want make your own confetti here's a guide on how to do that.
Do: Plan the Perfect Moment
After your wedding ceremony time can be short. You may need to travel to your reception venue, guests want a drink and to congratulate you before the meal so plan your time and get the logistics right. I tend to advise giving guests confetti as they leave the ceremony or placing it on their seat for the ceremony so they can leave the ceremony and go straight to forming a line outside the ceremony. If guests get close to you after the ceremony they will want to congratulate you but this can chew up A TON of time so I work with your coordinator at the venue to take you somewhere you can be hidden while the photographer arranges the guests for the confetti.
Don’t: Use Heavy Materials Or Tiny Pieces In Your Confetti
Avoid confetti made from heavy materials or anything that could be harmful to yourself or wildlife. Sometimes things like rice or seeds are put in confetti which I would avoid because they cause you to flinch (not great for a photo!) and tiny pieces like seeds will get stuck in your hair and be a pain to get out. Large paper and petals will easily come out and float nicely for the photos.
Do: Coordinate with Your Photographer
Discuss your confetti plans with your photographer (Hopefully that'll be me!) ahead of time. They’ll have great tips on where to do the confetti photos, the angles, lighting, and timing to ensure your photos turn out stunning. You want enough space for guests to stand and enough opportunity to get great images (we don't want to miss the moment!
Don’t: Underestimate The Clean Up
Even biodegradable confetti requires some clean up. Most venues take care of it but if you're using a venue where you need to clean up, make sure there’s a plan in place, whether it’s a designated clean up crew or a conversation with those you're hiring the space from. Often they have some kind of policy on confetti, like most things in life, it doesn't hurt to have the conversation. This will save you stress later on.
Do: Get Creative with Colours and Shapes
Confetti doesn't have to be plain paper. It can be made in all shapes, sizes, and colours, allowing you to perfectly match it to your wedding theme and colour palette. You can mix up your materials and colours to make it fit your budget and style. For example, soft rose petals can be mixed in with colourful paper confetti or different dried flowers of different colours can make your confetti unique to your wedding. Different textures can create more dynamic images and make the confetti pop which your photographer can take advantage of when getting the perfect shot.
Don’t: Run Out of Confetti!
This seems kind of obvious but it gets overlooked a lot. Most people will advise a handful for each guest. But I think two handfuls is better. It creates a more full photo when plenty of confetti is in the air! Also if you have some left over you can do another photo later in the evening. Maybe as part of the first dance or cake cutting for example.
Confetti is such a fun part of the wedding day but comes with a few challenges and considerations. Follow these do's and don'ts to ensure everything goes off without a hitch and your photos are nothing short of spectacular!
Thanks for reading this blog! My name is Steve McSmailes and I've been capturing moments that matter for over 10 years and have built a photojournalistic documentary style, blending into the background, capturing natural reactions and providing a very relaxed and flexible no fuss coverage of your special day. You can learn more about my wedding photography on my website and start capturing your story by filling in the contact form below.
