Wedding Vases

At Gray Wolf Trading Post, we offer a wide range of Native American wedding vases, each meticulously handmade by artists from diverse tribes. These vases are crafted using natural materials, resulting in unique pieces of art and craftsmanship.

The wedding vase holds profound significance in traditional Native American wedding ceremonies. Each spout symbolizes one of the individuals entering into marriage, while the looped handle signifies the unity achieved through marriage. The space within the loop represents the couple’s own circle of life. This ancient vessel has gained global popularity and is utilized in various marriage rituals.

Among many Native American tribes, the wedding vase embodies a cherished and sacred tradition. Beyond its role in pre-wedding ceremonies, the vessel’s shape and construction carry symbolic meaning.

Typically, a week or two before the wedding, the groom’s parents fashion the wedding vase from locally sourced clay, ceremonially cleansed from a nearby riverbed. After firing the vessel, both families gather. The parents impart advice to the couple, and the wedding vase is filled with a ceremonial liquid. Traditionally prepared by a medicine man, modern variations may include water or herbal-infused tea, symbolizing the blending of lives. The ceremony unfolds as one partner offers the vessel to the other, each drinking from one spout in turn. They then drink from the opposite side and finally together, aiming to do so without spilling—a sign of a lasting and cooperative relationship. The vase, thereafter, becomes a cherished heirloom in their home, carefully preserved.

Visually stunning, the wedding vase’s design holds deep significance. The dual spouts signify the couple, while the rounded base and shared reservoir represent their intertwined lives. The looped handle visually reinforces their unity, akin to a wedding band symbolizing their spiritual connection, creating a central circle symbolizing the circle of life. ^