The ringing of bells at weddings is a long tradition. In Celtic times, church bells were believed to ward off evil spirits and grant wishes. Today, bells are still used as symbol of marriage on various decorations – usually two bells joined at the top with the bow symbolising the connection between the bride and groom.

Firing is a technique used to get all the bells to sound simultaneously like canon fire – hence the term ‘firing’. It’s traditionally used for ringing at weddings to scare off evil spirits and is incredibly difficult to get right. The difference in sound when getting it right or getting it almost right is quite significant. The problem is that the bell wheels vary in size from the heaviest to the lightest, and the time it takes to get a large bell to turn and have the clapper strike the lip of the bell will be longer than that for a lighter, smaller bell, so although the bells sound simultaneously the strokes are not pulled at the same time.

The bells are usually rung as the bride and groom leave the Church after the wedding, but at some towers the team ring beforehand as well. Ringers are almost always paid for ringing at a wedding and because it is both a paid and very special performance, you should be even more diligent than usual about your striking. Quite often bands will ring much simpler methods than they typically would at a practice to ensure that the ringing is of a high enough standard.

Something to watch out for, if your ringing chamber is open to the Church, the wedding guests might well assume the conductor is addressing them when he or she calls ‘Stand!’ – keep an eye out as you finish ringing, try to spot how many guests obediently get up from their seats.

If the wedding is at a ground floor tower or has a balcony, you often get to watch the wedding and be part of the occasion. Photographers and guests will often want to take your photograph whilst ringing, making you wish you’d done something better with your hair.

 

If the tower has a ground floor ring make sure that the guests can’t walk into the ringing circle or have an appropriately worded warning notice in place.

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