If you’ve spent any time scrolling through wedding photos, you’ll know one thing for certain…wedding confetti photos are awesome!
They’re chaotic, full of laughter, guests get involved, and they almost always end up being one of the most fun moments of the day. As wedding photographers based in Bedfordshire, we absolutely love a good confetti exit. The energy is through the roof, everyone is smiling, and it creates the kind of natural moments our couples love.
The problem? Not all confetti is created equal.
Over the years of photographing weddings across Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and beyond, we’ve seen every type of confetti imaginable. Some create absolute magic. Others… well, they tend to hit the floor before you’ve even finished walking through it.
So if you’re wondering what wedding confetti to buy, how much you need, and whether confetti cannons are worth it, here’s our ultimate wedding confetti guide: what actually works best?
Let’s Discuss Wedding Confetti
- Paper Confetti
- Dried Petal Confetti
- Real Flower Petals
- Confetti Cannons
- How Much Wedding Confetti Do You Actually Need?
- Skip the Cones and Get a Bucket Instead
- Timing Your Confetti for the Best Photos
Paper Confetti
If we’re being completely honest, lightweight paper wedding confetti is usually the winner. Why? Because it floats!
Rather than dropping straight to the floor, lightweight tissue-style paper confetti hangs in the air for longer, giving your guests more time to throw it and giving us more opportunities to capture those awesome reactions.
The best confetti photos happen when the confetti is still flying around your heads rather than sitting on the ground behind you.
Some of our favourite suppliers offer biodegradable wedding confetti that’s venue-friendly while still creating that epic confetti tunnel effect.
The lighter and flutterier it is, the better. Trust us on this one!
Dried Petal Confetti
Unfortunately, some wedding venues don’t allow paper confetti at all. That’s where dried petals come into their own.
Not only are they biodegradable and venue-friendly, but they also smell incredible!
There’s something quite lovely about walking through a cloud of dried rose petals or lavender while all your favourite people cheer you on.
One supplier we regularly recommend is Shropshire Petals, who offer a huge range of natural petal wedding confetti options in different colours and mixes.
Dried petals may not stay airborne quite as long as lightweight paper confetti, but they still create brilliant photos and are accepted by many venues that ban traditional confetti.
Always check your venue’s rules before ordering!
Real Flower Petals
If you want something a little more meaningful, real flower petals can be a fantastic choice of wedding confetti.
Many florists can provide fresh petals from the flowers they’re already sourcing for your wedding day, helping everything tie together beautifully.
We’ve also seen couples save petals from flowers received throughout their engagement and dry them ready for the wedding day. It’s a lovely way of incorporating memories from the planning process into the celebration itself.
There’s something really special about using petals that actually have a story behind them. And because every wedding is different, the confetti feels super unique!
Confetti Cannons
Now we’re talking! Wedding confetti cannons can create some seriously legendary moments.
Used correctly, they add a huge burst of energy and produce photos that look absolutely wild in the best possible way.
The key is spreading them out rather than putting them all in one spot.
If everyone fires them from the same location, you’ll get one giant cloud in a single area. Spread people along the confetti line and you’ll create a much bigger effect around the couple.
Confetti cannons also work brilliantly during first dances and evening celebrations.
However, and this is a big however, plenty of venues don’t allow them. Always check with your venue before ordering a box of cannons and turning up ready to launch them indoors!
Nobody wants that awkward conversation with the venue coordinator.
How Much Wedding Confetti Do You Actually Need?
More than you think! And then probably a little bit more.
One of the biggest mistakes we see is couples under-ordering confetti. Guests are often worried about throwing too much, so they end up releasing about three pieces while trying not to hit anyone.
The result? A slightly underwhelming confetti line. Our recommendation is simple… give every guest a generous handful.
Then make sure there’s enough left for a second handful if they want one.
More is more when it comes to wedding confetti! If you’re investing in a confetti moment, you may as well make it epic.
Skip the Cones and Get a Bucket Instead
We know the little confetti cones look lovely on Pinterest. But practically? They’re not always the best idea!
Half the guests forget to pick them up, someone inevitably squashes one while sitting down, and they rarely hold enough confetti anyway.
Instead, grab a basket, bucket, crate, or large container and stuff it with wedding confetti. As guests line up, they can just grab a huge handful and get involved. It’s easier, quicker, and usually results in far better photos.
We’re big fans of anything that encourages people to throw more confetti!
Timing Your Confetti for the Best Photos
The best confetti photos aren’t actually about the confetti. They’re about what happens underneath it!
The laughter, cheering, the accidental face-fulls of petals, the guests getting a bit overexcited and launching handfuls from three feet away. That’s where the magic happens.
When planning your wedding confetti moment, don’t rush through it. Walk slowly, look at each other, laugh, soak it all in.
The more relaxed you are, the better the photos become!
And if your guests are slightly overenthusiastic with their throwing? Even better.
We’re huge fans of controlled chaos.
Let’s Talk About Your Wedding Photography in Bedfordshire or Beyond
There we have our ultimate wedding confetti guide. So, what actually works best?
As a husband-and-wife wedding photography and videography team, we’re all about capturing the moments that actually happened. The laughs, the chaos, the dance floor antics, and yes, the occasional confetti-related attack from an overenthusiastic bridesmaid.
If you’re looking for wedding photographers who’ll hype you up, blend in with your guests, and capture the full story of your day, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch and let’s chat about your wedding plans. And remember, when it comes to confetti, more is definitely more!!