Light Up The Night: Fireworks at Your Wedding or Party

Wedding Fireworks: What You Need to Know

If there’s one thing people will always say when planning their event, it’s that they want it to be truly unforgettable. For couples exploring ideas such as wedding fireworks or other ways to elevate the evening, our guidance on creating memorable wedding experiences may also be helpful. You can explore these ideas on our weddings page. Wedding fireworks have become immensely popular for creating a lasting impression.

One way to make a grand statement is to host your very own unique wedding fireworks display. We spoke with Sonning Fireworks about choosing a firework display to light up the night at your event.

Sonning Fireworks specialise in high end celebration and pyromusical fireworks displays. All Sonning Fireworks shows are fired electrically using their computer system. This gives a seamless and impressive show every time. They can also provide other options than a display, such as an exit route lined with fireworks fountains which fire as guests depart. Wedding fireworks are a fantastic addition to any celebration.

We spoke with Chris Clarke, Technical Director at Sonning Fireworks and gained some invaluable information about all things wedding fireworks.

Wedding Fireworks: Expert Advice from Sonning Fireworks

How long should a fireworks display be?

The rule of thumb is the shorter the show is for a given budget, the more impressive it is. This is because we use the same number of fireworks but fire more at once, giving a more impressive show. We recommend for celebration shows to keep them to 3-5 minutes for the lower budgets. The aim for a fireworks display is for it to be impressive. Having a long drawn-out show will not be impressive. We can adjust the length of the show. Also, the size, quality and number of fireworks as you wish to suit your event.

How do you know how many fireworks to use?

Experience. We have been firing fireworks displays for over 20 years. We know what works. There are so many variables to consider when designing a show. For example, the size, quality and number of fireworks firing at once. We try to use the firing location as much as possible. So, if it is wide, we use the width. If there are trees, we design the show around those to enhance the wedding fireworks display.

Safety, Locations and Legal Considerations

Are there any restrictions on where you can hold a fireworks display?

We need a minimum of 60m to any people, cars, buildings, rivers or roads. Apart from that we can fire in most locations.

Are there any standard rules or regulations which must be followed when having fireworks at your event?

Fireworks displays (except on certain exception nights like New Year’s Eve) have to be finished by 11pm. Apart from that, we will deal with all the legalities of firing the show.

Do you provide staff at the event?

We bring enough crew to ensure the safe firing of the show. However, for larger events, it is the client’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the audience from a crowd management point of view.

What are the most popular fireworks you provide?

I cannot say there are any particular fireworks which are most popular. Our creativity and show design is what people keep coming back to us for. Until you have seen the fireworks dance to the music with a custom soundtrack, you will not truly understand how amazing fireworks displays can be, especially when it comes to wedding fireworks.

Budgets, Music and Display Options

What type of budget would you be looking at?

The sky is the limit. We have fired shows for the UK’s richest for £15–45k. However, we fire a number of traditional shows from £595 and pyromusical shows from £1500. Our minimum price is based on you getting a quality show you will not be disappointed with. The expenditure is purely down to how much impression you wish to make. The best thing is to speak to us, and we can advise on how best to incorporate wedding fireworks into your budget.

Can you explain what a pyromusical is?

A pyromusical show is one which is perfectly synchronised to the music. This is something we have pioneered over the 20 years the company has been in operation and it is an area in which we have won awards. We can expertly edit the music to suit the event and the fireworks, pinpointing the exact moments we want each effect to fire. High quality PA systems ensure the sound is as clear and powerful as it needs to be, keeping everything perfectly aligned on the night.

Sparklers, Weather and Practical Considerations

We have all seen images of people spelling out words or drawing hearts in the air with sparklers, making a great photo opportunity. Do you recommend sparklers, and if so are there different styles?

Sparklers can make for a great photo opportunity, but make sure you get ones that last long enough. There is nothing worse than them all running out before the photographer gets his first shot. They can add a charming touch to the wedding fireworks atmosphere.

Also, buy one of those chefs or plumbers blow torches. You can light multiple sparklers at once. It speeds up the process no end.

As usual you will need to ensure children are supervised, sparklers can be incredibly hot even when they have stopped functioning.

What types of weather would prevent a firework display from going ahead?

We can fire in most weather conditions. We are used to firing in the worst weather that the UK has to offer. However, a strong wind directly towards the crowd will stop us firing. If we think this might be the case, we will assess alternative firing locations during the risk assessment of the site. It is often better to move the audience around to another location rather than cancelling the show.

Anything else important to consider?

Fireworks displays are not priced per minute as such. If you are trying to compare multiple companies, do not get fooled into thinking one company offering a £1,000 show for ten minutes is offering better value for money than a company offering a £1,000 show for five minutes. The aim is to provide the most impressive show. Spreading the fireworks out over a longer period of time is not the way to do this.

While they are sure to make your big day go off with a bang, always make sure to do your research when selecting a company to assist with wedding fireworks for your event. If you have any questions for us, we are always on hand and happy to help.

For more information about Sonning Fireworks, check out their website here.