Fake send off?

We aren't faking it. I think people would get confused and start to leave.

I was in a wedding where we did this, the pictures were pretty cool but honestly it was kind of a pain as a big group of us had to leave the dance floor to go outside to get the picture. I would weigh how important this kind of picture is to you and if it is worth interrupting what i am sure will be a fun reception!

No send off. Staying the whole time then cleaning up at the end (gifts, center pieces, etc.)

I don't really see the point.....

We were going to do this but I think instead we are just going to dance our way out lol

I'd say skip a fake send off...they're getting to be way too overdone.

Like someone else said, if you do this, be prepared for people to leave after. Not only because they think it's actually over, but because they know no other big things will happen so it's their chance to go without missing anything

We did not do a send-off- we didn't want to cut into our reception time! Also, our venue did not allow sparklers and if I did anything, that's what I would have wanted to do. I've actually only been to 1 wedding with a formal send-off (and we've been to at least a dozen).

Rachel hit it; weddings are not styled shoots. They are not photo opps. The best photographers capture the day without staging it, taking photos of what happens and, of course, family groups.

Think about all the wedding albums you looked at when you picked a photographer...They all looked...pretty...much....the....same. And thats why.

Thanks, that's sort of what i was thinking and you all confirmed it! thanks!

I was toying with this idea too. What I am doing instead is having the "send off" photos done as we walk back down the aisle as husband and wife. There's not confetti/glitter/petals/birdseed/sparklers allowed at our venue (boooo!) so we are going to do wedding wands which is basically ribbon on a stick. I'm hoping we get some good pictures out of it!

We are doing a send off, but we're actually leaving (so it isn't a fake send off). Our reception ends at 9, so we might meet a few people for an after party later.

That seems a little silly to me personally (though if it makes the couple happy that's the important thing). When I look at my photos I think about the memories of what was happening. Even when you consider the posed photos it's still gathering up the family and being happy to stand with all of them. To play act an exit I feel wouldn't be worth it because the photos wouldn't have a memory attached. It would feel fake.

We thought about this too, but ultimately decided to skip any kind of send off

Fake send offs = people leaving because they are already outside... at least I know that's what I do unless I'm extremely close to the bride and groom

We are doing an actual send off and then leaving. it will be at the end of the reception, so time for everyone to go anyway.

I never really understood how these work. All the weddings I go to the photographer and half the guests are gone by the end and the bride and groom are one of the last to leave.

We aren't. I thought it was kind of weird. The videographer will leave before the night is over and asked us to let him film us walking out together, but we will do this alone and quickly.