Native American Wedding Ceremony Readings: Top Picks

Today, we’re going to be looking at the best Native American wedding ceremony readings to choose for your own wedding. There’s a huge range of poems, blessings and proverbs you may want to use throughout your ceremony, as Native American culture is not just full of love, but also full of wisdom.

Blessings vary from tribe to tribe, but having a Native American reading at your ceremony is the perfect way to honor your ancestry. So let’s take a closer look at Native American weddings.

What is the Native American Wedding Blessing?

It goes by many names, and you’ll likely already be familiar with it. You may know it as the Apache Blessing, or the Indian Wedding Blessing. Whichever name you know it by, it’s the perfect blessing to use on your wedding day.

“Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth for the other.
Now there is no more loneliness.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.
May your days together be good and long
upon the earth.”

It’s important to note, that although this is an extremely popular reading at weddings, it’s thought that the prayer itself is not part of the traditional Apache culture, despite contrary belief.

Native American Readings to Use at Your Wedding Ceremony

There’s a range of meaningful and sentiment-filled readings to use throughout your wedding ceremony. Many of which are incredibly infamous. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular choices of readings to use at your wedding.

Pueblo Blessing

Hold on to what is good, even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe, even if it is a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do, even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life, even when it is easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand, even when I have gone away from you.

You Are a Part of Me – Lloyd Carl Owle (Cherokee)

You are part of me now.
You touched me with your kindness,
So enchanted.
your lips are kind.
Your eyes glow with life.
I’m glad you touched me.
You’re part of me now.

Tale of Two Wolves (Cherokee)

One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”‘

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Navajo Wedding Blessing

Now you have lit a fire and that fire should not go out. The two of you now have a fire that represents love, understanding, and a philosophy of life. It will give you heat, food, warmth, and happiness. This new fire represents a new beginning – a new life and a new family. The fire should keep burning; you should stay together. You have lit the fire for life until old age separates you.

Shoshone Wedding Blessing

Fair is the white star of twilight and the sky clearer
at the day’s end, but she is fairer, and she is dearer
She, my heart’s friend.
Fair is the white star of twilight and the moon roving
to the sky’s end; but she is fairer, better worth loving
She, my heart’s friend.

Native American Customs For Your Wedding Ceremony

There is a range of customs you can smoothly intertwine throughout your wedding ceremony. Here are just a few of the most common.

  • sacred eagle feathers
  • vase ritual
  • blanket ceremony
  • sacred fire and smudging
  • groom’s processional
  • turquoise jewelry
  • celebration of nature
  • ceremony in the round

You can find out more about these Native American traditions and their meanings, here.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to become more familiar with Native American wedding ceremony readings. There’s a huge selection of beautiful readings to choose from, that once you go searching – you’ll be spoilt for choice! These are just a handful of some of the most popular options you may like to choose from to honor your heritage.

Did you have any Native American readings at your wedding? Or did you use any of the Native American traditions? If so, please feel free to share your experiences with me below. I would love to learn more! Sharing is caring.

FAQs

What is a Traditional Native American Wedding?

Native American weddings will vary from tribe to tribe, but generally speaking, evening is the most common time for a ceremony to take place. For example, Navajo weddings are held in the inside of a Hogan. Throughout the ceremony, water is a very important symbol, which symbolizes purity and cleansing. 

How Do Native American Get Married?

Much like the traditional weddings we're more familiar with, the weddings can be formal or informal. And they come with a host of their own traditions, depending on which tribe you are part of. Feasts are very important throughout the wedding, as is water.

How Long is a Native American Wedding?

The length of a Native American wedding will vary from tribe to tribe. It will be a time to celebrate with food and merrymaking. 

How Do You Congratulate an Indian Marriage?

There are many ways to congratulate the happy couple. Here's just a few examples you may want to use, "may your joining together bring you more joy than you can imagine", or "may the years ahead be filled with everlasting love and joy", or "start a new chapter of your life with blessing and good wishes".

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