Choosing the right time for your wedding firework display can make a huge difference to the overall experience. While there is no single answer that suits every wedding, the display should feel like a natural highlight of your day rather than something that interrupts it.
At Reaction Fireworks, we’ve provided wedding displays at hotels, country houses, castles, private estates and golf clubs across the UK for nearly 40 years. During that time we’ve found that careful timing is just as important as the fireworks themselves.
Our Recommended Time
For most weddings, we recommend firing the display between 8.30pm and 10.00pm, depending on the time of year.
This usually allows enough time for:
- Your wedding breakfast to finish.
- Evening guests to arrive.
- Your first dance to take place.
- Guests to relax before everyone gathers outside for the display.
By this point in the evening, all of your guests are usually together, making it the perfect opportunity to create a shared moment that everyone will remember.
Should Fireworks Be Before or After the First Dance?
There is no right or wrong answer, but most couples choose to have their display after the first dance.
The first dance naturally brings everyone together before inviting guests onto the dance floor. A firework display shortly afterwards provides another memorable moment before the evening celebrations continue.
Some couples even choose a favourite song for their display, creating a spectacular transition from dancing indoors to watching the fireworks outside.
Should We Have the Fireworks Before the Evening Buffet?
Many venues recommend firing the display before serving the evening food.
This encourages guests to leave the dance floor together, enjoy the fireworks, and then return indoors ready to eat and continue the celebrations.
It also helps avoid guests missing part of the display while queuing at the buffet.
What About Summer Weddings?
One factor many couples don’t consider is daylight.
Professional fireworks are at their most impressive once darkness has fallen.
During June and July, sunset can be surprisingly late, particularly in the north of England, meaning a display may need to take place after 10.00pm to achieve the full effect.
If your venue has restrictions on finishing times, we’ll discuss the best options with you during the planning stage.
Winter Weddings Offer Earlier Displays
Autumn and winter weddings provide much greater flexibility.
As darkness falls much earlier, displays can often be fired between 6.00pm and 8.00pm while still achieving maximum impact.
This makes winter one of the best times of year for wedding fireworks.
Working Around Your Venue
Every venue has its own schedule.
Some hotels prefer displays before speeches, while others recommend after the first dance or immediately before the evening buffet.
Having worked with hundreds of wedding venues over nearly four decades, we’re happy to liaise directly with your venue or wedding coordinator to agree the most suitable time for your display.
Don’t Leave It Too Late
While fireworks make a wonderful finale, it’s also important to consider your guests.
If the display is scheduled very late in the evening, some guests – particularly those with young children or travelling long distances – may have already left.
Choosing a sensible time ensures as many of your family and friends as possible are there to enjoy the experience.
We’ll Help You Decide
Every wedding is different, which is why we don’t recommend exactly the same schedule for every couple.
When planning your display, we’ll consider:
- The time of year.
- Sunset times.
- Your venue’s requirements.
- Your running order.
- The number of guests.
- Your chosen music, if applicable.
Our experience allows us to recommend the perfect moment for your display so it becomes one of the highlights of your wedding day.
Expert Tip
If you’re unsure when to schedule your fireworks, don’t leave them until the very end of the evening. We often recommend placing the display roughly two-thirds of the way through your evening reception. It creates a natural highlight, brings everyone together at the same time, and gives guests something to talk about for the rest of the night while the celebrations continue indoors.