Lyla Dejesus
Amish weddings are a unique affair, with traditions and customs that differ from typical English ceremonies. The Amish community places great importance on marriage, as it signifies the transition to adulthood. Amish weddings are held during a service similar to their worship service, presided over by the Bishop and ministers. The ceremony includes vows, which are taken seriously, and a sermon, but no kiss or photography. The celebration continues with a large meal, typically serving 200-600 people, and includes traditional fare such as chicken, mashed potatoes, and pies. The Amish wedding season in Lancaster County, PA, for example, begins in October and ends in March, with weddings traditionally held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The bride's dress is typically blue or purple, made by the bride herself, and the groom starts growing his beard before the wedding, a symbol of marriage in the Amish community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Timing | Traditionally held in the late fall after the harvest, on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Now held year-round and on other days. |
| Engagement | Kept private, with couples waiting until a few weeks or months before the wedding to announce their engagement. |
| Bride's attire | Brides typically make their own dresses, often choosing a shade of blue or purple. |
| Groom's attire | Men wear black pants and jackets with a white dress shirt. Grooms start growing their beards a few days before the wedding. |
| Wedding party attire | Bridesmaids (newehockers) wear the same color. Young men of the wedding party wear matching shirts. Servers assisting at the meal wear special colors chosen by the bride. |
| Guests | Guest lists typically range from 200-600 people, including relatives, friends, and coworkers. Close non-Amish friends may also be invited to the meal and ceremony. |
| Location | The ceremony takes place at a church or the bride's family's house. A temporary structure may be built to accommodate guests. |
| Schedule | The wedding day typically lasts from 9 am to 9 pm, with the ceremony starting around 8:30 am and lasting 3-3.5 hours. |
| Food | Traditional Amish wedding meals include fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed celery, pies, and other vegetables. There is also a wedding cake and "side cakes." |
| Activities | There is no dancing or kissing at the altar. The afternoon includes socializing, singing, and games such as volleyball. |
| Honeymoon | The Amish do not believe in honeymoons. The couple helps with cleanup after the wedding and stays with their parents until they are ready to live on their own. |
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What You'll Learn
Amish wedding traditions vary across communities
In Lancaster County, the wedding season begins in October and ends in March, as farm work is scarce during these months. In contrast, weddings in Ohio are usually held in November and December, or in the spring and summer for larger communities not driven by the agrarian calendar. The weddings typically last the whole day, starting early in the morning and ending at night. The ceremony itself is about three hours long and is followed by a large meal, served in shifts, with the newlyweds and their families eating first. The meal is usually fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other vegetables, although some communities serve turkey or chicken roast, creamed celery, and pies.
The wedding ceremony is solemn and simple, without any dancing, kissing at the altar, or photography. The bride's dress is typically blue or purple, made by the bride herself, and the bridesmaids wear the same colour. The groom and other men present wear black pants and jackets with a white dress shirt. The bride's family usually hosts the wedding at their home, and a temporary structure may be built to accommodate the large number of guests, typically ranging from 200 to 600 people.
Dating customs also vary among the Amish communities. Dating typically begins around age 16, with most couples marrying between 18 and 25. Courtship is kept secret, and engagements are not announced until a few weeks or even just a month before the wedding.
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Amish weddings are simple, traditional and community-centred
Amish weddings are simple, traditional, and community-centred affairs that reflect the Amish values of simplicity, humility, and adherence to tradition. While customs vary from place to place, there are some common features that make Amish weddings unique.
Amish weddings are typically held on Tuesdays or Thursdays, with the wedding season falling after the harvest in the late fall. In recent years, weddings have been held year-round to accommodate the number of couples getting married. The wedding ceremony usually begins in the morning and lasts for around three hours, followed by a large meal. The ceremony is solemn and includes a sermon, vows, and a prayer, but there is no kiss at the altar or dancing. The bride and groom take their vows before the church, with the Bishop and ministers presiding. The couple regards their vows as sacred.
The bride typically makes her own dress, often choosing a shade of blue or purple. The bridesmaids, or "newehockers", also wear dresses made by the bride in the same colour. The groom and other men in the wedding party wear black pants and jackets with a white dress shirt. The women take great care in choosing the fabrics and colours for the wedding party. The bride's dress becomes her regular Sunday church attire after the wedding and is also the dress she will be buried in.
The wedding meal is a significant part of the day, with a variety of traditional Amish foods served, including fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed celery, pies, and other vegetables. The meal is usually prepared by unmarried boys, girls, and young men and women, who consider it an honour to be asked to serve or cook. The meal is served in shifts, with the newlyweds and their families eating first. The bride and groom may also visit the guests with baskets of candy as a greeting.
The wedding is a community-centred event, with the community coming together to help with preparations. Tables are set up in the house, and a cooking tent may be set up to accommodate the food preparation for the large number of guests, typically ranging from 200 to 600 people. The community also helps with the cleanup after the wedding, and the newlyweds stay with their parents until they are ready to live in their own home, which is usually built with community help.
