How to Light Sparklers: The Best Way for Weddings, Parties & Celebrations

Sparklers are fantastic for weddings, parties and celebrations, but there’s one thing that can catch people out – they’re not always particularly easy to light!

Unlike a birthday candle, a sparkler needs a good, concentrated source of heat to get it going. This becomes especially important at a wedding, where you might have 50, 100 or even 200 guests all trying to light their sparklers at roughly the same time.

If you want everyone’s sparklers burning together for that perfect photograph, a little preparation makes a huge difference.

Here’s our guide to how to light sparklers quickly, safely and efficiently, particularly when organising a large wedding group.

What Is the Best Way to Light a Sparkler?

We recommend using either a portfire or a windproof lighter.

Ordinary disposable lighters and matches can work, but they aren't ideal, particularly outdoors. Even a slight breeze can make lighting frustrating and, if you've got a large number of guests waiting, it can take far too long.

A good windproof lighter produces a much more concentrated flame, while a portfire provides a reliable source of ignition specifically suited to lighting pyrotechnic products.

For a wedding or large event, having several suitable ignition sources ready beforehand will make the whole process considerably easier.

Always Light the Tip of the Sparkler

One of the most important things to remember is where to light a sparkler.

The ignition source should be applied right at the tip of the sparkler.

Hold the sparkler away from your body and other people and apply the flame or ignition source to the very end. Keep it there until the sparkler has properly ignited before moving the ignition source away.

Trying to light further down the sparkler can make ignition much more difficult.

How Do You Light 100 Sparklers at a Wedding?

This is where a little organisation makes a huge difference.

If you have 100 wedding guests, trying to individually light 100 sparklers with a handful of lighters is going to take time. By the time the final guests have theirs lit, some of the first sparklers may already have finished!

Instead, we recommend creating several sparkler lighting points throughout the group.

A good rule of thumb is to use around 10% of your guests as your initial sparkler lighters.

For example, with 100 guests, choose around 10 people to light their sparklers first.

Give these people a suitable windproof lighter or portfire and position them at sensible intervals amongst your guests.

Once those 10 sparklers are properly alight, the remaining guests can use the burning sparklers as lighting points for their own sparklers.

A burning sparkler produces intense heat, making it an effective way of igniting another sparkler. Instead of trying to light 100 sparklers individually, you've effectively created 10 lighting points around the group.

This can get a large number of sparklers burning much more quickly – ideal when you're trying to organise a wedding photograph, sparkler tunnel or wedding send-off.

A Simple Wedding Sparkler Lighting Plan

For approximately 100 guests:

1. Choose around 10 designated sparkler lighters.
2. Position them at sensible intervals amongst the guests.
3. Give each designated person a suitable windproof lighter or portfire.
4. Light their sparklers first, applying the ignition source to the tip of the sparkler.
5. Once their sparklers are burning properly, other guests can use those burning sparklers to ignite theirs.
6. Once everyone is ready, the photographer can organise the group for the photograph, sparkler tunnel or wedding send-off.

This is considerably easier than having dozens of people simultaneously struggling with matches or ordinary cigarette lighters.

Make Life Easier with a Sparkler Safety Kit

If you're planning sparklers for a wedding or large celebration, it pays to be prepared.

That's why at Sparklers.co.uk we offer a Sparkler Safety Kit, together with sparkler safety and lighting equipment designed to make organising your sparkler moment easier.

Having the right equipment ready beforehand means you can concentrate on getting everyone organised rather than hunting around for suitable lighters when it's time for the photographs.

For a large wedding, we'd particularly recommend making sure your designated sparkler lighters have suitable ignition equipment ready before you start.

View our Sparkler Safety Kit & Safety Equipment

Choose Longer-Burning Sparklers for Weddings

Burn time is particularly important when choosing wedding sparklers.

Shorter sparklers can be nearly finished by the time everyone is organised. Longer-burning wedding sparklers give guests more time to get their sparklers lit and allow the photographer more time to capture the perfect shot.

This is especially useful for large groups, wedding photographs and sparkler tunnels.

If you're expecting a lot of guests, choosing a longer sparkler isn't simply about creating a bigger effect – the additional burn time can make the whole event much easier to organise.

A Few Important Sparkler Safety Tips

Sparklers are great fun, but they burn extremely hot and should always be treated with care.

Keep lit sparklers well away from faces, clothing and other people. Never point or wave a burning sparkler towards somebody else, and make sure there is plenty of space between guests.

For weddings, it's also sensible to have a suitable designated container available for used sparklers and to make sure the person organising the event has explained the lighting procedure before anybody starts.

Children should be closely supervised by a responsible adult, and you should always follow the safety and usage instructions supplied with your sparklers.

The Secret to a Great Wedding Sparkler Moment

The key is preparation.

Use a reliable ignition source, light the tip of the sparkler and, for larger weddings, create several designated lighting points rather than trying to light every sparkler individually.

With around one designated initial lighter for every 10 guests, you can get a large group illuminated much more quickly.

And don't leave the practicalities until the wedding day. Make sure you have your sparklers, suitable lighting equipment and safety equipment ready beforehand.

That means less time struggling with lighters – and more time enjoying one of the best photo opportunities of the wedding.