alternative exit ideas

many ceremony sites ban the usage of rice, rose petals, birdseed, confetti, etc. for many reasons – mostly clean up and the slipping-factor. (no rice does not blow birds up! it’s an urban myth!) while bubbles are very popular, the wind can be a factor of how many bubbles get flying at you…. and those little plastic thingies you guests have to blow into don’t always work well even when the wind is right. (hint: if you do decide to use bubbles, get a bubble machine!) another problem you might run into is your ceremony/reception exit might be INDOORS… there’s definitely no throwing confetti or bubble blowing inside… 

so what to do?

i love the bells idea… cue: mini DIY

this weekend, bff codi and i started to work on her wedding decor. the first quick and easy thing we did was her ceremony exit bells:

144 bells are $14.97 at pat catans

we used 1/4″ ribbon  in the wedding colors: green and black with white polka dot.

we cut 6″ strips, threaded and tied. (hint: you get 6 bells per yard when you go to buy your ribbon.)

voila!

these will be passed to guests as the exit the ceremony so they can ring them when the new mr. and mrs. emerge from the church. the bells can also be passed at receptions for guests to ring (in lieu of clinking glasses, clapping, etc.)

i also LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of waving flags as just seen on vintage glam weddings blog

only $5.99 per dozen at oriental trading.

atlanta bride posted these cute “hooray!” flags  a few weeks ago. how cute are these? you can buy them on etsy.

if you’re not all about words on a flag, what about ribbon wands?

picture as seen on wedding bee by the wiebners
here’s a quick DIY for these ribbon wands from classic bride: 

or you could buy them – custom with your wedding date, even – from my wedding favors – 50 for $56.

did you really want to do sparklers but they’re banned… or you’re indoors??? how about fiber optic wands? 

here’s the more wand-like kind… and here’s the kind with plastic strands like you might have got as a child while at disney world… remember the fun color swirlies you could get when you swung them around (gently!) in circles? 

how fun would that look in pictures as your rush out of your reception site into your getaway car?

what do you plan to have your guests do as you enter/exit your ceremony or reception?