Special Effect at Parties Now Requires Permit for Use in Lafayette Parish

Brides in Louisiana are always looking to add specialties or effects to their wedding reception, and now one of the popular effects at receptions requires a permit for use.

If you've been to a wedding reception in recent years, you may have noticed uplighting on walls, photo booths, drones, and other specialty items in the room. Well, now one wedding reception enhancement or attraction requires a permit for it to be used.

One trend that some brides have caught on to in recent years is the cold sparks in the wedding reception venues. These machines fire off cold sparklers, which can make for great photos and videos.

However, these machines can be a hazard if not used properly, and that's where the permit for use comes in if you're using them in Lafayette Parish.

Alton Trahan of the Lafayette Fire Department tells me that if a party wishes to use cold sparks in a building, they must acquire a permit from the Fire Prevention Building in Lafayette. That building is located at 2100 Jefferson Street.

The permit will cost you $45, and in addition to that, party organizers must also pay a fire watch fee, which comes with a representative with the LFD on site while cold sparks are engaged.

Trahan says the reasoning behind these regulations in Lafayette Parish is to ensure that the cold sparks, which could ignite fabric or other flammable materials, are placed in a safe location prior to use.

Placement of cold sparks in venues is very important, and if placed on uneven surfaces, when ignited, they can pose a danger.

For more information on the use of cold sparks in Lafayette Parish, you can contact the Lafayette Fire Department Prevention Office at (337) 291-8704.

Cold sparks that are used outdoors in Lafayette Parish do not require a permit.

Here's a look at the machines that now require a permit to use indoors in Lafayette Parish.

If you are not familiar with how these machines work, check out this video on cold sparks, which are now very popular at events like wedding receptions.