In my home I have a couple of hand stitched quilts and a few colorful afghans that were crafted by my husband's grandmother. These blankets are very special. They are works of art with beautiful and intricate designs and colors. Every stitch was a labor of love. They are a homespun piece of art, a gift from someone who loved us and comfort from someone we loved. My husband's grandmother is gone from us, but we still snuggle up with her blankets and feel content and cozy.
I often wonder how blankets such as these would fit into a wedding ceremony. The answer is quit charming.
The American Indians used blankets during their wedding ceremonies. Two blue blankets at the beginning of the ceremony are wrapped around the bride and groom. The blue blankets represent sorrow and a single life. After the vows the blue blankets are replaced with one white blanket draped across both of their shoulders. The white blanket represents oneness and a life together. I have always admired and respected the symbolisms created by the Native Americans. I understand their Father Sky and Mother Earth, I get it. And I too can create a ceremony using a blanket to symbolize unity.
The blanket in my ceremony would be called a marriage quilt. If the couple had a child, or children, they would be invited to partake. The quilt would symbolize coming together as one. It would represent comfort, home and shelter. It would represent warmth and closeness. It would represent family. After the symbolism for the marriage quilt is explained, the couple (or family) would kneel before me and I would drape them in the fabric, shoulder to shoulder. Then a prayer or a blessing would be spoken. The quilt would then be removed and placed on the altar table or handed to someone to hold. If the couple wished they could do their vows still wrapped in the quilt. or have their first kiss in the quilt.
The marriage quilt could come out again for the couples first dance, wrapped around their shoulders as they twirl slowly around the dance floor. It can be creatively used as a prop in the wedding photographs. It can be displayed at the reception and then taken home and displayed there or placed upon the couples bed.
I often wonder how blankets such as these would fit into a wedding ceremony. The answer is quit charming.
The American Indians used blankets during their wedding ceremonies. Two blue blankets at the beginning of the ceremony are wrapped around the bride and groom. The blue blankets represent sorrow and a single life. After the vows the blue blankets are replaced with one white blanket draped across both of their shoulders. The white blanket represents oneness and a life together. I have always admired and respected the symbolisms created by the Native Americans. I understand their Father Sky and Mother Earth, I get it. And I too can create a ceremony using a blanket to symbolize unity.
The blanket in my ceremony would be called a marriage quilt. If the couple had a child, or children, they would be invited to partake. The quilt would symbolize coming together as one. It would represent comfort, home and shelter. It would represent warmth and closeness. It would represent family. After the symbolism for the marriage quilt is explained, the couple (or family) would kneel before me and I would drape them in the fabric, shoulder to shoulder. Then a prayer or a blessing would be spoken. The quilt would then be removed and placed on the altar table or handed to someone to hold. If the couple wished they could do their vows still wrapped in the quilt. or have their first kiss in the quilt.
The marriage quilt could come out again for the couples first dance, wrapped around their shoulders as they twirl slowly around the dance floor. It can be creatively used as a prop in the wedding photographs. It can be displayed at the reception and then taken home and displayed there or placed upon the couples bed.
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