Indigenous unions tend to emphasize intention and commitment over material display, with wedding ceremonies and celebrations focusing less on attire, rings, and registries and more on family and community. “A Navajo wedding is more than the uniting of two people,” says Mark Bahti, author of numerous books about Indigenous culture, including Pueblo Stories & Storytellers. “It is the joining together of families, clans, and community.”
Underpinning that union is tangible proof of readiness. Preparations for a traditional Hopi wedding — such as gathering enough corn — might start a year or more in advance. “The man’s family/clan must provide the bride’s traditional woven
