If you wish to honor your heritage and include some Native American traditions in your wedding ceremony, this is the perfect article for you. Although there are notable differences between Native American tribes and how they celebrate marriage, some traditions are shared between cultures. For example the respect for nature and honoring the Great Spirit in all things, is central to Native American life and influences every part of their culture, including weddings. In this article we will explore some of the traditions celebrated by the Native Americans.
Sacred Fire Ceremony
Fire is central to the Native American way of life and holds spiritual significance for many tribes as well. Fire is believed to have a cleansing power as well as the ability to carry up the couple’s wedding prayers to the Creator.
In traditional Cherokee weddings, seven different kinds of trees are used to build three different fires. Two fires represent the couples separate lives before the wedding. These are placed north and one south of the fire in the center of the ceremony space. The one in the middle represents the Creator and the union of marriage.
At the beginning, only the central fire will be lit. Then, during the ceremony, both partners will light their respective fires and take turns singing songs and sprinkling corn, grass, sage and tobacco on the fire. Slowly they push their individual fires toward the central fire to create one harmonious, beautiful blaze.
Eagle Feather Ceremonies
Of all the Native American wedding traditions, this one is especially iconic. For many Native American tribes, eagle feathers are another representation of a connection to the Great Spirit. During Algonquin ceremonies, each partner holds an eagle feather in their left hand as they recite their wedding vows.
Here Comes the Groom
Unlike traditional western weddings where the bride makes the processional to meet the groom at the front of the ceremony space, in some Native American tribes it’s the other way around. The Iriqouis are a matriarchal tribe and see marriage as a man joining a woman’s tribe. When the groom walks down the aisle to meet his bride, he makes the symbolic entrance into his new clan.
Wedding Vase Ceremony
Primarily celebrated by Pueblo and Cherokee tribes, the wedding vase ceremony is a beautiful ritual within the Native American wedding tradition. A special clay vase is made a couple weeks prior to the wedding. A jug-like form molded with two spouts coming out of either side is how the typical wedding vase is formed. During the ceremony, the couple drinks from the vase at the same time. If they are able to drink without spilling any drops, they can expect to have a happy and fulfilled married life together.
Wedding vases are a highly treasured item for married couples and are never bought are sold. However, if one of the partners passes away, a wedding vase may be gifted to a newly married couple as a wedding gift.
Blanket Ceremony
The blanket ceremony is a popular tradition in the Cherokee nation. Blue blankets, symbolizing the sorrow of single life before marriage are draped over the shoulders of the couple and the children.
Later in the ceremony, the couple’s blue blankets are removed and replaced with white blankets. This symbolizes the relief of sorrow that is replaced by peace and fulfillment in marriage.
Traditional Native-American Wedding Attire
There is no one singular outfit common across all Native American tribes. Each nation has their own unique style of traditional wedding attire. In Cherokee weddings, for example, the bride wears a white dress and leather moccasins, while the groom dons a red shirt covered in colorful ribbons, black pants and moccasins.
Hopi grooms wear an all white robe with a large belt. Both partners wear deerskin leggings and moccasins.
Northern Californian tribes like the Klamath and Yurok wear clothes that contain a lot of yellow, blue and black.
Turquoise is a common precious gem found in traditional wedding clothing jewelry. Ladies wedding rings are often gilded out of turquoise and men’s out of opal.
Honoring Nature in Native American Weddings
Native Americans seek to live their lives in perfect harmony with nature. This is reflected in many of the wedding ceremony practices. The Creator is not viewed as a separate entity, disattached from the world, but rather present in every living element – the animals, plants, water and wind. Weddings celebrate this beautiful connection between humans and the natural world, honoring and respecting the dance between all living things. Elements such as sacred stones, feather, burning sage and wood are all central to the wedding tradition. Ceremonies are rarely held indoors, but rather somewhere out among the natural elements.
Wedding Feast and the Basket Ceremony
A wedding ceremony is not complete without some kind of wedding feast. Corn and venison are common dishes at Cherokee weddings, while cornmeal mush is a common delicacy at Navajo celebrations.
In Cherokee weddings, the mother of the bride presents a basket to her daughter containing a loaf of bread and an ear of corn. Meanwhile the mother of the groom gives her son a basket filled with venison. Later the bride and groom exchange baskets, symbolizing their commitment to provide for one another within the marriage.
Native-American Wedding Music
Flutes and drums are common instruments played at Native American weddings. Dances like the shake dance, ribbon dance, or crow hop are popular traditional dances. These days, songs like Buffalo Nation by Little Wolf or Willow Dance Song by Ellen Squiemphem might also be played at the wedding.
Wedding Gifts
Although it rarely happens anymore, gifting a horse used to be quite common practice at Native American weddings. Traditionally the groom’s family would give a horse to the family of the bride. Because horses used to be quite a valuable asset, it was seen as quite a generous offering and a sincere form of gratitude and thankfulness.
Officiate a Native American Wedding
Don’t miss the opportunity to officiate a Native American wedding ceremony for one of your friends or family. You can get ordained online for free with a number of online organizations by just filling out a simple form that only takes a couple minutes to complete. We highly suggest getting ordained with American Marriage Ministries. AMM does not discriminate against, sex, race or religion, but rather welcomes all walks of faith and all traditions to become members of their growing ministry. This means that if you are of Native American descent and wish to officiate weddings for friends or family members in your tribe, AMM is a great place to get your credentials. Once ordained, you’ll have access to a library of information to help you learn all the aspects of preparing for the wedding from writing your speech to filling out the marriage license.
Now you should have a good understanding of some Native American wedding traditions. Best of luck!
-Bernard Paul