native american tradition....yes or no?

Hmmm, I'm not sure, you might leave some guests confused if they didn't know you're both part native american...lol But do what ever you like!

I just saw that blanket ceremony on Four Weddings last night! I think you should do what you feel good about.

That's where I saw it! And I loved it! I would have the officant explain..like the blue blanket represents....then the white blanket represents...I mean they had a japanese guy as their officant, so I don't think it would matter as long as my officant is okay. And I could explain it in the program too

The two of you could speak this or put it in your program.

Cherokee Prayer:

“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 that our marriage 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 that we sail through life safe and calm, as in our Father’s arms. We honor water, to clean and soothe our relationship, that it may never thirst 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.”

Your officiant could say this.

Native American Blessing:

“Now you will 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 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. May you live in love and joy together, now and always.”

I like the prayer,,, but I am trying to find something different other then the sand ceremony and candle unity..I dont like candles (at all) and I feel like everyone is doing sand! But I want something

That was a really cool ceremony. I think if it resonates for both of you, go for it!

What about the salt covenant? I'm sure the Native Americans used/use salt!

I just wanted to suggest this reading, which we did at our own wedding. Our JOP read it right before he pronounced us man and wife.

Apache Wedding Blessing

Now you will 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 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

Go now to your dwelling place

To enter into the days of your togetherness

And may your days be good and long upon the earth

I'm doing the Hand Holding Ceremony (I don't like candles or sand either)

Officiant reads:

As an expression that your hearts are joined together in love will you please face each other and hold hands, so you may feel the gift that you are to one another.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours,

still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

CONT

Blessing after:

“Our wish for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true.”

I did the blessings of the hands. everone thought it was very touching. But I would skip the blanket ceremony. The prayer is awesome for anyone, but the blanket seems more traditional for "real" native americans.

I'm part Cherokee. My older cousin used some Native American traditions in her wedding. This included being married by a Medicine Man and United Methodist Pastor on the grounds outside our church. I think it sounds really cool. You need to make sure it's okay with your officiant though.

While I'm also Native, and I think having a part of your heritage in your wedding is wonderful (if that's what you want to do. If you're having a Catholic/Christian wedding, though, you definitely should check with your church/priest prior to getting all excited about it. Within the faith, many churches do not like to stray from the Catholic ceremony (mine included- as I wanted a sand ceremony and was told we had to use a unity candle). Just a thought. I'd hate for you to get all excited about it, only to find out that you can't do it.

Http://www.pikespeakwedding.com/ceremony.html#ribbon

This is such a cool idea with the blanket ceremony! This is a different type of ceremony that the place where my Mom is having her Vow Renewal performs too. We also had the Apache Wedding Blessing read during ours.

Lastly, if you have programs--include that in your ceremony descriptions, with a small sentence or two explaining what it is and for. We jumped the broom--and nobody that came had ever heard of that before, so we did have that included in our programs to help that out...we had lots of hick types as guests at ours...they don't even do unity candles or anything! T-shirt, jeans, and bbq in the backyard with JOP--that is their wedding style.