Confetti!!!

How to get your perfect confetti moment!

If, like me, are a big fan of confetti shots and you want to know how to get the best confetti moment – and the best photos of that moment – this blog post is for you.

Historically, throwing confetti at the couple symbolised showering them with good luck, prosperity and fertility. Nowadays, it’s one of my favourite wedding traditions because it just makes for gorgeous, fun and colourful wedding photos – usually with some interesting facial expressions!

My number one rule when it comes to confetti is – you can never have too much! If you really want to make an impact with your confetti, don’t go for one helping between two people, or tiny paper cones or packets. Get a big basket and fill it enough so that every guest can grab a big handful! Read on for all of my confetti hints and tips.

Paper vs Petals

The first thing you need to do is check what your wedding venue allows – this could potentially take all of the decision making out of your hands. Assuming you have freedom to have any confetti you like – here is what I recommend…

Paper Confetti!! (Biodegradable, of course) What I love about paper confetti is-

• It’s lightweight so it floats in the air longer and makes more of an impact
• You can get it in any colours you like! Personally, I love bright colours like Beckie + Fab had above
• You can add cannons for an even bigger impact, this is really useful for small weddings, or for a second confetti shot with your best people later
• Biodegradable paper confetti is readily available and doesn’t have the environmental impact of non-biodegradable options
• It’s usually the cheaper option

If paper confetti isn’t yours or your venue’s thing, then of course there are…

Petals! If you want a much more natural looking confetti then petals or herbs are a lovely option. A few things to note-

• Petals are heavier than paper so they fall to the ground much quicker, for this reason I would recommend getting LOTS of it
• Which can be expensive. Some couples rope in their friends and family to start drying petals and bulking up the stash, start early and build it over time.
• Dried petals can end up a bit small, go for bigger ones if you can.

So why not bags or cones?

I have several reasons for saying not to go for individual bags or cones, but first of all let me preface this section by saying it is ENTIRELY your choice. I know that bags and cones can be pretty, and look nice in photos, but my personal preference is always to go for baskets full of the stuff.

First of all – the expense and unnecessary waste. Especially if the bags aren’t recyclable.

Secondly – they are always far too small! Never enough confetti in those little bags, and people struggle to get it all out.

Third – I always tell people to empty the confetti into their hands before throwing anyway, so you can cut out the middle step. From experience, it is so hard to get confetti over the couple straight from a bag, cones are a bit better – although you’re quite likely to just get them tipped over your head!

If you have baskets, your best people/nominated helpers can go around making sure all your guests grab a decent handful, ready to throw your way!

Aisle vs Confetti Walk

Some people choose to combine their confetti moment with walking back up the aisle, in fact there is at least one South Wales venue I know of that insists on it. This isn’t my fave. The biggest problem with this is that the only confetti that really hits the couple is from the people sitting closest to the aisle, the rest just falls on the other guests! This is still fun, and a great option if you just want confetti for fun/tradition rather than getting *that* impactful confetti shot (Cara + Kate, above, did both!), but the separate confetti walk is where we have a bit more control over maximising the amount of confetti that showers you.

What if it rains?

If it rains there are options! Don’t think you can’t still have confetti and it will all go to waste.

• You can still have it as you are walking back up the aisle, you can give extra helpings to the people on the end seats so that more lands on you
• Can your venue give you a space to do it inside?
• Some couples opt to carry on and have confetti in the rain, which is fine by me but guests aren’t always keen! There could potentially be a risk of brightly coloured confetti running onto clothing too.
• My FAVE rainy day option (in fact I’ve done it on sunny days too!) is to save it for the first dance! It’s a moment where everyone is naturally gathered, and it takes a bit of pressure off your actual dancing too! Your best people can help spread the word about what point to throw, and it looks great!

The Perfect Confetti Walk

There are a couple of ways to get the perfect confetti shot, depending on how many guests you have. Either way, straight after your ceremony I will tell you to go and hide for a few minutes while I/your co-ordinator start showing your guests where to go. This gives you a few moments, just the two of you, and there aren’t many of those on the day so make the most of it! Ensure you have your best people prepped to hand out confetti at this point.

If you have a small wedding with less than 20-30 guests, it’s quite nice if you turn this into a group photo. We can arrange everyone into a semi circle and get you in the middle, I’ll take a before shot and then give everyone the cue to throw at once, which will look amazing!

For bigger weddings I usually try and split the aisle walk into two halves. I’ll stop around a third of the way down and ask that no one throws until my cue. I’ll pick out some strategically positioned guests and give them extra confetti, then I’ll tell you to stop in front of them and either kiss, pop your bouquet in the air, or even have a little dance, this is when I get everyone standing in front of me to throw at once! Here you get an epic confetti moment, full of impact.

I’ll then run backwards and let you finish the walk while everyone throws confetti at you – this is where we get the fun facial expressions! Try not to close your eyes or look down – it’s a challenge!

Recommended Confetti Suppliers

Paper Confetti-

• Your Confetti – Get in touch for my exclusive 15% discount code
• Flutter Darlings

Petals-

• I recommend asking your florist first
• Shropshire Confetti Co

What do we do with leftover confetti?

If you have confetti left over after your confetti walk, don’t worry! Worst case scenario you could give it to a friend to help bulk up their confetti stash, but there are plenty of ways you can use it in your day.

• Do another, smaller, confetti throw with your best people for a fun group photo
• Save it for the first dance!
• Have a confetti entrance to your wedding breakfast
• Kids at the wedding? Let them have it!

Cardiff Wedding Photographer | South Wales Wedding Photographer