even if it rains, so you can check that
concern off your worry list. However,
consider you and your guests' vantage point
for the spectacle--will it be covered?
the display be anywhere from 3 minutes to
a maximum of about 7-10 minutes. Longer
isn't necessarily better. There is a lot going
on during your wedding festivities with
many highlights to be scheduled in a
relatively short period. Factor in your
guests' attention span when deciding on
length of the fireworks display.
LOCATION
wedding celebrations, be very venue-
conscious. You may want to set off
fireworks from a parking lot outside an
urban venue, but restrictions could apply.
Also consider whether guests might decide
to leave the reception right after the
fireworks finale, well before the end of your
reception, putting the rest of the evening in
jeopardy of fizzing out.
properties and rural settings can provide
the acreage needed for knock-your-socks-
off displays. The ability to obtain permits is
also a major factor; find out early if, and
how, they can be obtained; check with your
pyrotechnician, who will have experience
with this.
about ten times that amount for a dazzling
fireworks display. If your budget is unlimited,
there's no end to the spectacles that can light
up the sky--and the expressions on your
guests' faces--for your celebrations. For high-
budget displays, fireworks specialists will often
use visualization software to show you exactly
what your scripted display will look like.
of Pyroworld Canada notes that "every
venue can bring new challenges and
opportunities, so we are careful to be sure
we maximize the site for our client's
and layering the sky from top to bottom
with dramatic pyrotechnic scenes,
choreographed to music or with wedding
music or the couple's favourite music in the
background".
wedding fireworks experts may be fully-
booked early. Obtaining municipal permits
well in advance is essential. Lots of folks
think you can just set off fireworks from the
end of a dock in cottage country, but you
cannot." Based in the Muskokas, fireworks are
set off from Pyroworld's barge in Lake
Rosseau, Lake Joseph and Lake Muskoka.
sure your vision is achievable. "What can be
done on a massive stage is totally different
from pyrotechnics in a smaller space, like a
wedding reception venue," cautions Jim
Ward of Ward Pyrotechnics Inc. Ward
should know what he's talking about since
he has created indoor pyrotechnics for top
performers like Nickelback, Michael
Jackson and The Rolling Stones.
must. So are safety and security. Like
outdoor fireworks displays, indoor
pyrotechnics are very venue-specific. How
much smoke can you put into the
atmosphere of the room without setting off
a false fire alarm? How much space is
available between the nearest guest and the
pyrotechnics?"
such as the first dance or the entrance of
the bride and groom. Ward sometimes uses
about a dozen transformation gerbs that
burn, shooting coloured sparks for a
theatrical fountain effect for the entrance.
A layer of gold composition is packed on
top of a layer of silver. Electric matches set
off the effect that lasts for about 10 seconds
and can go up to 15 feet in the air.
entrance. They are coached to count off 5
seconds while the gold sparks erupt, giving
their photographer (who has been cued in
advance) time for all-important photo ops.
Then, as they step forward into the room,
the gerbs burn silver.
Queries
must-ask questions when making
your selection of a fireworks provider
for wedding celebrations. Be sure to
confirm every detail in the contract,
well in advance of the event.
fireworks display?
and meet with your wedding
co-ordinators there?
insurance do they carry and what
does it cover? Will they co-insure
your venue?
training and accreditation for
fireworks/pyrotechnics of all the
people who will be involved in
producing and setting off the
fireworks.
sets off fireworks can produce a
display that will wow couples
and their guests for weddings.