The Best Wedding Confetti for Photos
If you're wondering what type of confetti looks best in wedding photos, my favourite is biodegradable rice paper confetti.
After photographing more than 400 weddings, I think it creates some of the best confetti photos.
It floats beautifully, creates incredible movement and colour, and adds so much fun and energy to the moment.
It's also accepted at many venues that don't allow traditional paper confetti.
(I recommend The Whole Bride for confetti in Australia - more on that below.)
Is confetti worth having?
You don’t actually need to have confetti, but it looks incredible and it’s such a fun way to end your ceremony.
It can be one of the happiest moments of the day - with your family and friends are cheering and laughing as you’re walking back up the aisle as newlyweds.
From a photographer’s perspective, I love the celebration, the joy and the colour of this moment.
If you want something a bit extra, then this is how you want your ceremony to end.
Rice paper confetti stays in the air longer
This is the biggest difference.
Rice paper confetti floats and drifts rather than dropping straight to the ground. Your guests more time to throw it, and it gives me more chances to capture those epic confetti photos.
You don't need perfect timing from every guest because the confetti floats around you for those few extra seconds.
It’s biodegradable
Rice paper confetti is made from starch and food colouring, so it breaks down naturally after your wedding.
It’s one of the reasons it works so well for outdoor venues like beaches and wineries.
It’s always worth checking with your venue first, as some have their own preferences around confetti.
The only thing to be aware of is that, like any coloured confetti, it’s best suited to dry weather. If it gets wet, the colours can sometimes bleed or transfer onto fabrics as the confetti starts to break down.
What about flower petals?
Flower petals look beautiful too.
If your venue only allows fresh or dried petals, don't stress. You'll still get lovely photos.
The main difference is that petals tend to fall much more quickly, so you usually need a bit more of them to create the same effect.
If I had the choice, I'd still recommend biodegradable rice paper confetti. It floats for longer, giving your guests more time to throw it and creating fuller, more dramatic photos.
Go big with confetti cannons
If you're after something a little more dramatic, confetti cannons can look incredible.
They create a huge burst of colour and can be an amazing addition to your confetti exit.
The tricky part is getting the timing right - you want the burst of confetti to happen at the right moment as you walk back up the aisle.
It’s also worth showing your guests how they work beforehand - people sometimes struggle to twist them the right way, or the cannon doesn’t fire when they expect it to.
I’ve seen it work really well when couples use confetti cannons alongside traditional confetti, creating a double effect with the big burst of colour and all their guests celebrating around them.
Just make sure you check with your venue first, as some have restrictions on confetti cannons.
My recommended supplier
If you're in Australia, I recommend The Whole Bride
Lots of my couples have ordered their confetti from them over the years, and it consistently photographs really well.
They also stock dried flower petals as an alternative to rice paper confetti, plus confetti cannons if you want to add a bit more drama to your confetti exit.
If you order through them, you can save 15% with the code PHOTOGERSON
Heads up, this is an affiliate link. If you order through it I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
How to get the best confetti photos as you walk up the aisle
Cool, so you’ve got your confetti sorted. Now it’s time for the actual walking up the aisle bit.
You know those amazing photos you see of a newly married couple being showered with confetti?
Some of these tips might be obvious, but here’s some tricks to nail that shot.
How much confetti do you need?
It doesn’t matter what type of confetti you get - the secret is to have lots of it.
Buy a bit more than you think you’ll need
More confetti creates fuller photos, gives every guest a generous handful and makes the whole moment feel much more celebratory.
Hand out the confetti after your ceremony
Your guests don’t need to hold confetti throughout your ceremony. It’s much nicer for them to be able to clap, cheer and celebrate with you.
Leave it under the front row of chairs and ask a couple of friends or family members to hand it out while you're signing the marriage certificate.
Ask guests to pour the confetti into their hands
Cones are great for handing out confetti, but they're not the best way to throw it.
Ask everyone to tip the confetti into their hand before throwing it. A big handful creates a much bigger shower of colour, while trying to shake it out of a cone or little bag rarely works well.
A little help from your celebrant
If you're planning a confetti exit, ask your celebrant before the wedding if they can include a few quick reminders in their ceremony script:
Tip the confetti into your hands before throwing it.
Throw it up high, not at the couple.
Be standing and ready before the couple starts walking back up the aisle.
It only takes a few seconds, but it can make a huge difference to how your confetti photos turn out.
Enjoy the moment
This is the part couples sometimes forget.
When everyone starts throwing confetti, it’s natural to look down or protect your face. Instead, try to look at each other, laugh and enjoy the moment.
It’s an incredible moment and gives me goosebumps every time - everyone you love is cheering, there’s colour floating all around you, and you’re completely caught up in the moment.
Stop halfway up the aisle for a kiss
One of my favourite confetti moments is when couples stop halfway up the aisle to take it all in.
If it feels natural, stop halfway up the aisle for a kiss, hug or just a moment together. With everyone cheering and confetti floating around you, it’s an incredible way to finish your ceremony.
Someone should be handing you a glass of champagne any second now, music will be pumping, go and hug your friends and family and get the party started!
Where to buy wedding confetti
If you're looking for an easy option, I recommend The Whole Bride. They sell biodegradable rice paper confetti, confetti cannons and dried flower petals, and it's the supplier I see lots of my couples use.
Use the code PHOTOGERSON to save 15%.
