The ceremony below is but one variation of ritual marriage which varies among Native American peoples as it does among all the people of the world according to nations, religions, clans, tribes or even families. It was found while researching wedding ceremonies. Not all same sex marriages are recognized within Tribes.
Vases, Baskets and other Native American Accessories
Vases, Baskets and other Native American Accessories
Sample Native American Ceremony
Create a Medicine Circle
All the guests will be invited into the Medicine Circle (designed by couple) - the Sacred Medicine Wheel that is symbolic of Life and the connection and Continuity of all living things. As they enter the Circle, they will be saged (cleansed and purified by Officiant), and symbolically enter the womb. For when you leave the circle, you are reborn as anew: a married person - not just to each other, but to the family and the community, and they to you.
The Wedding party & parents will be in the center of the Circle, and will be saged. The sisters/mothers will carry the baskets, and will hand them to the Bride & Groom during the Basket Exchange which symbolizes the tangibles of how the couple will take care of each other during their marriage.
The families and the guests in the Circle will be invited to come up and give a personal Blessing to the Couple, everything from a hug and kiss to reading a poem, or whatever. Everything is appropriate. This allows the Community to be a part of the Ceremony as well as symbolically welcoming them into the Community.
The Wedding Blanket is carried by sisters/siblings, and the tying of the Blanket symbolizes the Union of the two lives. It will be folded and carried to a safe place by the Mothers after the ceremony.
Wedding Ceremony
Introduction by Officiant, Saging of all guests, and Wedding Party.
(TO Bride/Soul Mate): "(NAME), what do you provide for this union of marriage?"
Mother or designee of Bride will hand the Bride's/Soul Mate's their basket.
Bride/Soul Mate: "I provide these things to my Husband/Soul Mate and home. They are a symbol that I will care for you and love you always."
(TO Groom/other Soul Mate): "(NAME ), what do you provide for this union of marriage?"
Mother or designee of Groom will hand the Groom's/Soul Mate's basket.
Groom/Soul Mate: "I provide these things to my Wife/Soul Mate. They are a symbol that I will provide, love and protect our family always."
(TO Both): (Officiant) "You may exchange baskets."
Bride/Soul Mate & Groom/Soul Mate to set baskets in front of them, and hold hands.
Sample Native American Blessings that can be read
1. TO THE COUPLE read by each other or Officiant
Now you will feel no rain, for you will be shelter to each other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.
Soon you will go to your resting place, to enter into the days of your togetherness.
May your days be good and long upon the earth.
2. TO THE COUPLE read by each other or Officiant
Above you are the stars, below you are the stones.
As time does pass, remember;
Like a star should your love be constant.
Like a stone should your love be firm.
Be close, yet not too close.
Possess one another, yet be understanding.
Have patience with the other; for storms will come, but they will go quickly.
Be free in giving of affection and warmth.
Make love often, and be sensuous to one another.
Have no fear, and let not the ways of words of the unenlightened give you unease.
For the Great Spirit is with you, now and always.
Traditional Vows (if desired) (REPEAT VOWS)
I, (NAME,) take you (NAME,) as my (wife, husband, soul mate). I do solemnly avow my love for you. I will comfort you, keep you, love you, defend you in sickness or in health, in riches or poverty, in sorrow or joy, seeking only to be with you until death parts us. All these things I pledge upon my honor.
The Mother's or designee's will wrap the wedding blanket around Bride & Groom.
(RING BLESSING)
Circles have no beginning and have no end, and so in the long and sacred tradition of marriage rings have come to symbolize eternal love and endless union of body, of mind, and of the spirit. Aho (Amen)! (pr preferred language)
(EXCHANGE RINGS)
This ring is a symbol of my love and faithfulness, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, and pledge to you my love and life.
