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Wedding Smudge Stick Recipe - Sage, Sweetgrass, and Lavender

Published Monday, Sep. 12th, 2022


Illustration by Jessica Levey

A wedding smudge recipe for wisdom, well-being, loving words, and lasting devotion

 

 

Listen now: 

AMM Audio Articles · Wedding Smudge Stick Recipe with Sage, Sweetgrass, and Lavender

 

 

 

Smudging is a spiritual practice performed by burning sacred herbs to create a purifying smoke, used to bless a ceremonial space, encourage mindfulness, and clear away negative thoughts or feelings. 

 

Sage, sweetgrass, and lavender are the most common ingredients used in wedding smudge ceremonies – and it’s easy to see why. These magical plants smell amazing when burned, and are believed to hold unique spiritual properties, such as welcoming love, harmonious energy, wisdom, protection from negativity, and good luck. 

 

 

This combination of sweetgrass, sage, and lavender will fill your wedding venue with soft, warm scents of vanilla, deep earthy green notes, and fresh light floral notes. A perfect balance! 


Ingredients:

 

  • White Sage
  • Blue Sage
  • Desert Sage
  • Sweetgrass
  • Lavender 

 

Optional ingredients: 

 

  • Rose buds and rose quartz, for decorative garnish and crystal smudging.

 
 

To make the smudge stick:

 
Gather dried sage leaves, sweetgrass strands, and dried lavender flowers and stems. Choose white sage for wisdom and protection, blue sage to banish negative energy and spirits, and desert sage for spiritual awareness and open-heartedness. 

 

Taking a little of each herb and flower at a time, bundle these ingredients together and tie them tightly with twine, string, or wire. Sweetgrass can also be braided around stems of lavender and sage, and then bound with twine. 

 

For the best results, cut your materials into similar lengths, and try to keep one end of your smudge stick even. This will make it easier to light, and help it to burn more evenly. Make sure your bundle is tight! 

 

 

To use the smudge stick: 


Light one end and let it smolder, creating a rich aromatic smoke. Place the smudge stick in a shallow bowl or shell to keep it burning whenever you’re not holding it during the ceremony.

 

Perform this ritual before the wedding ceremony begins to cast a circle or create a sacred space, or include it during the ceremony before the wedding vows or as a final blessing before the pronouncement. 

 

 

 

Add a Reading or Blessing to your ceremony: 

 

 


 

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Jessica Levey
Jessica Levey

Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

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