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Amish weddings are held during a worship service
Amish weddings are a community-centred affair, reflecting the values of simplicity, humility and tradition. They are held during a worship service, usually at a neighbour's house within walking distance of the couple's home. The service is solemn and typically lasts around three hours, mirroring the length of an average Amish Sunday church service. The bridal couple sits at the front, with the congregation made up of church members only. The Bishop and ministers preside over the service, with the couple taking their vows before the church.
The Amish do not have wedding rings as they do not wear any jewellery. Instead, they focus on "adorning themselves with inner beauty". The bride-to-be informs her parents of the proposal, and wedding planning begins immediately, though the engagement is kept a secret until a few weeks before the wedding. The groom starts growing his beard a few days before the wedding, as married men in the Amish community are distinguished by their beards.
The wedding ceremony is followed by a large meal, typically served around noon. The meal usually consists of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other vegetables or salads. The food is prepared by cooks in a "`wedding wagon`, a mobile kitchen rented for the occasion, and served by unmarried boys and girls who are considered "tablewaiters". The newlyweds and their families eat first, followed by the rest of the guests. The meal is a joyous occasion, with singing, games, and socialising.
After the meal, the bride and groom may visit the guests with baskets of candy as a way to greet everyone personally. The couple does not go on a honeymoon, and they stay with their parents until they are ready to live together in their own home, which is usually built with help from the community.
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Amish brides typically make their own dresses
Amish brides typically make their own wedding dresses, as well as the dresses of their bridesmaids (known as 'newehockers'). The bride's dress is usually blue or purple, with blue being the more common colour. After the wedding, the bride will wear the dress to church on Sundays, and it will also be her burial dress. Amish brides also wear a white apron with their dress, in a style similar to the dresses they wore as teenagers.
The wedding ceremony usually starts around 8:30 in the morning and lasts 3 to 3.5 hours. It is a solemn occasion, with no dancing, kissing at the altar, or photography. The ceremony includes a sermon, after which the bishop takes the couple aside to give them advice, private instruction, and his blessing. The couple then says their vows at the front of the church, followed by a final prayer. The wedding party and guests then head back to the bride's family home for the wedding meal.
The wedding meal is a grand affair, with anywhere from 200 to 600 people in attendance. The meal is usually a typical Amish fare of fried or broasted chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other vegetables. The bride and groom may also visit the guests with baskets of candy as a greeting. The meal is followed by dessert, which includes pudding pies, fruit mix, and ice cream.
The Amish do not believe in honeymoons, and the newlywed couple helps with the cleanup after the wedding. They will also continue to live with their parents until they are ready to move into their own home, which is usually built with help from the community.
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Amish weddings have no photography, kissing or dancing
Amish weddings are simple, traditional, and community-centred affairs that reflect the values of simplicity, humility, and adherence to tradition. They are quite different from most traditional weddings. There is no photography, kissing, or dancing at Amish weddings.
The Amish do not have wedding rings or any jewellery, instead choosing to adorn themselves with inner beauty. The bride's dress is typically blue or purple, and after the wedding, it becomes her Sunday church attire. It is also the dress she will be buried in when she dies. The groom starts growing his beard a few days before the wedding, which he will keep for the rest of his life.
The wedding ceremony usually lasts around three hours and takes place in the morning. It is followed by a big meal, with food being a large component of the wedding day. The meal typically includes fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other vegetables. The couple takes their vows before the church, but there is no kiss at the altar.
The weddings are typically held on Tuesdays or Thursdays, with Thursdays being the most popular day. They usually take place at the bride's family's house, and anywhere from 200 to 600 guests can be expected. The guest list includes relatives, friends, and coworkers, with close non-Amish friends also sometimes invited to the meal.
The Amish take their wedding vows very seriously. Marriage is extremely important to the Amish community as it is the catalyst for becoming an adult. Amish couples typically marry between the ages of 18 and 25, with dating usually beginning around age 16.
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Frequently asked questions
Amish weddings are typically simple, traditional, and community-centred affairs that reflect Amish values of simplicity, humility, and adherence to tradition. The weddings are held during a service similar to the typical Amish worship service, presided over by a Bishop and ministers. The ceremony includes a sermon, vows, and a prayer, followed by a large meal. There is no dancing, kissing at the altar, or photography.
Amish weddings are traditionally held on Tuesdays or Thursdays in the fall after the harvest. However, due to practicality, weddings are now held year-round and on other days to accommodate the number of couples getting married. Amish wedding season in Lancaster County, PA, begins in October and ends in March, as farm work is scarce during these months.
Amish brides typically make their own dresses, often choosing a shade of blue or purple. After the wedding, the bride's dress becomes her Sunday church attire and the dress she will be buried in. The bride's attendants and sisters all wear the same colour. Amish grooms and male guests wear black pants and jackets with a white dress shirt.
Amish wedding meals typically include fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed celery, green beans, pies, and other vegetables. The meal is usually served around noon, and guests eat in shifts, with the newlyweds and their families eating first. There is also a wedding cake, which can be elaborate or simple depending on the community and couple.