(BLESSING OF THE BASKET)
Father Sky and Mother Earth, creator and nurturer of all life, we give heartfelt thanks for the moment that brought (BRIDE/GROOM NAMES ) together in the Holy State of Marriage Aho! (Amen)! (pr preferred language)
Now as you (Bride/Soul Mate) and you (Groom/Soul Mate) have consented together in matrimony and have pledged your faith to each other by the giving and the receiving of these rings before your family and Community; according to the powers invested in me by the State of (your state),
I now pronounce that you are husband and wife, husband and husband, wife and wife or other designated wording.
You may now kiss your Bride/Husband/Soul Mate.
(at this point if the couple wishes, the Officiant can wrap the couple with the wings of the Goose, which signifies family & communication. It is also a symbol of fertility and marital fidelity. The Goose brings an innate belief that there is just one special person for each one.)
The Wedding party & parents will be in the center of the Circle, and will be saged. The sisters/mothers will carry the baskets, and will hand them to the Bride & Groom during the Basket Exchange which symbolizes the tangibles of how the couple will take care of each other during their marriage.
The families and the guests in the Circle will be invited to come up and give a personal Blessing to the Couple, everything from a hug and kiss to reading a poem, or whatever. Everything is appropriate. This allows the Community to be a part of the Ceremony as well as symbolically welcoming them into the Community.
The Wedding Blanket is carried by sisters/siblings, and the tying of the Blanket symbolizes the Union of the two lives. It will be folded and carried to a safe place by the Mothers after the ceremony.
Wedding Ceremony
Introduction by Officiant, Saging of all guests, and Wedding Party.
(TO Bride/Soul Mate): "(NAME), what do you provide for this union of marriage?"
Mother or designee of Bride will hand the Bride's/Soul Mate's their basket.
Bride/Soul Mate: "I provide these things to my Husband/Soul Mate and home. They are a symbol that I will care for you and love you always."
(TO Groom/other Soul Mate): "(NAME ), what do you provide for this union of marriage?"
Mother or designee of Groom will hand the Groom's/Soul Mate's basket.
Groom/Soul Mate: "I provide these things to my Wife/Soul Mate. They are a symbol that I will provide, love and protect our family always."
(TO Both): (Officiant) "You may exchange baskets."
Bride/Soul Mate & Groom/Soul Mate to set baskets in front of them, and hold hands.
Sample Native American Blessings that can be read
1. TO THE COUPLE read by each other or Officiant
Now you will feel no rain, for you will be shelter to each other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.
Soon you will go to your resting place, to enter into the days of your togetherness.
May your days be good and long upon the earth.
2. TO THE COUPLE read by each other or Officiant
Above you are the stars, below you are the stones.
As time does pass, remember;
Like a star should your love be constant.
Like a stone should your love be firm.
Be close, yet not too close.
Possess one another, yet be understanding.
Have patience with the other; for storms will come, but they will go quickly.
Be free in giving of affection and warmth.
Make love often, and be sensuous to one another.
Have no fear, and let not the ways of words of the unenlightened give you unease.
For the Great Spirit is with you, now and always.
Traditional Vows (if desired) (REPEAT VOWS)
I, (NAME,) take you (NAME,) as my (wife, husband, soul mate). I do solemnly avow my love for you. I will comfort you, keep you, love you, defend you in sickness or in health, in riches or poverty, in sorrow or joy, seeking only to be with you until death parts us. All these things I pledge upon my honor.
The Mother's or designee's will wrap the wedding blanket around Bride & Groom.
(RING BLESSING)
Circles have no beginning and have no end, and so in the long and sacred tradition of marriage rings have come to symbolize eternal love and endless union of body, of mind, and of the spirit. Aho (Amen)! (pr preferred language)
(EXCHANGE RINGS)
This ring is a symbol of my love and faithfulness, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, and pledge to you my love and life.
