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Fireworks
Having fireworks during the evening is becoming increasingly popular at wedding receptions. Whilst they can be expensive if you have a professional firework display, you will be able to find cheaper alternatives no matter how small your budget.
Professional firework displays generally last between 5-10 minutes
Before deciding whether to have fireworks, the first step should be to check with the wedding venue as to whether fireworks are allowed. There could be restrictions if there are residents nearby or animals living in the surrounding habitat.
Whether you have fireworks may also depend on the time of year. By law, a professional display has to end by 11pm. The exceptions are 1am for New Year, Chinese New Year and Divali and midnight on 5th November (Bonfire night). If you don’t want to disrupt the evening’s dancing, the ideal time to have a display would be just before the dancing starts. If your wedding is in the summer, you may find that it’s too light when you would like to have your display.
Professional firework displays
Professional firework displays generally last between 5-10 minutes and typically cost between £500-£1,000. A big chunk of this relates to the set up and planning costs involved. The cost of your display should include:
- All fireworks & equipment
- Show design
- Full liaison with the venue so you don’t have to get involved
- Site visit & risk assessment
- A pyrotechnics crew to fire the display
- Travel to the venue
- Crew expenses
- Full Insurance (minimum of £5m public liability insurance)
- Full site clear up after the show including disposal of fireworks
Finding a professional firework supplier (pyrotechnic)
If the wedding venue allows fireworks, they may well be able to recommend some firework providers. Alternatively, you may have seen a firework display at another wedding that you liked – in which case, you should be able to get their details easily enough. One advantage is that most firework suppliers will cover the entire country – some at no additional cost.
Before booking, always check what is included in the price and ensure that they are members of the British Pyrotechnics Association.
Cheaper alternatives
Do-it-yourself firework display
Buying some fireworks and asking a friend to set them up for you can save you a lot of money. The set up doesn’t need to be very complicated – in fact some firework suppliers such as Galaxy Fireworks offer a single fuse box of fireworks for as little as £75.
Sky lanterns
Sky Lanterns are small non-flammable hot air balloons which fly into the sky for approximately 5 minutes – flying to over 1000 ft, at which point they will have travelled several miles and be barely visible to your guests. Sky Lanterns originate from China and provide a romantic option as they fly gracefully through the night’s sky.
They are easy to light although they need three people to launch them– two people to hold the lantern and a third person to light them. Once lit, they start to fly after approximately 30 seconds.
The great advantage is that they are safe for the environment – they fall to the ground slowly when the flame goes out and are bio-degradable. They are also a very cheap option – costing approximately £25 for 10 lanterns!
You can buy sky lanterns from Party Delights.
nofreetime tip
- Lanterns should not be lit if the wind speed is greater than 5 mph or the venue is close to main road or aircraft runway.
- Fireworks and Lanterns should not be lit by anyone who has been drinking!