Weddings are often seen as the happiest celebrations of life. They are filled with music, laughter, family gatherings, rituals, and traditions that bind two people together. On the outside, everything looks beautiful—the glowing bride, the confident groom, the decorated halls, and the cheerful guests.
But over the years, as I’ve watched and observed weddings closely, I’ve realized something deeper. Behind the glitter and joy, silent battles are being fought—by both the bride and the groom. Battles that most people don’t talk about, but ones that leave a lasting mark on their hearts.
The Groom’s Silent Burden
For a middle-class groom, marriage is not just about companionship or love—it is also about responsibility. And with responsibility comes pressure.
Most of the grooms I’ve seen carry financial worries as their biggest weight. The home loan EMI, car loan, or student loan doesn’t pause just because there’s a wedding. If anything, the wedding adds another mountain of expenses. Even while he smiles at the shop counter or bargains with the decorator, his mind is silently doing calculations:
- How much will I have left after the wedding expenses?
- Will I still be able to pay the EMIs on time?
- How do I balance my parents’ medical bills with this new chapter of life?
Along with money comes career anxiety. For many men, their job feels like the foundation of everything—yet it’s also one of the most uncertain things today. I’ve seen grooms lose sleep over the thought: “What if I lose my job after marriage? What if I can’t give my wife the life she deserves?”
And then there’s the emotional burden of being the son. In many cases, parents are aging, dealing with health issues, or relying completely on their son for support. While he prepares for rituals, part of his heart is still worried about his father’s next check-up or his mother’s blood pressure. This quiet conflict—between wanting to celebrate his wedding and needing to care for his parents—is something that weighs heavily on him.
Yet, very few people ask the groom how he feels. His nervousness is rarely acknowledged because society has already written his script: He is strong. He is capable. He is sorted. His fears, his sleepless nights, and his anxieties remain invisible to most.
The Bride’s Silent Struggle
On the other side, the bride carries a very different kind of burden. While the groom worries about finances and responsibilities, the bride prepares for one of the biggest emotional shifts of her life.
She is expected to leave behind the comfort of her parents’ home—the place where she grew up, where her small joys and memories are rooted. She walks out of a world where she is someone’s daughter and steps into another where she becomes someone’s wife, daughter-in-law, and eventually, perhaps, a mother.
This transition, though beautiful, comes with silent fears:
- Will I be accepted in my new family?
- Will I be able to balance my career with household responsibilities?
- Will I find the same comfort in a new home as I did in the one I’m leaving behind?
Even in today’s modern world, brides often face unspoken judgments—about how they dress, how they cook, how they manage relationships, or even how they balance work and family. For many, the anxiety of “fitting in” is as heavy as the jewelry they wear on their wedding day.
She too puts on a smile, dances with her friends, poses for photographs—but deep down, she is silently grieving the life she is about to leave behind, while nervously preparing for the life she is about to enter.
Two Different Journeys, One Shared Weight
When I look at weddings, I don’t just see the rituals and the glamour anymore. I see two individuals standing at the crossroads of life, each carrying invisible weights.
- The groom shoulders the pressure of providing, protecting, and being responsible.
- The bride shoulders the pressure of leaving, adapting, and being accepted.
Their struggles are different, yet equally heavy. Both of them walk into marriage with excitement, but also with fear—fear of the unknown, fear of expectations, fear of failing in roles that society has already assigned to them.
What I’ve Learned Over the Years
Watching these stories unfold has taught me something valuable: Marriage is not just a celebration—it’s a leap of courage.
It is courage for the groom, who learns to balance EMIs, family responsibilities, and new commitments without letting his fears show.
It is courage for the bride, who leaves behind her world and steps into a new one, hoping to be embraced with love and understanding.
But the most beautiful thing I’ve noticed is this—when both stand together, the weight becomes lighter. When the groom shares his financial worries and the bride shares her emotional fears, and they both decide to face it side by side, marriage becomes what it is meant to be: a partnership.
It’s not about one carrying more than the other. It’s about sharing the load, lifting each other on the tough days, and reminding each other that they don’t have to do it alone.
A Gentle Reminder
The next time you attend a wedding and see a glowing bride or a confident groom on stage, pause for a moment. Behind the laughter, the music, and the rituals, there are two human beings—nervous, hopeful, anxious, and brave—all at once.
They don’t just deserve blessings for a happy married life; they also deserve compassion, understanding, and patience as they step into this journey.
Because in the end, marriage is not about the weight one carries—it’s about the weight two people learn to carry together.
Shreyas Trivedi 