Wedding sparklers can create magical moments and stunning photos, but they must be handled with care. The tips below will help you plan and enjoy your sparkler send-off safely.

• Decide how sparklers will be handed out so children are not left unsupervised.
• Consider guests’ hair and clothing—synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, or satin can melt if sparks land on them.
• If you’re creating a sparkler “tunnel” for the bride and groom to exit, make sure the lines are wide enough for safe passage.

• Do a trial run with your sparklers.
• Practice lighting them and test how long they burn.
• This way you’ll know exactly what to expect and avoid surprises during your celebration.

• Hold a flame to the tip for about 15 seconds to ignite.
• We recommend a long BBQ lighter or best of all, a butane or propane torch, which lights the sparklers faster.
• Always ignite one sparkler at a time.
• Start a few sparklers with the torch, then have guests light theirs from each other.
• For larger groups, see the diagram for a suggested method to quickly ignite all the sparklers.

• Assign someone to coordinate the timing, so all sparklers are lit at about the same time.
• Remind guests to hold sparklers away from their face, hair, and clothing.
• Keep plenty of space between rows of people for safe photo opportunities.
• Think about wind direction for safety and good photos.

• The metal wire remains hot after the sparkler burns out.
• Place buckets of water in convenient locations so guests can drop in used sparklers immediately.
• Five-gallon buckets work especially well for large groups.