A fire show at your wedding: what to know before you book
Why a fire show works differently at a wedding
At a wedding, a fire performance almost always becomes the turning point of the evening: before it the guests are seated at their tables, after it the party moves to the dance floor. That is why it cannot simply be slotted into the schedule – it needs the moment when every guest is naturally in one place and ready to look up from their plates.
The second difference is distance. A country-house courtyard or a restaurant terrace means the audience stands close, in evening wear, phones in hand. That circle calls for an intimate, theatrical performance rather than a square-sized spectacle, which looks stunning from ten metres and merely hot from three.
When in the evening
Fire effects are only visible after dark – in daylight the flame simply disappears. In practice that means the evening after dinner: usually before the dancing or before the cake, when the performance becomes the transition from the formal part to the free one.
In summer darkness comes late, and that is the main constraint for June and July weddings – the performance naturally lands at the end of the evening. In autumn and spring it can be shown much earlier. We time the exact moment to the flow of your evening, not to our convenience: the host knows when to give the cue and the photographer knows where to stand.
Which venues work
What decides it is not the size of the venue but what is overhead and underfoot. Tree branches, awnings, marquees, dry grass or wooden walkways change the answer more than square metres do. An open courtyard, a meadow or a spot by the water is the most rewarding setting: away from city lights the flame looks brighter in the dark, and guests can gather at a safe distance and still watch from close by.
If in doubt, send us the address or a photo of the venue – we will tell you whether the space suits open flame or whether a programme without it is the better choice. Part of the repertoire also works indoors, but that decision is made after looking at the ceiling height, ventilation and floor surface, never by a general rule.
Which programme to choose
We choose the programme by the space and the mood of the evening. An intimate evening suits a close, warm performance with a storyline and a ritual the couple takes part in – lighting the altar from which the whole show catches fire, for example. A larger celebration with many guests and an open space can take a theatrical spectacle with bold effects.
For weddings we often add a burning decoration: a heart or the couple's initials, which everyone then poses beside. Such a sculpture is made to order, so tell us early. A side-by-side comparison of all fire programmes – duration, number of performers, setting and starting price – is on the fire show page.
Who needs to know
Three people should know about the performance in advance: the host, the photographer and the venue management. The host gives the cue and leads the guests outside, the photographer picks the spot from which the flame and the couple's faces land in one frame, and the venue needs to be informed about open fire.
Everything else – the safe distance to the audience, the extinguishing equipment, the technical details with the sound crew – is our responsibility. We bring all the equipment and arrive well before the performance, so all that is left for you is to choose the moment.
Weather and the backup plan
Light rain does not stop a fire show – we use means that keep the flame burning in wet conditions. We still agree a backup before the event: if the forecast disappoints, some programmes can move under a canopy or indoors, and if the space is unsuitable for open flame we will propose a light programme that creates a similar impression without fire.
To book, we need three things: the date, the venue and the approximate number of guests. With those we send a proposal within one working day, with an exact price and the programme we recommend for your space.