Blog Written by Anna Gilchrist, Fuze Celebrant

Bringing The Elements To Ceremony Life

There’s something undeniably magical about the elements in our world, especially the symbolism of honouring them during a humanist led wedding ceremony. And there is nothing more perfect than performing symbsolic gestures that link to this, than that of during an outdoor wedding—the fresh air, the open sky, and the natural beauty that surrounds you. Whether it’s just the two of you in the wilds of Glencoe, or perhaps surrounded by your guests in the garden of your family home, an outdoor setting is just so romantic.

Take your special occasion a step further by infusing your marriage ceremony with deeper meaning. Incorporating the elements of earth, air, fire, and water symbolises balance, transformation, and connection, making them a perfect addition to your humanist ceremony vows.

Whether you want to honour tradition, spirituality, or simply add a unique touch to your special day, embracing the elements can create a humanist led wedding experience that feels both grounded and filled with wonder.

In this blog, I’ll explore some of the creative ways to weave the essence of nature into your outdoor ceremony.

The element of earth symbolises stability, grounding, and connection to the physical world and to nature.

Consider reciting your vows whilst clasping hands over an oathing stone. The idea is that the stone, representing the earth, grounds your vows, making them as enduring as the land itself and ensures that the promises are strong, solid and lasting. The stone can hold personal significance, whether from the place of your first date, the spot where you were proposed to, or a beloved holiday destination, adding even more depth and meaning to the promises you make. Picture credit above top left: Pam & Dan Creations / Celtic Oathing Stones beautiful stone used in picture.

A sand blending ceremony symbolises the union of two becoming one. As you each take turns pouring different coloured sands into a shared vessel, the layers begin to blend together, gradually merging into a single, beautiful whole. Once combined, the grains cannot be separated, just as your lives are now intertwined, forever united.

And if you are at home, planting a tree together can represent the blossoming of your relationship, nurturing it to grow strong and enduring.

If you choose a handfasting ritual, consider using a sustainable cord. The wonderful Ceotha Cords offer a beautiful selection, and their blog provides insightful information on the topic. This image features one of their 100% recycled cotton cords, kindly shared by them.

Fire is an element that symbolises passion, transformation, and the warmth of love.

Incorporating fire into symbolic gestures can be as simple as lighting a unity candle, where the couple firstly light a candle each, to represent themselves and, with the flame from their individual candles, they light the third candle together, to represent their joining together in marriage.

Another beautiful idea is a torch lighting to signify the couple’s shared journey, with the flames symbolizing the strength and intensity of their bond.

Fire can also be used in a more intimate gesture, like a sage cleansing or smudging ritual, often used at the start of a ceremony to remove negative energy and bring peace to the space, so that you begin this new stage in your relationship with positively and harmony.

Water is the element that is a powerful symbol of purity, renewal, and the flow of love.

A common gesture is drinking from the Quaich, representing the cup of life, an ancient Scottish tradition symbolising trust, love, and peace. Sharing this cup represents the life you’ll build together, where life’s sweetness is enhanced and its bitterness softened by your unity.

Traditionally, the Quaich should contain whisky, as it is ’Uisge Beatha’ or the ‘water of life’, highlighting the significance of water in this powerful symbol. *Picture credit, bottom left: Graeme Wilson Photography.

If you are having a handfasting ritual, water can be sprinkled over their joined hands by the celebrant or someone significant in your life, thus confirming their union. The water can be taken from a body of water that is significant to you, in the same way as an oathing stone.

If you get married close to a body of water, you could give oathing stones to your guests, and ask them to impart a wish for you or themselves before joining together to throw this into the water If you throw the stones into a river, the following wording can be used; “May the energy that you have poured into your stones combine with the energy of the river as the current brings it to the sea. And may your wishes follow you through life’s currents and tides.”

Air is the element of freedom, clarity, and communication and these will sustain your relationship.

Having your humanist wedding ceremony outdoors, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and scents of nature—particularly in the fresh Scottish air—invites the openness and lightness that love itself brings. You also might incorporate this element by including the act of releasing doves, symbolising the release of old energies and the beginning of a new chapter. And incorporating family pets, especially dogs, into your outdoor ceremony is a wonderful way to celebrate the joy of nature while creating lasting memories that reflect your adventures and walks together.

Tying Everything Together

So, to summarise, an Elements Well Wishing is a symbolic ritual in a humanist wedding ceremony that connects the couple to nature and the fundamental forces of life—earth, air, fire, and water. Each element represents a different aspect of marriage, such as strength, wisdom, passion, and resilience. Loved ones or the celebrant offer well wishes associated with each element, asking the couple to affirm their commitment. This can be done through all of the examples, and many more, explained above. It’s a meaningful way to honour both the couple’s love and the world around them.

My favourite way to tie all these together is to recite ‘Wedding Poem’ by Whitney Hanson, which was chosen by a couple at my very first outdoor ceremony, making it extra special and perfect!

“Wedding Poem” by Whitney Hanson Poetry

They say that sometimes
love starts with a spark.

And that might be true,
but if I were to wish you a love,
I wouldn’t wish fire for you.

You see, fire is powerful.
It burns bright and then it’s gone.
It’s beautiful and warm,
but it doesn’t last long.

So instead of wishing you a love that burns,
I wish you a love like a river twists and turns.
It changes and it flows,
It is powerful and free.
But it consistently finds its way back to the sea.

And so like the water,
I hope your love is ever growing, ever changing.
I hope your love is powerful and free,
And may you always find each other,

Like a river finds the sea.

Blog Written by Anna Gilchrist, Fuze Celebrant