Photo by William Arthur Photography || Venue Mission Inn Resort and Club
If you’re planning your wedding here in Central Florida and brainstorming ideas for a unique addition to make your celebration memorable, look no further. What better way to end the night than with a literal bang in the form of your very own wedding fireworks show?
We reached out to two of our trusted local fireworks vendors to answer all your burning questions when it comes to incorporating a fireworks show into your wedding day.
We’ll fill you in on everything you need to know from the planning process and cost, to alternatives and customizations. We’ve even got you covered with a list of venues in Central Florida that allow wedding fireworks!
Planning for Wedding Fireworks
Normally we would advise a couple planning their wedding to do two things first: make the guest list and choose a venue. The caveat here is that not all venues allow fireworks. If you and your fiancé are considering a wedding fireworks show, you’ll need to decide before nailing down a venue.
Your next step is lining up a fireworks vendor that has availability on your wedding date. They will also need enough notice to complete all the planning steps and permitting on their end as well as accommodating any special requests.
Andy with Orlando Special Effects tells us, “Typically, 30 days is required to pull the permit; it can happen sooner, but it’s more expensive and challenging to pull off.” Don’t wait until the last minute to try and incorporate fireworks into your wedding day. The bottom line? You need to plan if you want wedding fireworks!
Speaking of planning, it goes without saying that we highly recommend hiring a wedding coordinator. If you have one, they will work with the fireworks company to build your wedding fireworks show into the timeline.
This is important because your guests will need to be in a place where they can adequately view the fireworks show. You may also need to work around any restrictions from the venue or city/county etc.
Jack with Imperial Pyro & Special Effects shares his expertise on how best to work a firework show into your wedding day schedule.
“Traditionally, it’s at the end of the reception; however, I would recommend mid-reception. This way, you have the majority of your guests still in attendance. You also don’t have to worry about time constraints or keeping the party going later and coming up against a noise ordinance that some cities, counties, and even the state can enforce as a rule of the permit.”
Cost of Wedding Fireworks in Central FL
The most common question couples have when considering wedding fireworks is how much they cost. There are several variables when it comes to cost. Jack with Imperial Pyro & Special Effects fills us in.
“A wedding fireworks show can cost anywhere from $850 to $1000+ per minute depending on duration and location of the venue/event and type of fireworks used. Prices can increase around busy seasons (July, December) as well.”
Keep in mind these are not the fireworks you get from the tent on the side of the road and you’re not setting them off yourself. Jack even confirms this, explaining, “those are a different ‘consumer grade’ than what a professional company has access to.” Translation: only licensed professionals have access to the real deal!
So, how long should the fireworks show last? Jack says, “around 5 to 7 minutes, but we will work with any duration and budget.” You’ve already got a lot to pack in on your wedding day, a fireworks show of this magnitude doesn’t need to be lengthy to be spectacular.
Imperial Pyro says that Close Proximity wedding fireworks are a great choice for venues with very little space and are better for shorter durations, 1 to 2 minutes at most.
Andy with Orlando Special Effects shares, “We offer 5-minute shows starting at $4,500. This cost includes qualified technicians, insurance, permitting, equipment, materials, and delivery, plus any required fire watch.”
Depending on your budget, you can spend more for customizations and add-ons, or spend less by going with an alternative to the full-scale firework show, which we will share below!
Customizations for Wedding Fireworks
There are a surprising number of ways to tailor fireworks to go with your wedding theme or color palette. We recommend looking into at least the basic customizations. Imagine your whole wedding aesthetic is greens and neutrals, you’re not going to splurge on wedding fireworks just to have them not match!
With enough notice, Imperial Pyro can get fireworks to match most wedding colors. Jack tells us they can also “program a Pyromusical to a song of the couple’s choice and work with their DJ or band to make sure it goes off perfectly timed to the music.”
Now not only do you have a fireworks show at your wedding but it’s also personalized and going off to music. Talk about a showstopper!
If your venue is waterfront you can look into having your wedding fireworks show take place on the water. Andy tells us, “Orlando Special Effects has custom barges specially designed to shoot fireworks from the water. We offer custom set pieces or ground displays that could be in the shape of a large heart or champagne glass.”
