Our Wedding

We were married at the Chapel at the Tropicana in 2002 in Las Vegas. The minister there appeared to be an Apache ancestor. He recited this as part of our wedding ceremony. Everyone there loved it. One of our attendees actually presented us with a copy of it framed and it hangs on our wall in our home.

Beth Nickles 2014-10-31

Vows from the Apache

It will be 46 years on December 20, 2014. I was sharing with a young woman about what was read at our wedding and just for the heck of it looked it up. It is still as meaningful as when they were said for us. And we have spent our days together and been the shelter for one another even when it was tough. Now he is ill. I will take this home for him to remind him of our special day.

Liz 2014-09-05

Non biblical reading

This is from a film and has no religious relevance, Christian or otherwise. Alas it doesn't need to have, in order to strike meaning...

Jamie 2014-06-22

Elliott Arnold

The Indian Wedding Blessing, Apache Wedding Prayer, and other variants, is commonly recited at weddings in the United States. It is not associated with any particular religion and indeed does not mention a deity or include a petition, only a wish.

It was written for the 1950 Western novel Blood Brother (novel) by Elliott Arnold. The blessing entered popular consciousness when it made its way into the film adaptation of the novel Broken Arrow, scripted by Albert Maltz, and has no known connection to the traditions of the Apache or any other Native American group. The Economist, citing Rebecca Mead's book on American weddings,[1] characterized it as "'traditionalesque', commerce disguised as tradition".[2]

Since 1950, there have since been several different additions and alterations to the poem.

The film text is as follows:

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 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.

Sophia 2011-07-01

from a novel

Said to be from novel by Elliott Arnold (1950) which was incorporated into a film script for Broken Arrow. Sounds good, though.

Lauren 2011-04-22

It is awsome

I love the way it sounds.

Apache Haggins 2010-11-05

Apache Wedding Poem

My daughter recited this poem 8 years ago at my wedding and it was the most beautiful gift she could have given to me and her new stepmother.

David 2009-11-13

Incredible

I love how it doesn't invoke any diety whatsoever. It's beautiful

Sonusai 2009-03-05

Heart Touching

When I married my husband on May 24 2008 this was the prayer at our wedding, it still brings a tear to my eye!

Katrina 2008-08-09

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL

I AM GETTING READY TO GET MARRIED ON JULY 14 , 07 AND THIS POEM IS GOING TO BE USED AT MY WEDDING. IT HAS SO MUCH MEANING TO IT. I LOVE IT.

DANIELLE 2007-06-04

The Best

We used these vows. And our ceremoney was done by a minister that was half native american apache. It was beautiful

Jo Ann 2007-06-02

Apache Wedding Prayer

I love this. A friend of mine gave it to me and my husband and I are renewing our vows this Saturday, and we are going to say this to each other.

Lynn Morgan 2005-10-13

I Love this poem

I love this poem..I used it at my wedding and I am still married to my husband, 30 years later!!!

Deb 2005-10-03

Apache wedding prayer

Does anyone out there know if this prayer originated in the Bible as I have it here as a reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians but cant find it in the Bible. This reading was accepted by catholic priests for a wedding ceremony as a new testament reading.

audrey 2005-03-19

Beautiful

This is a beautiful poem, I used this poem at my own wedding last July, there wasn't a dry eye in the place! Everyone was very moved and thought that the poem was very romantic.

Sonia 2004-06-17