Should You Stage an Exit? | Boston Wedding Photography
Late a night a couple are showered with dried flower petals as they leave their fall wedding in Vermont in an authentic exit late in the evening.
It’s a beautiful moment that so many couples dream of, rushing out the door of their wedding venue under an impromptu arch of sparklers brilliantly shimmering. Everyone is clapping and happy and it’s a dreamlike memory as they end the night that will result in some magical photos.
But what if you only have your photographer booked until 10 and the wedding is winding down at 1 when the venue staff flicks on the lights and tells you that you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay there? Enter the staged exit, where couples fake a grand escape from the reception for the gram. Getting it right can make for a fun moment away from your wedding, but getting it wrong can kill the momentum of your party by making guests think things are over before they’ve begun. So how do you do it right?
Trust Your Pros: If you’re going to do a staged exit you’ll want to coordinate with your wedding team. Make sure your Boston wedding photographer and DJ know so they can set as much up ahead of time as possible. In the meantime your DJ keeps the beats going and the feet moving. A great coordinator can come in clutch here, ready with whatever accessories you’re planning to use for the faux send-off.
Keep It Small: You need a lot fewer people to pull off a great exit than you might think, and by using a smaller group you’re less disruptive to the party and it’s easier to work with effects like sparklers. Consider adding a run-through of the exit to your rehearsal to help everyone get ready faster and back to the party sooner.
Don’t Rush It: There’s a saying that “slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” so while you want to get back to the party quickly you want to make sure you take the time to do things right (especially if you’re working with sparklers). Once you have everyone assembled, do a run through before lighting up. If you have a little more time, consider doubling up on your order of sparklers and doing two passes. This can help to ensure your photographer has sufficient coverage and if anything needs a little editing magic they’ll have more than enough to work with.
With these tips in mind you’ll be sure to get some great photos for your exit and be able to enjoy shutting your venue down at the end of the night. Are you planning a big exit for your Boston Wedding? What are some of the best exits you’ve seen? What are some of the worst experiences you’ve had?
Ready to exit your search for a Boston wedding photographer? Head over to the booking page to get started with Ryan Richardson Photography.
Ryan Richardson is a wedding and engagement photographer serving Boston and beyond; including Cape Cod Weddings, New England Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings and Rhode Island Weddings.