INVITATION
A Celebration of Love, Friendship, Laughter and Family at the Marriage Celebration of
Tarah Nicole King and Christopher John Keeley
Saturday, November 1, 2008
At 4 O'Clock In The Evening
Merry Go Round Rock
SEDONA, ARIZONA
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 only 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.
Tarah and Chris
GIFT REGISTRY
ACCOMODATIONS
TRANSPORTATION
The closest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) which is approximately 120 miles from Sedona. Once landing in Phoenix, there are generally two ways to get to Sedona.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International
DAY TRIPS
WEATHER
PICTURES
KO MAUA LA MALE 'ANA ( Our Wedding Day ) 11.01.2008
The wedding will held at the stunning location of Red Rock Country (Crescent Moon Park) Sedona, Arizona. The ceremony will be conducted by Uqualla Native American Shaman from Havasupai Nation meaning "People-Of-The-Blue-Green-Waters". Uqualla begins the ceremony with invocation to the elements of Mother Earth, Father Sky, and to the East, South, West, and the North winds. A drumming signals celebration. The couple comes forth and the wedding rings are purified through an infusion of sage and prayer. Uqualla blesses the union of husband and wife with an array of ritual gestures. He makes the traditional offering chant and the heart beat of the drum to the four cardinal directions and a final chanting seals the union. We feel that having a Native American wedding ceremony is a unique, powerful, spiritual and moving way to begin our married journey life together. Sedona is also a sacred palace to many Native Americans Nations, which makes Sedona also the perfect place to experience a genuine Native American wedding. We both have always respected the Native American cultures and their beliefs. With our families and close friends by our side supporting our union together, makes the whole experience even more meaningful.
The Blanket Ceremony
Another wedding custom practiced by the Kiowa and several other plains tribes is the blanket ceremony. Two blue blankets are used in the ceremony, with each representing the couple's past lives that may have been filled with loneliness, weakness, failures, sorrow and spiritual depression.
The couple are each wrapped in one of the blue blankets and their relatives follow them to the sacred fire circle. (If the ceremony is indoors, they could approach when you pronounce them husband and wife). After the spiritual leader blesses the union the couple then shed the blue blankets and are enveloped by relatives in a single white blanket representing their new ways of happiness, fulfillment and peace.
Under the white blanket, the couple then embrace and kiss. This is the end of the wedding ceremony.
The white blanket is kept by the couple and often displayed in their home.
The wedding vase has been used by many Indian tribes in America. In tradition, the wedding vase was created prior to the wedding. Many believe as part of the marriage ceremony the medicine man would prepare a special potion [usually water] for the young lovers.
First, the bride drinks from one spout and then, gives it to the groom, who drinks from the opposite spout. The mixture signified the promise of deep love and eternal happiness for the couple.