Alternatives to rice or bubbles upon church exit?

her_royal_flyness

Does anyone have any creative alternatives to guests throwing rice (not allowed in my town because birds eat it and die) or blowing bubbles (I'm afraid it may stain my dress) upon our exit from the church?  I am looking for something that hopefully won't require too much clean-up, if any.  Our ceremony will be done at 4:00, so sparklers wouldn't really work. 

Thanks!!

trix1223

Bubbles will not stain your dress.  My most awesome dry cleaner (simply the best ever!) bought bubbles for her DD's wedding.  If it's safe enough for the person who deals with stains every day.....

Anyway, if you don't want bubbles, have your guests simply clap and cheer.  Simple, free, eco-friendly, and not lame.

megoguen

At the beginning of planning, I saw a picture that all the guests had hankerchiefs and they cirlced them in the air afterwards. You could do in the wedding colors, leave on the seats. I would imagine the pictures would be quite colorful of the guests twirling them in the air as you walk back after being pronounced. I thought it was cute! Then they can keep them for more tears at the reception.

harmrose02

Rose petals!! Ask your florist about them! If you use real rose petals, then no cleanup is necessary...and they look beautiful in pictures

Good luck!

trix1223

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_alternatives-rice-bubbles-upon-church-exit?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:4e121d8d-a135-41a1-b6b9-aa93a9a0090dPost:133332ff-fdac-4fd1-93cb-c5426d093e32">Re: Alternatives to rice or bubbles upon church exit?</a>:
[QUOTE]Rose petals!! Ask your florist about them! If you use real rose petals, then no cleanup is necessary...and they look beautiful in pictures :) Good luck!
Posted by harmrose02[/QUOTE]


Well, yes they do.  Our church doesn't allow rose petal~real or otherwise.  They still have to be cleaned up, or at least swept up by someone for worship the next day.

trix1223

Balloon releases have been frowned on for years because of ecological concerns.

Amber598

I have also seen a pretty idea where you attach ribbons to a dowell rod and the guests wave them back and forth for your farewell.  I'm sure that would make for pretty pictures.  And you can DIY, just search for Wedding Ribbon Wands.

sbily2010

bird seed. i can't really see anyone having an issue with feeding the wild life.

harmrose02

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_alternatives-rice-bubbles-upon-church-exit?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:4e121d8d-a135-41a1-b6b9-aa93a9a0090dPost:b3a5deb5-d801-4fa2-bd08-91c696de4e23">Re: Alternatives to rice or bubbles upon church exit?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Alternatives to rice or bubbles upon church exit? : Well, yes they do.  Our church doesn't allow rose petal~real or otherwise.  They still have to be cleaned up, or at least swept up by someone for worship the next day.
Posted by trix1223[/QUOTE]

OP may want to check on that, b/c this was the only option for the one Catholic church in my area. Nothing else was allowed to be thrown, but since they were real flower petals, they would either blow away or be mulched up when the grass was mowed.

LalaLondon

If you can use flower petals, check out or google "dried wedding flower confetti".  It looks very pretty as it is thrown/flutters down and it comes in lots of colors.

trix1223

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_alternatives-rice-bubbles-upon-church-exit?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:4e121d8d-a135-41a1-b6b9-aa93a9a0090dPost:6b0e4a1f-ce61-4cff-8a16-9aa91b5079d1">Re: Alternatives to rice or bubbles upon church exit?</a>:
[QUOTE]bird seed. i can't really see anyone having an issue with feeding the wild life.
Posted by sbily2010[/QUOTE]

I hate to be the constant "shooter down of ideas" but bird seed is not a great idea for a variety of reasons.  If you have your hair done, the bird seed will stick to the hair spray in your hair.  It will go down the front of your dress.  Nothing like picking bird seed out of your hair and bra all night.

 And yes, again:  it is a slipping hazard.  And many places would prefer NOT to have flocks of birds and their accompanying poop all over their sidewalks.

beckydavis

Plus birdseed HURTS! 

I had guests who, after drinking at the reception, thought it would be funny to get huge handfuls and pelt us as hard as they could with it.  It got stuck in my eyes, my hair and ALL IN MY DRESS.  I scattered birdseed all through the hotel that night to our room. I wasn't happy.  I wouldn't recommend birdseed based on my experience.

I would vote to go with the bubbles or nothing at all.

AutumnEnchantment

I second the notion of good old fashioned clapping and cheering

ash4020

I just wanted to add... rice doesn't kill birds. That's complete myth. Birds eat rice out of the fields and at the mills all the time. They don't explode. We're doing rice at our ceremony because my fiance' works in the rice industry.