Native American Wedding Blessings
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We have collected some of the best Native American wedding blessings, prayers, and vows to use in your nuptials. May these readings bring you comfort and peace of mind.
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a socially or ritually recognised union between spouses that establishes rights and obligations between those spouses, as well as between them and any resulting biological or adopted children and affinity (in-laws and other family through marriage).
Please use these Native American prayers, blessings, readings, and vows in your wedding ceremony. May these blessings for strength encourage your spirit. See also Native American Prayers
A Native American Prayer
Great Spirit,
Give us hearts to understand
Never to take from creation’s beauty more than we give,
Never to destroy want only for the furtherance of greed,
Never to deny to give our hands for the building of earth’s beauty,
Never to take from her what we cannot use.
Give us hearts to understand
That to destroy earth’s music is to create confusion,
That to wreck her appearance is to blind us to beauty,
That to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench,
That as we care for her she will care for us.
Give us hearts to understand
We have forgotten who we are.
We have sought only our own security.
We have exploited simply for our own ends.
We have distorted our knowledge.
We have abused our power.
Great Spirit,
Whose dry lands thirst,
Help us to find the way to refresh your lands.
Great Spirit,
Whose waters are choked with debris and pollution,
Help us to find the way to cleanse your waters.
Great Spirit,
Whose beautiful earth grows ugly with misuse,
Help us to find the way to restore beauty to your handiwork.
Great Spirit,
Whose creatures are being destroyed,
Help us to find a way to replenish them
Great Spirit,
whose gifts to us are being lost in selfishness and corruption,
Help us to find the way to restore our humanity.
Native American Girl Sketch
One Human’s Hope
Now the raindrops will not sting your skin,
for you can each be the soul umbrella the other seeks.
Now the cold will not chill you,
for your love can warm each other’s bodies and minds.
Now that very human experience of loneliness can ease,
For while you are still two people,
you’re sharing this path of marriage as one being.
May your time together be united in gratitude and grace
for as long this walk may last.
Apache Wedding Blessings
The Apache are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño and Janero), Salinero, Plains (Kataka or Semat or “Kiowa-Apache”) and Western Apache (Aravaipa, Pinaleño, Coyotero, Tonto). Distant cousins of the Apache are the Navajo, with whom they share the Southern Athabaskan languages.
Apache Wedding Blessing
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 to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness,
for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead
and through all the years.
May happiness be your companion
and your days together be good and long upon the earth.
Treat yourselves and each other with respect,
and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.
Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your
connection deserves.
When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship,
as they threaten all relationships at one time or another,
remember to focus on what is right between you,
not only the part which seems wrong.
In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in
your lives,
remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still
there.
And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together,
it will be marked by abundance and delight.
– Elliott Arnold
This poem known variously as the “Indian Wedding Blessing“, “Apache Blessing“, “Apache Wedding Prayer“, “Benediction of the Apaches“, “Cherokee Wedding Blessing“, and with various forms, is commonly recited at weddings in the United States. The poem is of modern non-Native origin, and is fake folklore (fakelore).
The poem was originally written in 1947 by the non-Native author Elliott Arnold in his Western novel Blood Brother. The novel features Apache culture, but the poem itself is an invention of the author’s, and is not based on any traditions of the Apache, Cherokee or any other Native American culture. The poem was popularized by the 1950 film adaptation of the novel, Broken Arrow, scripted by Albert Maltz, and the depiction of the marriage is criticized as a “Hollywood fantasy” (Hollywood Indian stereotype).
Apache Wedding Blessing #2
May the sun bring you energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze glow new strength into your being
May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty
All the days of your life.
Apache Wedding Blessing #3
May happiness be your companion.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead
And through all the years to come
Go this day to your dwelling place and enter into your days together,
May your days be good and long upon the earth.
Your adventure as just begun!
Cherokee Wedding Blessings
The Cherokee (Cherokee: ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, romanized: Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or Cherokee: ᏣᎳᎩ, romanized: Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern North Carolina, southeastern Tennessee, edges of western South Carolina, northern Georgia, and northeastern Alabama.
Cherokee Wedding Blessing #1
God in heaven above please protect the ones we love.
We honor all you created as we pledge
our hearts and lives together.
We honor mother-earth – and ask for our marriage to
be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons;
We honor fire – and ask that our union
be warm and glowing with love in our hearts;
We honor wind – and ask we sail though life
safe and calm as in our father’s arms;
We honor water – to clean and soothe our relationship –
that it may never thirsts for love;
With all the forces of the universe you created,
we pray for harmony and true happiness as
we forever grow young together. Amen.
