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One of the ways that Mr. Spaniel and I hope to personalize our ceremony is by finding readings from different faiths and cultural traditions that are meaningful to us now, or that speak to our particular backgrounds. This isn’t necessarily as simple and straightforward as it sounds, though. In our first year together, we attended three weddings, and at two of them we heard the “Apache Wedding Blessing”. It may be familiar to you:
(source)
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.
(You can even buy calligraphic prints of it here or here!)
Sounds sweet and sentimental, right? Old and traditional? The perfect reading for a couple of semi-hippie types like Mr. Spaniel and me? Yeah, except that it’s a giant fraud. Mr. Spaniel thought it sounded just a little too perfect and did a quick Google search on it, and discovered that it actually has no connection to any Native American tradition at all, but was instead written for the 1950s Western Broken Arrow by Brooklyn-born Albert Maltz. Naturally, we’ve decided to continue the search to find something both meaningful and authentic to incorporate into our ceremony.
Am I being too sentimental? Does it matter if this is a real Native American tradition or not?
I am running into similar dilemmas. My fiance and I are of two different faiths, and we want something that symbolizes us, as a couple, not one or the other. I would love to hear what you come up with and good luck! 
Oh, man! I’m always looking into the origins of things too, which sometimes ruins them for me.
I say, go with something authentic. It seems like you’re searching for something with history, depth, and meaning.
Either that, or ban the mister from google for a while!
Haha, I always giggle when someone finds out it’s from a Western movie
Here’s the thing - it’s a lovely sentiment, and a beautiful blessing. Why not credit it as something else (simple Blessing for a Wedding instead of Apache Wedding Blessing), and use it during the ceremony? If it’s meaningful, why not use it, just don’t attribute it to something it’s not.
definitely go with authentic, unless that reading has meaning to you aside from it’s supposed Native American connection.
My parents used that reading, so it was more the sentiment of their ceremony + ours that caused us to use it.
@cfitz621: Both! Something else, and a Google ban! 
@Gilneas: I suggested this–marking it as “From Broken Arrow” on the program–but he hated the idea since it’s already been pulled over on so many people before that!
@denverbirdlet: We liked the text… but otherwise it has no special meaning to us.
oh that’s kind of disappointing that it’s not authentic, but on the other hand it is a very nice poem and so still very appropriate–i guess it wouldn’t be introduced as the “apache wedding blessing” though.
I’m part Native American, and I know that in most tribes, you have to be a member (meaning live on the reservation) to learn the traditions, readings, sayings, et cetera that are part of each specific tribe’s ritual of marriage.
So I would say, don’t trust any “Native American marriage blessing” you find through google.
During my search, a link on weddingbee sent me to this website where I found a few readings I really liked: http://kvetch.indiebride.com/index.php?t=msg&th=2271&start=0&rid=0&S=6ef54c974cecd4426cf0768e900cf4d7
Hope it helps!
I would go for as authentic as possible. I kind of hate (eep) that so-called Apache blessing because of the faux-Indianess of it all.
I’m First Nations (go Dene!) and my aunt, an Elder, will be performing a blessing for us. She’ll be doing it in Dene and English, which will be awesome.
That being said, if you truly like it, I would just go with the suggestion to properly credit it and not use it as an “Apache” blessing.
We used that wedding blessing as one of our readings - we just liked the sentiment. My feeling is, don’t over think it - if you like it, you like it.
My first thought was, go ahead, use it if you like the message. But honestly, if you’re trying to find something authentic that has meaning behind it’s meaning for you, I’d definitely keep looking.
i like the sentiment of that poem. i’d use it and just rename it appropriately.
Uh, yeah, I’d go with something different. My FI and I are both Cherokee, our families would lose it if we used this. The sentiment is nice, but I wouldn’t associate with native americans.
If you like it, use it. How many people today still do Unity Candle lightings thinking its a time honored tradition from whenever way back when.. wrong - it started in the 70s and was very much a late hippie thing. You really dont want to look too closely into the history of being walked down the aisle or wearing a veil…. beautiful now - sooo anti women then.
Go with what you like, this whole shindig is about making it about the two of you and what you like. (Unless you are of Native American background and have family that would be offended.. then just name it something else!)
@SaraFoxy0328: Thanks! Some of these are great!
@Tenille: We’re thinking we don’t like it enough to get past the fraud. And since both couples who used it at their weddings, assuming that it was legitimate, will be attending ours, I don’t want to hurt their feelings by calling extra attention!
@Miss Nachos: If we were big Western movie fans, I’d be all over it.
@314Cherokee: Now I know better, but if you’re not of that background, you’d probably have to actually think of it and be suspicious enough to look it up before you ever found out. 
That’s the part that upsets me.
I think it’s beautiful, so if you’re looking for something that is touching and meaningful and it is those things for you - then I say go for it. However, if you want something with time-honored tradition, etc…looks like you might have to keep searching!
I really like the sound of it, it’s so pretty. But I can see how it’s hard to go with, it not being authentic. I say keep searching, you’ll find something real and true that you love, I’m sure!
That is a huge bummer. I love it, but I understand being “ehh” about it since it isn’t an authentic saying. I’d be the same way.
I think you should use it! Really, it’s so beautiful
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Mrs. Spaniel, Los Angeles Age and Occupation: 28, Law Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Psychologist Wedding Date: March 2010 Venue: Calamigos Ranch About Me: I'm a third-year law student trying to balance graduating with starting my career, keeping up a relationship, and, oh yeah, planning an Old World, multi-cultural, "mountain lodge" wedding for 180 guests! A South Asian Jewish girl getting ready to marry my handsome Catholic Dane, I'm hoping to blend our cultures in our wedding just a bit more gently than by providing samosas as appetizers and offering æbleskiver for dessert. (Although that would also be awesome.)
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