Grand Exit to get rid of?

Many weddings do not have a grand exit. I would not do it just as a photo op because you will confuse guests who think the reception is over if you do it earlier. Can you have it at the actual end of the party with someone filming on a GoPro rather than your professional vendors? If not, then skip it.

I'm not a fan of faux exits. Like you planner said, I'd be super confused and think it's time to leave. I plan to do a sparkler exit with my mom taking pictures only because we plan to rent a nice luxury car as our getaway car and want that moment captured. But if you're just getting on the bus with your guests, I don't think an exit is needed or would be missed. If you do really want to have it, I'd just ask someone if they can be the designated photographer for the exit, even if it's just with an iphone.

View Quoted Comment I wasn’t aware people didn’t have grand exits that’s very helpful thank you!! I definitely think I’ll skip it. It would just be for show so I’m not too worried about it, but every vendor has asked what time our grand exit was so I just assumed we needed one. I’ve never even stayed for a grand exit at any wedding I went to 🤷🏽‍♀️

I've only ever been to one wedding with this, and the couple left pretty early for the airport (but we all stayed and partied tbh). I'd skip it if you want to stay

I've actually never even been to a wedding with a grand exit, faux or otherwise. The couple usually stays until the very end and then, most times, there's some sort of after party celebration that's more casual.

Forget the grand exit, if you do not need to leave before guests. It is really rude to interrupt people's evening for 20 to 30 minutes for a photo op about leaving, then not leave. This is a TV reality show thing that needs to die. Save grand exits for folks who really must leave to catch a plane or cruise departure. Since you are going on a shuttle to the hotel, if you will use them again or give them as gifts, consider purchasing fluorescent bulb camping lanterns ( lightbulb versions of Coleman's, very bright. ). And taping colored cellophane over the plexi, so the light is colored. And setting them out, or having them held up, in the area of your shuttlebus in the 10 minutes of boarding. Turn the lights to half power on the bus. Ask a couple of people to take pics. This does not take any photographers' skill. Or get everyone a colored light want, instead of a sparkler.
But no posed photo op. Do it when normally exiting the reception. And entering the hotel.

We’re doing our sparkler “exit” at 9:25 right before the photographers leave and then taking the next 30 minutes to say goodbye to everyone and let people trickle out before the true end of the night at 10.