Cherokee Wedding Blessing #2
Powers of nature, we honor you. Protect these ones we love.
We honor mother earth and ask that their marriage be abundant and fruitful, growing stronger through the seasons;
We honor wind and ask that they be lifted up to soar through life, safe and calm as in their fathers’ arms;
We honor fire and ask that this union be warm and glowing with love in their hearts;
We honor water to cleanse and soothe this union that it may never thirst for love;
We honor all that is under the great sky as they pledge their hearts and lives.
Of all the powers of nature and the universe, we ask for harmony and happiness as they grow forever together.
Cherokee Wedding Blessing #3
Now you feel no rain
for each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold
for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness for you.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long together.
Cherokee Wedding Blessing #4
Beginnings, fresh and clean, part of the Sacred Wheel
Each morning is a new opportunity,
To share our love, our Souls, and Spirits,
With those who choose to Walk this Path along with us,
To learn the lessons of the Wheel, and grow closer,
To The One Who-Created-All.
Each day is fresh and unblemished, clean and pure.
Look around, Rejoice in the New Beginning,
The Sun rises again, our hearts beat within our bodies,
We draw fresh Breath, and re-enter the World.
Set aside the pain of past days, each day begins afresh,
Build upon the past, its lessons and joys,
Be strengthened by the love within,
Reach out in love to those around us.
For each day is a gift, given but once.
Cherokee Wedding Blessing #5
o gi do da – ga lv la di he hi
Our Father, heaven dweller,
ga lv quo di yu – ge se s di – de tsa do v i
My loving will be (to) Thy name.
tsa gv wi yu hi – ge sv – wi ga na nu go i
Your Lordship let it make its appearance.
a ni e lo hi – wi tsi ga li s da – ha da nv te s gv i
Here upon earth let happen what you think,
na s gi ya – ga lv la di – tsi ni ga li s di ha
The same as in heaven is done.
ni da do da qui sv – o ga li s da yv di – s gi v si – go hi i ga
Daily our food give to us this day.
di ge s gi v si quo no – de s gi du gv i
Forgive us our debts,
na s gi ya – tsi di ga yo tsi na ho – tso tsi du gi
the same as we forgive our debtors,
a le – tla s di – u da go le ye di yi – ge sv – wi di s gi ya ti nv s ta nv gi
And do not temptation being lead us into,
s gi yu da le s ge s di quo s gi ni – u yo – ge sv i
Deliver us from evil existing.
tsa tse li ga ye no – tsa gv wi yu hi – ge sv i
For thine your Lordship is,
a le – tsa li ni gi di yi – ge sv i
And the power is,
a le – e tsa lv quo di yu – ge sv – ni go hi lv i
And the glory is forever.
E-mena, Amen
Cherokee Wedding Blessing #6
Ga lu lo hi gi ni du da
Sky our grandfather
Nu da wa gi ni li si
Moon our grandmother
E lo hi gi ne tse
Earth our mother
Ga li e li ga
I am thankful
Si gi ni gé yu
We love each other
O sa li he li ga
We are grateful
Cherokee Wedding Blessing #7
May the warm winds of heaven
Flow softly upon your house.
May the great spirit
Bless all you enter there.
May your mocassins
Make happy tracks in many snows,
And may the rainbow
Always touch your shoulder.
Shoshone Wedding Blessings
The Shoshone or Shoshoni is a Native American tribe with four large cultural/linguistic divisions:
- Eastern Shoshone: Wyoming
- Northern Shoshone: southern Idaho
- Western Shoshone: Nevada, northern Utah
- Goshute: western Utah, eastern Nevada
Their peoples have become members of federally recognized tribes throughout their traditional areas of settlement, often co-located with the Northern Paiute people of the Great Basin.
Shoshone Wedding Blessing #1
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.
Shoshone Wedding Blessing #2
Our father you have all
Blessings and power.
Bless us this day and over us at all times.
Bless mother earth
Our animals our water
Bless everything you have created
Amen.
Navajo Wedding Blessings
The Navajo (Navaho; Navajo: Diné or Naabeehó) are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States.
With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members as of 2021, the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States; additionally, the Navajo Nation has the largest reservation in the country. The reservation straddles the Four Corners region and covers more than 27,325 square miles (70,000 square km) of land in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.
Navajo Wedding Blessing #1
As I walk, as I walk
The universe is walking with me
In beauty, it walks before me
In beauty, it walks behind me
In beauty, it walks below me
In beauty, it walks above me
Beauty is on every side
As I walk, I walk with Beauty.
