We love sparkler send-offs at Celestial Farms, and this is a guide on how we perfectly execute these special moments at our Detroit Michiaan area wedding venue. Sparkler sendoffs are the perfect way to end a wedding on a high note, leaving both the couple and their guests with a lasting impression of the special day, as well as a great impression of our locally owned and operated wedding venue. At Celestial Farms, we’ve embraced this fun trend, ensuring that each sparkler exit is as safe as it is magical. From a few early experiments to our most recent sparkler send-off for Chelsea and Joseph, we've learned that a little bit of sparkle makes a BIG memory that lasts a lifetime.
A Few Magical Moments: The Sparkler Send-Offs We’ve Hosted
We've had the pleasure of organizing several sparkler send-offs at Celestial Farms in Clio, Michigan. Each one has been a shining success, adding that final touch of magic to an already unforgettable wedding day. But the most recent one, for Chelsea and Joseph, stands out as a perfect example of what we strive to achieve with these sparkler exits.
Chelsea and Joseph's wedding was a celebration filled with love, laughter, cigars around the fire and unforgettable moments. As the evening drew to a close, we asked our DJ to announce to the guests to gather outside the barn to be instructed on how to do the sparkler sendoff. We then had the guests line up along the beautiful string lit nature filled path between the barn and the pavilion. We created a sparkling tunnel for the newlyweds to walk through. The shining stars above and the glow of the sparklers below created a breathtaking scene that captured the essence of their love story. The smiles on their faces and the cheers from their guests as they made their way through the sparkling tunnel are moments that we—and they—will never forget.
Making the Magic Happen: Safety First
At Celestial Farms, safety is prioritized at every event, especially one involving open flames. Just as we carefully monitor and maintain our fire pit at every wedding, we carefully monitor and coordinate sparkler send-offs to assure the highest level of safety. That's why we've developed venue-specific guidelines and instructions for our sparkler send-offs, ensuring that everyone enjoys the moment without any concerns.
Lighting the Sparklers: It might seem like a simple task, but lighting a large number of sparklers at once can be tricky. That's why it’s imperative that the Celestial Farms staff personally step in to guide everyone through the process. We always recruit a few guests that have lighters to start the process with us, and have them at the front of the line and the back, and depending on the size of the crowd, the middle too. This helps to ensure that everyone’s sparklers are ready at the same time. Once the first sparklers are lit with a lighter we instruct the guests to carefully touch sparklers with the people around them to help light them all in a hurry. This is the only way to get the timing right. Lighters alone will not do the trick.
TIP: Torch lighters are the way to go for sparklers. Standard lighters take much longer and become hot to the touch.
Handling the Sparklers: Once the sparklers are lit, our guests know to hold them at arm's length, away from themselves and others in the line. It’s important to keep the sparklers steady and not wave them around too much to avoid accidents or fire since we are very near the woods. We also ask that guests remain mindful of their surroundings and keep a safe distance from each other to prevent any unintended contact with the hot sparks.
TIP: It's a great idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby as an extra safety precaution.
Disposing of the Sparklers: Proper disposal immediately after the sparklers go out is just as important as proper handling. After the sparkler send-off, our Celestial Farms team will carry around metal buckets where guests can safely dispose of their sparklers. This not only prevents any potential fire hazards but also keeps the venue clean and tidy. We ensure that all sparklers are collected and completely out before anyone leaves the area, minimizing any risk of accidents.
TIP: Make sure your metal buckets are tall to ensure the extra long wedding sparklers will properly fit.
A Picture-Perfect Moment: Creating Stunning Visuals
Of course, a sparkler send-off is not just about the safety—it's about capturing that picture perfect moment for our brides and grooms. The photos from a sparkler exit are often some of the most cherished images from our clients’ wedding day, so Celestial Farms goes the extra mile to ensure that they turn out beautifully by carefully collaborating with our team, our vendors, and our guests.
Positioning the Guests: We work closely with our photographers, like Angie from Angela's Angles Photography, to make sure the guests are arranged in a way that frames the couple beautifully. Every photographer has a different style and we do give them a couple different options on how to position the walk through. Guests always stand in two lines, creating a tunnel of light for the couple to walk through. We remind everyone to hold their sparklers high and steady, creating a canopy of sparks that illuminates the scene. This positioning not only looks great in photos but also keeps everyone at a safe distance from the sparklers to prevent accidents.
TIP: Before lighting the sparklers, have the guests practice holding them up so you can be sure they all understand how to position them safely for the tunnel.