As expected, most customization options can get pricey, but the added impact is sure to blow your guests away (not literally of course).
Alternatives to Wedding Fireworks
Maybe you’ve already locked down your dream venue but they don’t allow the fireworks display you were hoping for. There are other options that some venues will allow even if they can’t host a full-scale wedding fireworks show.
If a full-scale fireworks show isn’t in the budget but you still want something extra to spark excitement on your wedding day these alternatives may also be a great option for you!
Cold spark machines are a popular alternative. They are only heated to roughly 62 degrees Fahrenheit and don’t burn, making them both flame-free and smoke-free. Other popular alternatives include sparklers and bubble exits.
And the options don’t end there! Andy says, “Orlando Special Effects offers custom flame and fire features, pool fire, and cool tiki torches that are a show of their own. Sparklers, confetti, streamers, rose petals, CO2, low-ground fog, and indoor fireworks.”
Imperial Pyro also offers a variety of alternatives. “We have sparklers and fountains, both big for a grand exit in a getaway car and small for champagne bottles and florals. If the venue allows we can also explore indoor fireworks options as seen in arenas and Broadway shows.
On our “Special Effects” side, we offer low-lying and normal fog/haze, confetti and streamers, cryo jets and cryo guns, colored smoke, bubbles, indoor and outdoor snow, and Cold Spark machines.”
Dreaming of a snowy wedding? You might be getting married in the Sunshine State but with these experts, even the Florida heat can’t stop the “snowfall” from happening on your wedding day!
Are Wedding Fireworks Safe?
Short answer: YES. Our experts share the nitty gritty to ease your mind surrounding any safety concerns you may have about wedding fireworks.
Andy with Orlando Special Effects explains, “prior to your wedding day, a sight inspection is carried out and confirmed. [Additionally], a fire marshal does their inspection making sure what we said on the permits is what we are doing. We bring extra fire extinguishers and ensure there are no combustible materials in the area.”
“The permitting process follows NFPA 1123 standards for shooting fireworks displays.” Andy himself is an alternate on this committee and has studied and reviewed the standard more in-depth than the inspectors covering his shows.
Here in Florida, the weather can be unpredictable. Imperial Pyro & Special Effects sheds some light on their weather-related safety protocol.
“We can do fireworks in light rain and make the proper provisions if rain is expected during the day or into the event. We cannot shoot if the wind is above 25mph or there is lightning within 5 miles of the venue site.
We, personally, have never canceled a show due to weather as we take every step to make sure that we can get the show in safely. Safety is always our number one priority.”
With all of these precautions and checkpoints in place, it’s safe to say the experts have you, your guests, and the surrounding area totally covered when it comes to your wedding fireworks show.
Should I Have Fireworks at My Wedding?
Fireworks are one of those things that naturally stop us in our tracks to stare in awe. Including wedding fireworks or any alternative is sure to add an element of excitement, uniqueness, and beauty to your big day.
Putting on a wedding fireworks show isn’t complicated as long as you have planned ahead. Once you book your venue and your fireworks company, they pretty much handle the big tasks from there. Add a wedding planner to the mix and you’re free to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
Wedding fireworks also provide unmatched photo and video backdrop opportunities. Your photographer and/or videographer can capture stunning moments during a wedding fireworks display.
You may use that moment to gather with loved ones in celebration, take a private moment as newlyweds to feel the impact of the day, snag a photo op, or some combination of those. Either way, it’s safe to say your wedding fireworks show is not a moment you will soon forget and certainly not something you will regret.
Which CFL Venues Allow Fireworks?
We reached out to our Central Florida Venues to find out what they allow in terms of fireworks and alternatives. Below you’ll find a breakdown of venues that allow fireworks, sparklers, and/or cold sparks. Always check directly with your venue to confirm, as sometimes policies change.
Venues That Allow Fireworks:
The Carriage House at Vedder Farms
Venues That Allow Sparklers:
The Barn at Deep Creek
The Carriage House at Vedder Farms
Venues That Allow Cold Sparks:
The Carriage House at Vedder Farms
D’Space Orlando
1908 Grand
Hangar 4 Venue
The Barn at Deep Creek
The Club Continental
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