Have you been wondering how you will exit your wedding? Will it be like the movies?
Movies love to make a huge scene about couple exiting their wedding, don’t they?
Can’t you just picture it? A bride and groom, rushing through a perfectly split crowd of their cheering friends and families, headed towards a beautifully decorated old vehicle. The crowd is always tossing something fun at the couple, like rice.
Yes, movies make it look really fun to have others toss rice at you.
Life, however, is not like the movies. Brides and grooms have the choice about how they want to exit their wedding, and it usually does not include items being thrown at them (for a variety of reasons!).
There really is something fun about planning a grand exit for the end of your wedding, and if you’re curious how you can actually officially end your evening, I’m happy to share my thoughts.
Let’s get into it!
How To Exit Your Wedding
A QUIET EXIT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT
I’ll start off by stating that you do not have to have a grand exit.
I didn’t. The music just kind of ended, and that was that. The guests that were leftover at the end of the night either left or helped us pack up our items, and then they went on their way from there. It was not a momentous occasion.
For the most part, at the weddings I have been to, the exit (or lack thereof) is not a big deal. The couple is tired, and organizing a crowd is difficult (especially when they have been drinking all night), and the night just kind of . . . ends. Depending on how long your wedding has been going on, you may not have that many guests still there at the end of the night, and it’s unlikely you’ll have your photographer still sticking around.
So, if you want to just have the music run out and the lights turn on at a certain time, plan on that, and keep it simple.
How To Make This Happen:
- Just let the night end
- Tell the band or DJ when to stop the music
RUNNING THROUGH A CROWD
So you really do want the photo-worthy moment of an exit?
One option is to have your remaining guests split into two sides, and do the aforementioned run down the middle while they hold sparklers, blow bubbles, or toss confetti into the air. Some venues will have restrictions about some of these items for safety and clean-up purposes, so please check with them on what’s allowed. Your venue may even give you some ideas you’d like to use.
This option does require some logistics and planning. You’ll need help coordinate guests, and you need a plan to distribute any materials they will use. The time of this exit is crucial, too, because you want to make sure most of your guests are still present, and also that it’s not too early in the reception.
For the most part, this may be a “fake” exit, where you don’t actually leave the venue right away, but if you plan on actually leaving for good, you’ll need a transportation plan for that as well.
How To Make This Happen:
- Decide on what the guests will hold/toss/use and then procure the amount needed
- Communicate plan with venue
- Coordinate with day of planner or someone who can help corral guests and let them know what to do and where to be
- Let your photographer know the “exit” time so they can capture the photos
- Decide if you will actually leave the venue at this moment, and plan for how you will transport
FUN SONG / DANCE
Why not have the last song of the night be a memorable one?
For example, I had actually planned for our last song to be “Bye Bye Bye” by N’Sync, but the band kept playing well beyond their anticipated end time and we ended up with “Purple Rain” by Prince as our last song, which was not that momentous.
To have a last song, all you really need is for the DJ, MC, or Band to announce that it’s the last song and to encourage anyone left at the wedding to join you on the dance floor. If you have a favorite song, or know what will really get your guests up and dancing, play that!
This is a super simple yet effective way to end the night on a high note, without a lot of coordination or planning.
How To Make This Happen:
- Decide on “last song”
- Communicate plan with the people in charge of playing music
GROUP CHEERS
How fun is a group toast?
In order to have everyone “cheers” you at the end of the night, have your MC coordinate. All you really need to do is have an announcement that it’s time for guests to send you off by raising a glass of whatever they are drinking and toast you and your new spouse at the end of the night.
This can be as subdued or as rowdy as your crowd calls for. People could be seated, up on the dance floor, or just standing around. The important part is to get the whole crowd to say something at once, and it’ll be a good time for all. Something like “Congrats!” or “We Love You” would be a cool note to end the night on. If the crowd isn’t loud enough at first, make them do it again. It’s sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.
How To Make This Happen:
- Decide on an appropriate end time for the evening
- Communicate plan with the people in charge of the microphones
CLOSING THOUGHTS
However you end the night, just enjoy yourself. Expect to be tired. Expect that your feet will hurt. Depending on how much energy you have at night, expect to be ready for bed. But also expect to feel great despite all of those things, and have fun with the last moments of your wedding, no matter how you exit it.
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
Choosing Your Wedding Party (What You Need To Know First!)
10 Things To Do The Night Before Your Wedding
Wedding Speeches (Who, When, & How)
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