Native Americans have a culture rich in custom and tradition and their weddings are no different. Adding a few of the Native American wedding traditions, which are very beautiful, may add an element of spirituality to your ceremony.
It is the custom in the Native American culture for the man to ask for permission to marry into the woman’s family. The man will normally ask permission of the shaman or priest. Once the permission is granted, the two families customarily exchange food, livestock or other gifts in order to show their approval of the union.
In many tribes the newly wed couples resides with the family of the bride once the wedding ceremony has been performed. It is the responsibility of the new husband to provide for his in-laws and follow directions that are given by his mother-in-law. It is the custom to give the newlywed baskets of corn as gifts. The corn is a symbol of fertility.
An engaged couple of the Algonquin tribe selects four sponsors. Sponsors are older individuals who will provide wisdom and advice to the newly wed couple. In tribes that follow traditions, divorce is not an option. That is the reason for the sponsors; so they can offer advice if the couple should need it. At the wedding ceremony the sponsors make a commitment to provide and guidance to the couple throughout their lifetime.
Native American tribes in Northern California practice two types of marriage, the half marriage and the full marriage. A full marriage takes place if the groom is able to pay the full amount that was requested from the bride’s family. If the groom is only able to pay half of the requested amount, then a half marriage takes place. In a half marriage the couple resides with the family of the bride and the groom is under the authority of his bride’s father.
A traditional Native American wedding ceremony that can be used today is the fire ceremony. This tradition involves constructing a circle of stones and seven types of wood. In the center of the circle will sit a large pile of wood. On either side of the woodpile will be two small fires. These fires represent the bride and groom as individuals. After the ceremonial blessings from the priest and family and friends, the bride and groom will slide each individual fire into the large woodpile to symbolize their new union.
Another ceremony that is used frequently is the blanket ceremony. The bride and groom are wrapped individually in blue blankets at the onset of the ceremony. The blue blankets are used to represent the sorrows that each of them have endured separately. Once the ceremony is blessed by the priest, the blue blankets are taken off and the couple is wrapped as one in a single white blanket. This symbolizes the act of becoming one.
One more Native American wedding ceremony is the seven steps ceremony. The wedding ceremony starts with lighting a sacred fire. The bride and groom proceed to take exactly seven steps around this fire. The groom takes the first step and then stops to say a vow. The bride follows with a step and recites a vow of her own. The groom will then take another step and recite another vow. This continues until seven steps and seven vows have been completed. It is not uncommon for the couple to exchange corn or stones to show their commitment.