How to Have Fireworks at Your Event
Happy Fourth of July everyone! I hope you all are at a barbecue enjoying the day. I’m off to a party in Long Island City to watch the fireworks over the East River, but in the meantime, I thought you might be interested in what it would take to host your own private fireworks display.
Everyone always dreams of ending their wedding or birthday party with a big finale, right? So what do you have to do to make fireworks a reality for your big day? First, consider the location of your event. The ideal setting is an open space that is not very populated, such as a golf course, farm located far from town, or some other type of open field. If you are hosting your event smack dab in the middle of New York City or in someone’s backyard, you will need to move your guests to a more ideal location.
Another issue is that you need to make sure that you have permission for fireworks in your local area. The rules are different from state to state and city to city, so make sure to ask. You can go to the American Pyrotechnics Association website to find out the details beforehand, though if you are working with professionals, they should be aware. Another good option is to check with your local fire department or police department. You may be limited to sparklers.
Second, there are lots of rules and regulations for putting on a fireworks display. Obviously, this is a case where calling in professional fireworks handlers is a necessity. This is not a cheap venture and the cost will run you $2,000 to $5,000 (though I found this fact in an article from 2008, so the price could have gone up). The cost is dependent upon the length of the fireworks display, how the fireworks are handled (electronic or hand firing), if choreography is involved, and the kinds of fireworks (size, quality, and types of shells used).
Finally, you will definitely have to clean up any mess afterwards, so make sure you factor this into the cost.
Enjoy your holiday weekend everyone!
Are you planning a pyrotechnics event? Drop me a line and let’s talk about your photography needs.
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