This one was a while in the making. We’d shot dozens of times with Sparklers and then our insurers said we couldn’t arrange or direct that situation and stay insured. That warning led us to looking into the incidents around sparkler use at weddings to find, simply, there was a string of horror stories. A Bride losing an eye or a veil catching fire is the kind of thing that made us want to find an alternative to wedding sparklers, and quickly.

Just to fill in a historic gap here. We’d shot around 350 weddings at the point our decision was made to stop using sparklers. We’d managed safely and successfully around 70-ish sparkler shots. We took great pride in doing this efficiently and safely. We wrote a blog on it to encourage best practices and it ranked No.1 on Google for several years. But balancing that success against other folks feedback about injuries sustained at weddings from sparklers stacked quickly in favour of ditching sparklers completely.

No photo is worth the risk of someone being hurt on our watch.

So what’s the safe alternative to wedding sparklers?

So, from June ’25 we set about finding an alternative that was practical and safe and looked good whilst being fun at a wedding. We think we have it. Best to start with some photos probably.

The safe alternative is using mobile phones torches. It’s something we’d thought about a while back at a stadium concert. Modern mobile ‘phone torches have long since replaced cigarette lighters as the crowd’s favourite lighting source! The thing is that modern ‘phone have a brilliant torch, and a heap of them together throw off a lot of light.

That combination, safe, simple, and already in everyone’s pocket, made them the obvious alternative to wedding sparklers.

How to set up a mobile ‘phone alternative to wedding sparklers.

We’re still finding our way with this but there are a few variables to consider. There might be additions to the list as we develop the idea.

• 1. Is there ambient light available and is it pretty?
• 2. Is your camera equipped with a fast lens and good ISO capability?
• 3. Have you got space to include everyone?
• Are there other factors in the shot such as bubbles or confetti to include?

Ambient light can be really helpful. First, it makes it easier for everyone to move safely into position. It’s worth remembering that by this point in the evening the celebrations (and the drinks) have usually been flowing for a while. It can also help your camera lock focus on the couple and may act as a nice backlight for the scene. If you’re lucky, you might have festoon lights, building lights, or other background sources that add atmosphere and create some lovely bokeh.

You’ll want capable equipment for this. That probably goes without saying, as wedding photography generally requires professional-level gear anyway. A fast lens and good high-ISO performance make a big difference here. You might get away with lesser kit, but if the images are printed large or cropped heavily, the limitations will show pretty quickly.

You’ll need enough room to arrange a fairly large group of people with space down the middle for the couple to move through. In that sense it’s not very different from organising a traditional sparkler exit, just the usual bit of wedding admin.

At one wedding we had a bit of confetti thrown into the mix, which added some nice movement to the frame. Bubbles, streamers, or similar elements could work well too. If that’s the case you might want to supplement the shot with off camera flash as a back/sidelight or have direct on camera flash to catch the motion cleanly.

What are the benefits?

The biggest benefit, without question, is safety. But that safety leads to a few unexpectedly fun advantages as well.

• It’s a brilliant team sport. Getting everyone together is good for weddings. In the evening there’s usually a lull around evening food being arranged. If you grab everyone to do this shot and then they return to the food laid out – everything is seamless and fun.
• Children can take part much more easily. Previously, if youngsters were involved, we insisted a sober parent supervise them closely. With phone torches, that worry disappears.
• Even the drunk guests can join in. In the past we’d sometimes have to exclude people who’d had a bit too much to drink. Now they can be part of the moment without risking injury or chaos.
• There’s no strict time limit. Sparklers burn out quickly, which means you have a minute, sometimes less, to get the shot. Phone torches stay on as long as you need.
• No smoke and no mess. Nothing to sweep up, no burnt sticks, and no smoke drifting through the scene.
• No risk of burns or accidental fires. There’s no chance of someone being burned, stabbed by a hot sparkler wire, or setting a veil or decorations alight.
• It’s completely free. Everyone already has a phone in their pocket.
• It works anywhere. Any venue, any time of year, in almost any circumstances.

Why we think this will become the new sparkler shot

Sparkler shots became popular because they create a great atmosphere. They bring guests together, they frame the couple beautifully, and they produce a moment that feels special at the end of the evening.

What we’ve discovered is that phone torches create many of those same qualities but without the risks.

Guests still gather together. There’s still a tunnel of light. The couple still gets a great moment moving through a crowd of their favourite people. In fact, because the lights don’t burn out, we can take a little more time with it and often capture a wider range of natural reactions.

And perhaps the nicest surprise is how much guests enjoy it. Once everyone switches on their torches, the whole scene suddenly glows and people quickly get into the spirit of it.

Most importantly, everyone can take part safely.

For us, that’s the key point. No photograph is worth someone getting hurt. If we can create something that looks great, feels fun, and removes that risk entirely, then that feels like a pretty good trade.

If you’re planning a wedding, we’d love to hear about it. Meantime check our blog for wedding hints, tips and good vibes.