Amazing Confetti Pictures
Confetti photos are one of those wedding moments that looks deceptively simple and is actually quite easy to get wrong.
Too little confetti and it looks sparse. Guests throw it directly at your face. You both look down. Someone blinks. It’s over in three seconds and nobody got the shot.
I’ve photographed a lot of confetti moments now – here’s exactly how I make sure yours looks as good as it felt.
So, confetti throwing is still a thing?
Yup! Over the years the traditional reasons may have dwindled but it’s still very much a celebratory staple at most weddings across the UK. Confetti throwing is actually one of the things you’ll find in both traditional weddings and alternative weddings. So, no matter what vibe your wedding day is going to be, confetti is something you’ll likely want to keep.
Tip 1: The tunnel
The best confetti photos happen when guests form a tunnel for you to walk through rather than a loose crowd throwing from all directions. It concentrates the confetti, creates a natural frame in the photo, and gives everyone a clear role so nobody’s just standing there holding a handful wondering what to do.
Here’s how it actually works on the day:
As you exit the ceremony, I’ll ask you to take a little wander to one side while I organise your guests – usually with the help of your wedding party to dish out the confetti. Once everyone’s in position and I’ve checked my settings and given guests a quick briefing, I’ll come and get you, position you at the start of the tunnel, and shout GO.
Simple. Takes about five minutes from start to finish.
Tip 2: How to walk through it
This sounds obvious but it isn’t – because the natural instinct when someone throws something at your face is to look down and flinch.
Fight it.
Hold hands. Look at each other. Look at your guests. Smile, laugh, react: do anything except look at the floor. The confetti will end up in your hair and on your shoulders regardless. The photos where couples are genuinely in the moment, looking up and laughing, are always the ones that look incredible.
I brief guests to throw high from above rather than directly at eye level. Most people listen. Some do not. This is the risk you take.
Tip 3: Buy more confetti than you think you need
Seriously. When you think you have enough, buy another bag. The more confetti in the air the better the photos – it’s just physics.
Most venues require biodegradable confetti now- dried flower petals are the most common and they photograph beautifully. Shropshire Petals is a brilliant local supplier and they have a confetti calculator on their website which is useful.
Either put it in a basket for guests to grab handfuls from, or package into small paper cones to hand out as guests leave the ceremony. Both work well.
Alternatives to traditional confetti
Not everyone goes the dried petal route – and some of my favourite confetti moments have been completely unexpected.
Fern & Ollie mixed traditional confetti with small inflatable balls for their beach wedding – chaotic and brilliant.
Sarah & Alex chose confetti cannons – fired simultaneously so they were surrounded by a cloud of it all at once rather than walking through a tunnel. Different feel entirely, and it worked perfectly for them.
Becca + Josh used dried petals that Becca had saved from every bouquet Josh had given her throughout their relationship. One of the most genuinely touching details I’ve ever photographed.
When to do it
Immediately after the ceremony is almost always the best time – everyone is together, the just-married energy is at its peak, and it flows naturally into your drinks reception. If you leave it until later in the day, guests disperse and the moment gets harder to organise.
→ Why time matters so much on your wedding day
→ Do you need group photos at your wedding?
Planning your wedding day photography?
I’d love to hear what you’re planning. Check my availability here or read more about how I work.
Big love, Laura x
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