Navajo Wedding Blessing #2
Now you have lit a fire and that fire should not go out,
The two of you have a fire that represents love,
Understanding and a philosophy of life,
It will give you heat, food, warmth and happiness
The 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.
Lakota Prayer
The Lakota (Lakota: Lakȟóta/Lakhóta) are a Native American people. Also known as the Teton Sioux (from Thítȟuŋwaŋ), they are one of the three prominent subcultures of the Sioux people. Their current lands are in North and South Dakota. They speak Lakȟótiyapi—the Lakota language, the westernmost of three closely related languages that belong to the Siouan language family.
Teach me how to trust my heart, my mind, my intuition, my inner knowing, the senses of my body, the blessings of my spirit.
Teach me to trust these things so that I may enter my sacred space and love beyond my fear and thus walk in balance with the passing of each glorious sun.
Pueblo Blessing
In the Southwestern United States, Pueblo (capitalized) refers to the Native tribes of Puebloans having fixed-location communities with permanent buildings which also are called pueblos (lowercased). The Spanish explorers of northern New Spain used the term pueblo to refer to permanent indigenous towns they found in the region, mainly in New Mexico and parts of Arizona, in the former province of Nuevo México.
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 letting go.
Hold on to my hand, even when I have gone away from you.
Inuit indigenous tribe
Inuit (Inuktitut: ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ‘the people’, singular: Inuk, ᐃᓄᒃ, dual: Inuuk, ᐃᓅᒃ) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Alaska. Inuit languages are part of the Eskimo–Aleut languages, also known as Inuit-Yupik-Unangan, and also as Eskaleut. Inuit Sign Language is a critically endangered language isolate used in Nunavut.
Inuit Wedding vow
You are my <husband/wife>
My feet shall run because of you
My feet shall dance because of you
My heart shall beat because of you
My eyes see because of you
My mind thinks because of you
And I shall love because of you.
Sami people
Sample Native American Ceremony
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.)
Secular Native American Theme Wedding Ceremony
Native American-inspired wedding rituals honor heritage, family
Blanket Ritual
In the original, traditional Native American ceremony each partner is wrapped in separate, blue blankets. Then the officiant gives a blessing and removes the blankets. The couple is then wrapped in a single white blanket. The blue represents their past, single lives, and the white represents their new life, to be filled with peace and happiness. The white blanket is kept by the couple and displayed in their home.
In some ways it is simple ritual with clear symbolism, and I think it’s quite wonderful.
This ritual can be easily modified to use just one blanket and choosing the blanket can also be part of the process for any couple. Why was it selected? Where does it come from? Who made it? Does the color or colors represent something? Did you buy it on a special trip? You get the idea.
You might also select certain people wrap the blanket, for example the mothers of each of the partners, or the couples’ “best persons,” or have the officiant do it.
The warmth and unity of this ritual is also apparent. But as much as I like this, a blanket may not be the best symbol on a hot day. I’m thinking winter right now!
It works very well as a final ritual and having something special (besides being pronounced married) at the very end can exciting. I love adding some extra zest for the ending, whether it’s jumping a branch or broom, shooting off confetti cannons, breaking the glass, or any number of joyful rituals to enhance that final moment.
Vase Ritual
Another Native American ritual that could be adapted is the Wedding Vase or Wedding Vessel. Originating among the Southwestern U.S. Navajo, Pueblo and Hopi Nations, the tradition has also been embraced by Cherokee tribes in the Southeast U.S. and Mexico.
Historically the parents of the groom have been responsible for creating the wedding vase. To start, they go to a local river and find clay to create their vase. By combining the clay with temper (sand or silica to give the clay body) they hand-build the vase. The pottery is fired outside in an open pit and then cleaned and polished so it will be ready to be used during the wedding ceremony. There is a long history of pottery making among these tribes.
No one is expecting you to do that today, especially if you are not Native American, but the spiritual meaning will still remain.
For this ritual obtain a vase, perhaps from an authentic source. This vessel needs to have two spouts for drinking. Each partner drinks from a separate spout showing that although they drink from the same vessel, they are still individuals. I found New Mexico artist Geraldine Vail creates one-of-a-kind pieces that are just perfect. I’m sure there are many others.
As always I advocate that when you borrow something from a tradition that is not your own, you do so with respect. There is a difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation. Don’t pretend to be a Native American if you are not, but if borrowing this tradition, give credit and explain why you have chosen it. You can certainly have a blanket ritual or wedding vase ritual as part of your wedding, but don’t dress up in some costume and pretend to be American Indian if you are not. It’s not disrespectful to use another tradition when you do it with love, just use common sense and respect boundaries.
By Lois Heckman
This article is borrowed from the Pocono record.
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.