Symbolic of a time when large dowries were sometimes required by the families of the bride and groom, the practice of exchanging baskets filled with meaningful gifts developed. For example, the bride's basket to the groom may be filled with bread and corn representing her promise to nurture and support her new husband. The groom's basket might contain meat and skins representing his promise to feed and clothe the bride. However, as weddings are personal, you can add anything you want.
THE WEDDING VASE CEREMONY
First, the bride drinks from one side of the vase. Then she turns it and the Groom drinks from the opposite site. Then they both drink at the same time. It's said that if they don't spill anything the marriage will have good luck and prosper. It's sort of like the anglo custom of the bride and groom cutting the cake and feeding a piece to each other.
THE BLANKET CEREMONY
Two blue blankets are used in this ceremony, with each representing the couple's past lives that may have been filled with loneliness, weakness, failures, sorrow and spiritual depression. The couple are each wrapped in one of the blue blankets. After the spiritual leader blesses the union, the couple then sheds the blue blankets and are draped in a single white blanket representing their new ways of happiness, fulfillment and peace.
While under the white blanket, the couple then embrace and kiss. This is the end of the wedding ceremony.
The white blanket is kept by the couple and then is often displayed in their home. It is the same blanket that is some times split in half if the marriage goes sour.
CHEROKEE WEDDING PRAYER
Grandfather,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 through life safe and calm as in our father's arms.
We honor water - to clean and soothe our marriage– that it may never thirst for love.
As we honor all the forces of the universe you created, we pray for harmony and true happiness, as we forever grow together.
Amen.