Timing is Everything: We also emphasize timing. Once all the sparklers are lit, we make sure the couple doesn’t rush through the tunnel. Instead, we encourage them to take their time, enjoy the moment like Chelsea and Joey did with their mid-tunnel dip and kiss. We help the photographer capture every step while focusing on not getting in their shot, but also recording as much footage as we can with our cell phones standing behind the photographers. The photographer will get multiple shots from different angles as the couple walks to and from the barn, providing the couple with a variety of stunning images.
The Right Lighting: Finally, we consider the overall lighting of the scene. While the sparklers provide a lot of light, we often work with the photographer to make sure the lighting is balanced and the couple is well-lit. This might involve using flash photography or adjusting camera settings to get the perfect shot.
TIP: Not all photographers use flash photography and every style is unique. So it's important to collaborate the time for the sparkler send-off with the photographer in advance for the best lighting.
The Team Behind the Magic
I couldn’t make any of this happen without the incredible team at Celestial Farms. Casey our bartender, Yolanda, Ansleigh, and our Chelsea and Joey's photographer; Emily Ann Photography, each play a vital role in ensuring that our sparkler send-offs go off without a hitch.
Casey: Our go-to bartender and owner of Cheers to You Bartending, Casey is always ready to lend a hand in the sparkler sendoff process, whether it’s helping to organize the guests or making sure everyone has a sparkler in hand. For Chelsea and Joey’s wedding Casey actually provided the sparklers because she knew the best place to purchase them last minute. So in this case the sparkler sendoff literally wouldn’t have happened without her. Her helpfulness is unmatched. Not to mention her infectious smile always helps keep the energy up at every wedding.
Yolanda: Yolanda is our logistics expert. She helps with the setup, making sure the buckets for sparkler disposal are in place and that we have enough lighters on hand. Her attention to detail ensures that nothing is overlooked and that the send-off goes smoothly. At Celestial Farms it’s a little inside joke that Yolanda has everything anyone could ever need in her fanny pack! Yolanda always comes prepared and is always one step ahead of the rest of us.
Ansleigh: Our team member, Ansleigh, brings a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to every event. She’s always ready to jump in wherever needed, whether it’s helping to coordinate the ceremony or help with the photographer or assisting guests, or assisting a bride or bridesmaid, Ansleigh is always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it.
Angie; Angie knows exactly how to capture the perfect shot. And when she’s not the photographer for our Celestial Farms couples she enjoys being a CF team member. She works closely with me and the couple to ensure that the sparkler exit- and any activity is as photogenic as possible. Her eye for detail and her ability to put people at ease make her an invaluable part of the team. And she's super friendly and considerate to other photographers assuring she doesn't step on anyone's toes, while offering venue specific advice.
Together, we make sure that every sparkler send-off is a seamless, beautiful experience that leaves a lasting impression on everyone involved.
Why We Allow Sparkler Send-Offs When Other Venues Don’t
We understand that not all wedding venues allow sparkler send-offs due to safety concerns, and that’s a perfectly valid stance. However, at Celestial Farms near Detroit Michigan, we believe that with the right precautions and instructions, and the right team members, sparkler send-offs can be both safe and spectacular.
Our sparkler sendoff approach is all about preparation and communication. By taking the time to educate our guests in advance and ensure that everything is properly organized, we’re able to offer this special experience to our Detroit area brides and grooms without compromising safety. We’re proud of the system we’ve developed at Celestial Farms and the results speak for themselves—every sparkler send-off we’ve hosted has been a sparkling success!
Making Dreams Come True, One Sparkler at a Time
At the end of the day, our primary goal is to make our couples' dreams come true. For many, a sparkler send-off is the perfect way to end their wedding day on a magical note. We’re proud to be able to offer this experience at Celestial Farms, and we’re committed to continuing to make it as safe and beautiful as possible for each and every couple.
Whether it’s the smiles on the faces of Chelsea and Joey as they walked through their sparkler tunnel or the excitement of the guests as they cheered them on, these moments are just one example of what makes our job so rewarding. We look forward to creating many more Celestial Farms magical exits for our couples in the future, always with safety, beauty, and unforgettable memories in mind.
If you’re considering a sparkler send-off for your wedding at Celestial Farms, know that you’re in great hands. Our Celestial Farms team will guide you and your guests every step of the way, ensuring that your night ends in a blaze of glory—safely and beautifully. So let’s light up the night together and create moments you and your guests will cherish forever.
SPECIAL THANKS to:
Emily Ann Photography for going above and beyond to make this happen!
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