Wedding planning AND trying to be eco-friendly while you do?! Girl you are out here doing the most and we absolutely love to see it (and let me tell ya in case no one else has today- you are absolutely crushing the wedding planning, your wedding is going to be so beautiful I promise)! 

But let’s be real, even with all the eco-friendly options coming up on the market, it can be so hard to find an idea or product that works for your specific wedding needs. And when you add venue rules and restrictions to the occasion, that just adds a whole new layer of challenges to the equation. It can be so hard to balance aesthetics with staying environmentally conscious- especially when it comes to your wedding exit photos (aka how your wedding day will end, the last thing your guests will see when they leave for the night, and the finishing images in your wedding gallery). 

And you may even be thinking, why is it important that we use eco-friendly options? Weddings that give no thought to the environment happen all the time. Why is this something I need to keep in mind? 

According to Google, a 200 person wedding with travel can emit over 40 tons of carbon emissions, that’s basically the same emission levels as driving a car for 100,000 miles. And while only changing your wedding exit to be more sustainable may not drastically reduce the impact your wedding is having, it will absolutely make a difference. If we all change a little bit about our weddings to be more eco-friendly, that would be way better than just one person having a completely sustainable wedding. A little bit is better than nothing, and if we all make the change it won’t just be a little any more. We don’t all need to do everything, but we can all do something. 

Luckily for you, I have seen it all and been a part of A LOT of weddings (like A LOT). Both in Colorado and California, so I have seen a lot of different ideas for couples exit photos. Listed below are some of the best and most eco-friendly options I have seen past couples use for their wedding exits that look beautiful in photos and videos, are fun in the moment for you and your guests, and are environmentally conscious. No matter what the vibe of your wedding is, or how you want your exit to look and feel like, there is definitely an option for you that is pretty and will not cause any unnecessary harm to the environment and surrounding wildlife.  

Option 1- streamers 

Specifically those with handles or poppers for easy clean up! This is perfect for adding an extra little flair to your wedding images, and super fun to walk through. And, unlike sparklers, you won’t have to worry about guests accidentally lighting you on fire. (I’ve never seen it happen thankfully, but I’ve heard horror stories. Plus drinking and sparklers don’t really mix well in general!) Streamers also tend to stay in the air for a long time once thrown, so you don’t have to rush through them. You can take your time, have fun, and know that every image from it will be absolutely perfect. This option is perfect if you are looking for a subtle way to add a little extra fun and celebration into your gallery. 

Option 2- ribbons 

Same idea as streamers, but with a more whimsical romantic vibe! These are also so so easy to customize with your wedding theme and colors. For example, a whimsical garden party style wedding might use pink ribbons, green ribbons, and lace. You can also DIY these if you’re crafty by hot gluing your ribbons of choice to a stick and handing those out to guests (all of these things are easy to pick up at a store like Micheals). But don’t worry if you’ve got a lot on your plate right now and are not looking for a wedding DIY, there are lots of sellers on etsy who would love to help you bring your vision to life. Another bonus for these is that they are perfect for keeping children entertained after the exit is over, and make for the perfect keepsakes for your guests to take home with them after the wedding is over. 

Option 3- biodegradable confetti 

This is really easy to find online (but be sure to look at the materials to ensure that it is actually biodegradable, we don’t want any greenwashing at your wedding) and perfect for outdoor weddings with tighter exit restrictions. It is typically made with natural materials such as plant materials like leaves or flowers, or a plant based substance like cornstarch. Some options are even water soluble- meaning that it will dissolve in water for easy clean up, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks depending on the weather conditions. Biodegradable confetti comes in many different styles, colors, and sizes- so there is definitely an option for every wedding theme. The best place to look for this is either Etsy or Amazon, but there are also lots of other reputable online sellers as well!

Option 4- flower petals 

One of my favorite options, and most natural, is by using flower petals. Many venues, especially outdoors ones, may not allow them if the flowers used aren’t natural to the area- so that is definitely something to keep in mind! But overall this is a very whimsical, romantic, and colorful way to end your evening reception celebration, or even to have thrown down the aisle after your ceremony exit! To ensure that they match your wedding colors you can ask your florist for extra petals that match the flowers being used for your wedding! Or if that isn’t an option, Etsy is a great place to look, as well as Trader Joes for whole stems that you will need to take the petals off yourself. If you are sourcing the petals yourself though, don’t forget not to de-stem them too early and keep them in the fridge, so they stay looking fresh and beautiful when it is time to put them to use. And it is always better to have more petals than you think you’ll need, after all, the more used the more visible they will be in the photos and videos after 

Option 5- bubbles

The final option that I have seen a lot, especially with summer weddings, is by handing out bubbles for your guests to blow as you exit your reception. Using bubbles also always looks amazing on camera (especially when using flash) and in the photos afterwards. This is a super fun option for the youthful carefree couple. Bubbles also make for amazing favors for your guests to take home after, and there is minimal clean up involved which is always a plus. Your guests will love this fun take on a wedding exit. It is such a unique idea, and can be used in so many different wedding themes for a touch of nostalgia. 

I hope these ideas inspire you and give you some ideas on how to make your exit photos (and wedding overall!) a little more eco-friendly. Your wedding day does not have to be wasteful or harmful to the environment to still be beautiful, on trend, and memorable to you and those invited. Just a friendly reminder to always always always check with your venue coordinator for any venue restrictions on what couples can use for exit photos, and what the clean up policy is! Many outdoor venues have tighter restrictions on what couples can or can not bring in order to protect the grounds and surrounding wildlife. Or they may have additional clean up fees for things like confetti or flower petals. Your venue coordinator may even have some more ideas not listed here that they have seen past couples do, and would be perfect for your own wedding. 

And if you are reading this and thinking, oh whoops I don’t even have my photographer yet- fret not because I still have a few dates available for this year in both Colorado and California, or anywhere in the United States! Click HERE to inquire and see how I can help you have the wedding photos of your dreams.