As wedding caterers, we are in a privileged poision in that we get to see wedding trends begin, develop (and often, fade out never to be seen again). One that is becoming more fashionable these days is the use of sparklers.
Sparklers are something most of us associate with childhood – they are like a firework for kids to use when they aren’t old enough to have real ones. We can all remember gingerly holding a sparkler at arms-length as children, hoping that the none of the hot things land on our hands or clothing. I don’t know about you, but I was convinced I was going to ignite and turn into a human fireball, get rushed to hospital and end-up bandaged from head-to toe like the Invisible Man. Weren’t those TV warning adverts effective?!
Thankfully, sparklers are quite safe and perfect for kids (and adults). We are seeing them used in the evenings, particularly at marquee weddings, or weddings where we set up our mobile creperie outdoors. Weddings where there is a strong outdoor feel are where they are most commonly seen. All you need are a few packs of sparklers, a small plant pot of sand to extinguish them in and a cigarette lighter.
Perhaps it’s easiest to describe a typical scene: people are standing outside, smoking or drinking and a DJ or band is playing somewhere close by. We are serving our sweet and savoury crêpes from our crepe van. Whoever is in charge on the day rounds up a few bored kids and gets them to follow them outside, where they are handed sparklers which are then lit. After a short time, the adults who are standing around outside realise what is occurring, and enquire as to whether there are “any spare”? The adults then join in, trying to: write words with the sparkler trail; scare each other; see how fast they can move them from side to side; and last (but not least) see how fast they can rotate them in a small circle. By this time, the kids are usually looking at the adults in a way which says: you need to grow up.
So sparklers at a wedding: it’s another talking point for your guests. It’s cheap – very cheap. It reminds people of their childhood. It’s child-friendly and gives bored kids a bit of excitment for a few minutes. It’s easy to understand why something as simple as sparklers are becoming more popular at weddings. Sometimes the most basic ideas are the best.
