Ceremony

Officiant: Know now before you go further that since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony, you should strive to make real the ideals that give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. With full awareness, know that within this circle, you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.

The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul’s growth. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?

Bride and Groom: Yes, We Seek to Enter.

Officiant: In times past, it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth is found in the sharing of silences.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. The warmth of hearth and home. The heat of the heart’s passion The light created by both To lighten the darkest of times.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake. The swift excitement of the river. The refreshing cleansing of the rain The all-encompassing passion of the sea.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North. A Firm foundation on which to build. Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives. A stable home to which you may always return.

Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet, they are only tools. Tools that you must use together to create what you seek in this union. I bid you look into each other’s eyes. [Groom’s Name], Will you cause her pain?

Groom: I May

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Groom: No

Officiant: [Bride’s Name], Will you cause him pain?

Bride: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Bride: No

Officiant: [To Both] Will you share each other’s pain and seek to ease it?

Bride and Groom: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. Join your hands *First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands* [Bride’s Name], Will you share his laughter?

Bride: Yes

Officiant: [Groom’s Name], Will you share her laughter?

Groom: Yes

Officiant: *To Both* Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

Bride and Groom: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Second chord is draped across the couple’s hands* [Bride’s Name], Will you burden him?

Bride: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Bride: No

Officiant:[ Groom’s Name], Will you burden her?

Groom: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Groom: No

Officiant: Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

Bride and Groom: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape third chord across the couple’s hands*[Bride’s Name], will you share his dreams?

Bride: Yes

Officiant:[ Groom’s Name], will you share her dreams?

Groom: Yes

Officiant:*To Both* Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?

Bride and Groom: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape fourth chord across the couple’s hands* [Groom’s Name], will you cause her anger?

Groom: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Groom: No

Officiant: [Bride’s Name], will you cause him anger?

Bride: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Bride: No

Officiant: *To Both* Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?

Bride and Groom: We Will

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape fifth cord across the couple’s hands*[Bride’s Name], Will you honour him?

Bride: I will

Officiant: [Groom’s Name], Will you honour her?

Groom: I will

Officiant: *To Both* Will you seek never to give cause to break that honour?

Bride and Groom: We shall never do so

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape sixth cord across the couple’s hands**Tie cords together while saying:* The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union. *Once cords are tied together, they are removed and placed on altar*

(End)

Reading

Apache Wedding Prayer, read by [member of the bridal party of your choosing] Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth to the other. Now there is no loneliness for you, for each of you will be the companion of the other. Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you. May your days be good and long upon the earth!

Officiant: Now that you have joined yourselves in matrimony, may you strive always to meet this commitment with the same spirit you now exhibit. We all bear witness to this ceremony you have just performed, and you may now call yourselves by those old and respected names, husband and wife. Bless this union. You may kiss the bride.

Exchange of Rings

Officiant: (Bride and Groom), as these circles are designed without an ending, they speak of eternity. May the incorruptible substance of these rings represent a love glowing with increasing lustre through the years. Bless these rings, which you give to each other as the sign of your love, trust, and faithfulness.

Groom (repeating after Officiant): Take this ring as a sign of my love, and as a symbol of all that we share, in token and pledge, of my constant faith and abiding love.

Bride: (the same thing, switched)

You can make any changes you feel you require! I’m willing to customize to suit your cultural or spiritual beliefs! Just let me know! Be Blessed!

Ceremony

Officiant: Know now before you go further that since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony, you should strive to make real the ideals that give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. With full awareness, know that within this circle, you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.

The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul’s growth. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?

Spouses: Yes, We Seek to Enter.

Officiant: In times past, it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth is found in the sharing of silences.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. The warmth of hearth and home. The heat of the heart’s passion The light created by both To lighten the darkest of times.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake. The swift excitement of the river. The refreshing cleansing of the rain The all-encompassing passion of the sea.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North. A Firm foundation on which to build. Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives. A stable home to which you may always return.

Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet, they are only tools. Tools that you must use together to create what you seek in this union. I bid you look into each other’s eyes. [Name of Spouse 1], Will you cause him/her/them pain?

Spouse 1: I May

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Spouse 1: No

Officiant: [Name of Spouse 2], Will you cause him/her/them pain?

Spouse 2: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Spouse 2: No

Officiant: [To Both] Will you share each other’s pain and seek to ease it?

Spouses: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. Join your hands *First cord is draped across the spouse’s hands* [Name of Spouse 2], Will you share his/her/their laughter?

Spouse 2: Yes

Officiant: [Name of Spouse 1], Will you share his/her/their laughter?

Spouse 1: Yes

Officiant: *To Both* Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

Spouses: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Second chord is draped across the couple’s hands* [Name of Spouse 2], Will you burden him/her/them?

Spouse 2: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Spouse 2: No

Officiant:[Name of Spouse 1], Will you burden him/her/them?

Spouse 1: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Spouse 1: No

Officiant: Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

Spouses: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape third chord across the couple’s hands*[Name of Spouse 1], will you share his/her/their dreams?

Spouse 2: Yes

Officiant:[Name of Spouse 1], will you share his/her/their dreams?

Spouse 1: Yes

Officiant:*To Both* Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?

Spouses: Yes

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape fourth chord across the couple’s hands* [Name of Spouse 1], will you cause him/her/them anger?

Spouse 1: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Spouse 1: No

Officiant: [Name of Spouse 2], will you cause him/her/them anger?

Spouse 2: I may

Officiant: Is that your intent?

Spouse 2: No

Officiant: *To Both* Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?

Spouse: We Will

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape fifth cord across the couple’s hands*[Name of Spouse 2], Will you honour him/her/them?

Spouse 2: I will

Officiant: [Name of Spouse 1], Will you honour him/her/them?

Spouse 1: I will

Officiant: *To Both* Will you seek never to give cause to break that honour?

Spouses: We shall never do so

Officiant: And so the binding is made. *Drape sixth cord across the couple’s hands**Tie cords together while saying:* The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union. *Once cords are tied together, they are removed and placed on altar*

(End)

Reading

Apache Wedding Prayer, read by [member of the wedding party of your choosing] Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth to the other. Now there is no loneliness for you, for each of you will be the companion of the other. Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you. May your days be good and long upon the earth!

Officiant: Now that you have joined yourselves in matrimony, may you strive always to meet this commitment with the same spirit you now exhibit. We all bear witness to this ceremony you have just performed, and you may now call yourself a couple wedded through ceremony and sacred union. Bless this union. You may kiss your spouse.

Exchange of Rings

Officiant: (Name of Spouses), as these circles are designed without an ending, they speak of eternity. May the incorruptible substance of these rings represent a love glowing with increasing lustre through the years. Bless these rings, which you give to each other as the sign of your love, trust, and faithfulness.

Spouse 1 (repeating after Officiant): Take this ring as a sign of my love, and as a symbol of all that we share, in token and pledge, of my constant faith and abiding love.

Spouse 2: (the same thing, switched)

You can make any changes you feel you require! I’m willing to customize to suit your cultural or spiritual beliefs! Just let me know! Be Blessed!