9Pm Send Off/ Grand Exit

Is there a reason why you can't get the shorter sparklers?? I've been to several weddings with a sparkler send-off, and the couple had the smaller 10" ones for us and it worked out perfectly!

Glow sticks are always a fun idea!! I'm big on things matching, so I'd want to have glow sticks that were white or amber colored instead of multi colored, but I've seen photos of glow stick send offs and they were cool looking!

I don't know how much bubbles or glow sticks cost, but getting enough for all of your guests probably won't be that much less than $120. If your budget is that tight, I would just forego buying extra things (which, in your words, are all for 3 minutes' use then end up in the trash).

I guess I would think about which part of the "grand exit" is important to you: if it's the photos, then you could just do it with a few people and a small amount of sparklers (much easier to coordinate anyway). If it's a whole-guest list send off you want, then just have people gather without any expensive props. They will still clap and cheer and be happy.

If that's your only concern, then I'd have everyone line up and have several lighters going down the line (one for each section: start, middle, end). I'd also have yourself and your spouse already lined up at the start of the sparkler tunnel while everyone lights their sparklers. That way you're already there at the beginning of lighting and timing won't be an issue!

You don't have to have everyone light there's WITH the lighter. Sparklers can be lit using someone else's, so that will also save time.

To add on to this the photos you get will likely only feature a handful of people so you really only need all of those sparklers lit at once. Also I've used giant sparklers before (like 2 feet long and at least 3x as thick as the standard sparkler) and they didn't actually last any longer than the small ones. I was also at a 200 guest wedding that did a sparkler send off with the standard ones and it went fine. Go with the regular ones!