Remember the old movies when a wedding’s grand exit involved tossing rice? With new safety and ecological concerns, this and other methods are slowly on their way out. Whether you’re concerned about safety, protecting the environment, or doing something more creative, you’ve got plenty of other options at your disposal. Take a look at some alternate ideas for your wedding send-off.

The Problems With Rice and Confetti

As Brides writer Heather Lee points out, rice and confetti are slowly being abandoned for wedding send-offs. While rice doesn’t actually harm wildlife, it can present safety problems with slipping and falling as its most common risks. Many types of confetti are not biodegradable, meaning that they can sit around for decades or even centuries. As a result, many venues are prohibiting both kinds of materials. Wedding Wire contributor Jamie Mackey also mentions that some locations don’t allow sparklers because of their potential fire hazards.

Bubbles, Balloons, and Beach Balls

With venues putting the kibosh on rice, confetti, and sparklers, couples are looking for other fun send-offs. Wedding Wire’s Annie Chertoff mentions bubbles as one delightful alternative, either with individual bottles with bubble wands or a bubble blowing machine. Equally Wed profiles a few other popular options, including balloons and beach balls. However, balloons aren’t biodegradable and could be mistaken for food by wild animals. Mini beach balls are easy to handle and work well in most outdoor spaces, but watch out for popping.

Pom-Poms and Party Favors

If you want to kick things up a notch, you may want to try a grand exit that doesn’t use disposable materials. Not only will it be kinder on the environment, but you can also up the fun factor and get some amazing photos out of the bargain. Some ideas mentioned by Chertoff include ringing bells, pom-poms, glow sticks, and ribbon wands. Equally Wed lists paper airplanes as another popular option. No matter which one you choose, be sure to have a cleanup plan ready.

Biodegradable Options To Consider

The eco-friendly exit toss is also gaining favor. It offers several advantages, including biodegradability and easier cleanup. Heather Lee, Annie Chertoff, and Equally Wed discuss a wide range of natural materials that may work well for your send-off:

• Fresh or dried herbs
• Dried lavender
• Leaves, either fresh or dried
• Flower petals

All these items will easily break down and rejoin the soil, but they’re also deliciously colorful and fragrant ways to pull off your exit. Locally gathered tree leaves can offer a beautiful touch, especially for an autumn wedding if you’re using fall leaves. Picking plants that fit your theme should be easy, with so many available options. If sustainability is one of your goals, try to select seasonal or locally sourced varieties.

Sky Lanterns: Beautiful, Festive, and Unique

Sky lanterns are also gaining popularity across the United States. Also called Kongming lanterns or wish lanterns, they originated in China as signaling devices but were eventually purposed for special effects at festivals. They’re usually crafted with large paper shells with stiff collars at the bottom and a carefully placed flame source inside. At weddings, couples typically ask their guests to sign their wish lantern before releasing it skyward.

Tips for a Great Wedding Send-Off

As with any other parts of your wedding festivities, your venue’s management should be included in the conversation. They’ll inform you about the feasibility of your send-off idea, plus the establishment’s policies and any assistance their staff may provide. It doesn’t hurt to check with state and local laws, either. For instance, some communities have banned sky lanterns to prevent fire hazards.

Rice and confetti are slowly being abandoned as ideas for wedding send-offs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t design a beautiful grand exit. You can find eco-friendly and fun alternatives with just a little creative thinking. Proper planning along with knowing applicable laws and venue policies will help you plan this memorable moment.