Hosting a Wedding During a Fire Ban

Here in Grand Junction and the surrounding areas of the Colorado mountains, summer weddings can often deal with fire restrictions. Wildfires are becoming more and more common in the mountains and these fire bans can affect what is and isn’t allowed at your celebration! Here are our top tips for hosting a wedding during a fire ban.

Mood Lighting

Get creative with your mood lighting! Depending on the stage of burn ban, it’s likely that you won’t be allowed to light candles for your reception. There are some great alternatives to create that mood lighting and ambiance you’re looking for though! Many DJs offer up-lighting that can transform the space and give it a totally new look. These lighting set-ups can be customized to your theme/colors too. Some lighting can be used to put a spotlight on your table centerpieces or your wedding cake, which can really create a unique feel for your celebration.

There is always the option of fake candles, too. Some faux candles even flicker like real ones these days! If your celebration is outdoors, twinkle lights, light-up balloons, Edison bulb string lights, and more can also offer incredibly romantic mood lighting that you’re looking for without the fire hazard of flame candles. Some rental companies in town even offer light tents – the frame of a tent draped with string lights – for a romantic lighting option!

Wedding Exits

If you were planning a sparkler exit for your wedding, there’s a really good chance that won’t be happening if you’re hosting a wedding during a fire ban. There are some alternatives that can be just as cute though! We’ve seen couples hand out large glow sticks and glow glasses for a fun exit full of color. They even make LED “sparklers” that are a great no-flame option.

You could also do an exit after your ceremony moving on to the reception, and allow the night to wind down without an official exit. For that you have so many awesome options like confetti/streamers, ribbon wands, leaves, flower petals, bubbles, and more!

Guest Communication

Depending on the stage of fire ban your area of Colorado is in, you might need to communicate the rules with your guests. Some stages prohibit things like smoking or dragging anything from a vehicle (no surprise cans tied to your bumper at the end of the night!) If you have a Facebook group for guests or wedding website, you can easily update your friends and family on these restrictions. Your planner is probably familiar with these stages too, and can help communicate throughout the night if needed!

Hosting a wedding during a fire ban is not as big of a deal as it might sound – but you should be prepared with a backup plan just in case! Hopefully these tips help you get creative with keeping to your vision without any flames.