Ceremony Elements 9: Burning of Fears

The Burning of Fears ceremony acknowledges something we don't often talk about at weddings - that, along with all the joy and excitement, there might be fears or worries about the journey ahead.

Before the ceremony, the couple are guided to write down their deepest fears about marriage or their relationship. These are private thoughts - fears about vulnerability, about being enough, about keeping love alive through challenges. During the ceremony, these notes are ceremonially burned, symbolising how the couple's promises to each other help overcome these fears.

Safety is always the priority here, so it's best to use a small, contained fireproof vessel. Some couples prefer to use a unity candle to burn their notes, while others choose a special fire-safe bowl. The actual burning is brief but profound and couples and guests can be moved to tears by this honest acknowledgment of vulnerability transformed into strength.

All of these ceremony elements can be beautifully woven into a wedding day, and as your celebrant, I'm here to help you choose and personalise the ones that best reflect your relationship. You can check out my previous posts on ceremony elements below or email me at nick.wells@thismoment.org.uk if you’d like to talk about how we could work together.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can check out the full collection of ceremony element posts here.