Helpful Articles from Professional Austin Fireworks Suppliers
Fireworks at your Wedding All Events General Party Tips
Ever since the Chinese invented gunpowder, people have used it to mark celebrations. Brought back to Italy by Marco Polo, fireworks and the techniques of making and operating them have been closely held secrets by the people who work with them. Once affordable only to royalty, fireworks have become prevalent at memorable events.
With so much at stake on a single day, the need to celebrate and entertain your guests, and give your wedding a grand finale, fireworks are becoming increasing popular at weddings. And no wonder, because nothing says "Celebration" as loudly and beautifully as fireworks. The Chinese also believe that the clamorous noise created by fireworks is helpful in warding off evil spirits, and so fireworks offer not only joy, but possibly protection.
And truly, who would not want to have fireworks at their wedding? But you should know a few things about fireworks before you have your brother in law shoot bottle rockets through your reception and set the place on fire...
A quality and safe pyrotechnic display is a service provided by a licensed and trained professional.
When you speak with pyrotechnic operators, there are several questions you should ask.
Find out if they are licensed, by whom, in what states.
Find out if they are insured, (to the tune of 1 to 5 million dollars)
Request copies of both the license and the insurance.
Ask for references.
Ask to have the venue for your wedding named as an "additional insured" on the pyro companies insurance. If they are legit, this will not be an issue. If your are unsure as to whether or not your venue permits fireworks, have the pyrotechnician call the venue for you... they know better how to allay the owners fears.
Think about at what point in your service or reception you'd like to have your fireworks. Waiting till the end is not always the best time - many guests, especially those with kids, slip quietly away earlier in the evening. Also, fireworks tend to put people in a great mood, so you may want to enjoy the mood during the party.
No one leaves before they get cake... so some people think that having the fireworks show after the cutting, but before the serving, of the cake is a fun idea. This also buys some time for the caterer to get the cake cut and served.
Obviously, to get the most benefit from fireworks, you'll want to wait until it's dark... but generally not too much later. If you can schedule them before 10pm, it will keep you clear of most noise restrictions. Your pyrotechnician will know the law, and your venue wants to be a good neighbor.
Think about the duration of your fireworks show. Generally, something around 8-10 minutes is plenty. You want the fireworks to punctuate and accentuate your wedding, not become the main event.
If you have the budget to customize the show, you can have the fireworks color-coordinated with your wedding colors.
It's generally not necessary to have a pre-site inspection by the pyrotechnician, but he or she might request access to your site in advance. You don't have to be present for that visit.
Designate someone in advance who will be your liason with the pyro crew chief at the wedding, to give the final "GO" to the pryo team. Have the pyro crew trade cell phone numbers with this person.
Remember that your pyrotechnician has as much as you do on the line... In addition to his reputation, he also has several licenses and very expensive insurance riding on the safe outcome of each and every event he schedules. Should conditions warrant, your fireworks provider may need to cancel or delay fireworks due to high winds or other hazardous conditions.
In the event the fireworks must be cancelled at the last minute, ask your special effects crew if they have substitute effects that they can use, such as confetti cannons or streamer cannons. Only you know that fireworks were on the menu, and your guests will still be delighted by your efforts.
With regard to cancellation policies, a fireworks show is akin to blowing out the candles on a homemade birthday cake... it's the final and most visible part of the work, but by means the bulk of the work. By the time a fireworks show is in place, your crew will have invested dozens of hours. They will have viewed satellite photos of the venue, selected, procured and delivered materials, spent countless hours on the phone with the local fire department securing permission and permits, notifying local 911 dispatchers, forming and filing safety plans for your event, and countless other "behind the scenes" efforts that have led to that moment. For this reason, refunds on these services rarely exceed 20%, because the work has already been done. In the event that you have to reschedule your wedding, most companies will charge only a modest fee to cover the filing of new permits and plans. These fees are typically around 15% of the cost of the show.
Setting up fireworks is a process that attracts curious people. Don't be offended if the pyro crew cordons off the area, and is strict about enforcing a safety perimeter. It is a matter of safety. If you are hiring security guards at your wedding, an pair of extra guards will help the pyro crew tremendously, by keeping people out of the firing zone so the pryo crew can stay focused on giving you an amazing show.
Your pyro team are professionals. They are the only member of your wedding team that must be federally, state and locally licensed to practice their craft. If you've done your homework and picked the right crew, you should have nothing to worry about.
The cost of a wedding fireworks show will typically run between $2500 and $7500, with an average show running around $4000. Your pyro company should give you honest advice about what to spend, based on the venue, the number of guests, and other factors that allow them to scale the show appropriately. There are often deadlines for filing permits, so the more notice you can give, the better.
Most people don't realize it, but you can have a fireworks show almost anywhere. Yes, even in the heart of downtown. It's simply a matter of a permit that your pyro crew will apply for on your behalf.
Armed with an appreciation of what goes into creating your fireworks show, you should expect the pryo crew to handle all of the details so you can focus on the fun parts of planning your wedding and enjoying your day.
Remember that your marriage is much like your fireworks: pay attention to all the little details, and the big ones will work themselves out; cut corners, and it'll blow up in your face. Best of luck on your special day!
About the author
Steve Wolf is a licensed pyrotechnician and special effects coordinator for movies, and is the owner of American Wedding Fireworks, a division of Special FX International. His company fires more wedding fireworks than any other company and his clients include the Governor of Texas, the Dallas Cowboys, the Austin Marathon, the R.O.T. Rally, The Ice Bats, The Spurs, Time Warner Cable, IBM, Intel, Fire Lake Event Center, the Rose Bowl and dozens of top tier corporate clients, as well as hundreds of private clients for special events.
Written by Special FX International of Austin, TX
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