(BLESSING OF THE BASKET)
Father Sky and Mother Earth, creator and nurturer of all life, we give heartfelt thanks for the moment that brought (BRIDE/GROOM NAMES ) together in the Holy State of Marriage Aho! (Amen)! (pr preferred language)
Now as you (Bride/Soul Mate) and you (Groom/Soul Mate) have consented together in matrimony and have pledged your faith to each other by the giving and the receiving of these rings before your family and Community; according to the powers invested in me by the State of (your state),
I now pronounce that you are husband and wife, husband and husband, wife and wife or other designated wording.
You may now kiss your Bride/Husband/Soul Mate.
(at this point if the couple wishes, the Officiant can wrap the couple with the wings of the Goose, which signifies family & communication. It is also a symbol of fertility and marital fidelity. The Goose brings an innate belief that there is just one special person for each one.)
INDIAN WEDDING VASE CEREMONY
Traditionally the grooms family gathered clay from a local river bed, fashioned a vase, decorated, painted, and fired and presented it to the couple.
Officiant
[Name] and [Name] will you join us, and they invite everyone to join them in the calling of the spirits of the four directions.
(Preferred Tribe color) from the East, The Eagle lighting the way brings its gift of illumination. (Preferred Tribe color) from the South, the Bear bringing its gift of strength. (Preferred Tribe color) from the West, the Wolf bringing its gift of adaptability. (Preferred Tribe color) from the North, The Buffalo bringing its gift of wisdom. Rich in symbolism, the spirits of the four directions offer another way of looking at the world and giving meaning to life.
I would like to present to you the Indian wedding vase, used by tribes to symbolize the common source of life which comes from the earth. The two spouts represent the two people now coming together, still as individuals but sharing one life. The looped handle represents the unity achieved in marriage, and the space created within represents the circle of life. The vessel represents the sharing of a common life.
I will pour pure clean water, the very essence of life, for [Name] and [Name] so that they will never thirst for love or life. [Name (decide who goes first)] pass the vase to [Name] so she/he may drink from her spout. [Name] pass the vase to [Name] so he/she may drink from his spout. [Name] and [Name] now drink together and share contentment, comfort, and happiness from the common cup of your marriage.
May you find life's joys great, its bitterness sweetened and your lives enriched by your companionship and love while living in harmony with the earth.
from: My Spiritual Wedding
Traditionally the grooms family gathered clay from a local river bed, fashioned a vase, decorated, painted, and fired and presented it to the couple.
Officiant
[Name] and [Name] will you join us, and they invite everyone to join them in the calling of the spirits of the four directions.
(Preferred Tribe color) from the East, The Eagle lighting the way brings its gift of illumination. (Preferred Tribe color) from the South, the Bear bringing its gift of strength. (Preferred Tribe color) from the West, the Wolf bringing its gift of adaptability. (Preferred Tribe color) from the North, The Buffalo bringing its gift of wisdom. Rich in symbolism, the spirits of the four directions offer another way of looking at the world and giving meaning to life.
I would like to present to you the Indian wedding vase, used by tribes to symbolize the common source of life which comes from the earth. The two spouts represent the two people now coming together, still as individuals but sharing one life. The looped handle represents the unity achieved in marriage, and the space created within represents the circle of life. The vessel represents the sharing of a common life.
I will pour pure clean water, the very essence of life, for [Name] and [Name] so that they will never thirst for love or life. [Name (decide who goes first)] pass the vase to [Name] so she/he may drink from her spout. [Name] pass the vase to [Name] so he/she may drink from his spout. [Name] and [Name] now drink together and share contentment, comfort, and happiness from the common cup of your marriage.
May you find life's joys great, its bitterness sweetened and your lives enriched by your companionship and love while living in harmony with the earth.
from: My Spiritual Wedding
Click here for alternative ceremonies/prayers in the Native American tradition.
Copyright © 2012
Renee Ukena - Edwardsville, IL
Contact me at [email protected] to discuss your ceremony and start your journey together
Renee Ukena - Edwardsville, IL
Contact me at [email protected] to discuss your ceremony and start your journey together