Junior Rasmussen
Amish weddings are a unique and lengthy affair, lasting from 9 am to 9 pm or even later into the night. The day is filled with rituals and customs, including a church service, a ceremony, and a large dinner. The church service is a solemn event, lasting around 3 hours, with the bridal couple sitting in the front. The ceremony involves the singing of hymns, prayers, scripture reading, and a sermon, and can also last up to 3 hours. The bride and groom are also counselled privately by the minister during the service. After the ceremony, the celebration continues with food, socialising, singing, and games. The newlyweds do not go on a honeymoon but instead help with the cleanup, and they will live with their parents until they are ready to move into their own home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Duration | Lasts the whole day, from 8 am to late at night |
| Ceremony Time | 9 am to 9 pm |
| Church Service | 3 hours long |
| Location | Bride's family's house |
| Number of Guests | 200-400 or 400-600 |
| Days | Tuesdays and Thursdays |
| Season | Fall (late October to March) or Spring/Summer in larger communities |
| Food | Fried or broasted chicken, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, creamed celery, coleslaw, vegetables, applesauce, pies, donuts, pudding, fruits, breads with butter and jelly |
| Dress Code | Brides: long-sleeved dresses with a white apron, typically in purple or blue but can vary; Grooms: black pants and jackets with a white dress shirt |
| Rings | No wedding rings, the groom may give a practical gift like a clock or china |
| Photography | No photography |
| Dancing | No dancing, but socializing, singing, and games |
| Kiss | No kiss at the altar |
| Honeymoon | No honeymoon, the couple helps with the cleanup after the wedding |
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What You'll Learn
- Amish wedding ceremonies are held at the bride's home and can last up to 12 hours
- The bride and groom do not have a maid of honour or best man. Instead, they stand with two other couples at the altar
- The bride wears a long-sleeved dress, typically in purple or blue, with a white apron
- The wedding feast is prepared during the church service and the couple sits at a corner table called the eck
- There is no dancing, kissing at the altar, or photography, but there is socialising, singing, and games
Amish wedding ceremonies are held at the bride's home and can last up to 12 hours
Amish wedding ceremonies are a unique and lengthy affair, typically held at the bride's family home and lasting most of the day, from early morning until late at night. The Amish community considers marriage to be a significant milestone, marking the transition into adulthood.
The wedding day itself is a bustling affair, with morning chores completed before the ceremony begins, usually before 9 am. The ceremony can last up to three hours and includes various elements such as hymns, prayers, scripture readings, and a lengthy sermon. The minister plays a pivotal role, offering guidance and blessings to the couple.
The bride and groom are also counselled privately by the minister during the service. The ceremony is solemn, devoid of dancing and kissing at the altar, but filled with socialising, singing, and games. Volleyball is a popular activity, with nets set up in the large yards for guests to enjoy.
The meal is a grand affair, with women serving the food while the men set up the tables. The meal is served in shifts, with the newlyweds and their families eating first. The traditional menu includes fried or broasted chicken, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamed celery, and an array of desserts.
The entire celebration can last up to 12 hours, concluding late at night. The day is filled with unique traditions and customs, reflecting the Amish community's commitment to maintaining their values and culture.
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The bride and groom do not have a maid of honour or best man. Instead, they stand with two other couples at the altar
Amish weddings are a unique and meaningful experience, filled with rituals and customs. One notable difference from traditional Western weddings is that the bride and groom do not have a maid of honour or a best man by their side. Instead, they stand with two other couples at the altar, who are usually pairs that hold a special place in the lives of the bride and groom. The bride selects one couple, and the groom chooses the other.
The absence of a maid of honour and best man is just one of the many ways in which Amish weddings differ from typical Western nuptials. For instance, Amish weddings do not feature dancing or kissing at the altar, and there is no photography allowed. The focus is on community, with the couple's family and friends playing a significant role in the celebrations.
The wedding ceremony itself is held at the bride's home, with the church service taking place at a neighbour's house within walking distance. The day starts early, with morning chores completed before the ceremony, which begins around 8 or 9 am. The ceremony can last up to three hours and includes hymns, prayers, scripture readings, and a sermon.
The bride's attire is another aspect that sets Amish weddings apart. She wears a long-sleeved dress, often in colours like purple or blue, with a white cape and apron. The dress is typically sewn by the bride or her mother and will later become her Sunday church dress. The groom, on the other hand, wears black pants and a jacket with a white dress shirt.
Amish weddings are a community effort, with everyone pitching in. The women serve the meal while the men set up the dinner tables. The feast is a grand affair, with traditional dishes such as chicken and stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamed celery, and an array of desserts. The celebration continues throughout the day, with games, singing, and socialising.
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The bride wears a long-sleeved dress, typically in purple or blue, with a white apron
Amish weddings are a celebration of a newlywed couple that calls for a day of joy. The bride's wedding attire is a key part of the celebration. The bride wears a long-sleeved dress, typically in purple or blue, with a white apron. The dress is often handmade by the bride or her mother, and the colour is chosen from a young age. The bride may also choose the colour herself, but this varies from community to community. In some communities, the bride wears a black dress with a white cape and apron. In others, she may wear a dress of any colour, but it is still accompanied by a white cape and apron. The cape is a triangular piece of fabric that goes from the waist, over the shoulders, and crosses in the front. The apron is put over the bottom of the cape and belted around the waist.
The bride's attendants and sisters wear the same colour, and they also wear a white apron and Prayer Kapp. The men wear their Sunday best: black pants and jackets with a white dress shirt. After the wedding, the bride will wear a white bonnet as a symbol of her marriage, as Amish people do not wear wedding rings. The groom will start to grow his beard, which he will keep for the rest of his life.
The wedding ceremony is held at the bride's home, and it can last up to three hours. The day starts early, with morning chores completed before the ceremony begins, usually before 9 am. The ceremony includes the singing of hymns, prayers, scripture readings, and a sermon. The minister offers a blessing and poses questions to the couple about their marriage. After the ceremony, the bride and groom meet with the minister for private counselling.
The wedding day is full of socializing, singing, and games. Volleyball is a popular activity, and there is no dancing or kissing at the altar. Food is a large component of the day, with two main meals served to the 200 to 400 guests. The meals are homemade and include chicken and stuffing casserole, mashed potatoes, creamed celery, pies, and more. The women serve the meal while the men set up the tables. The bride and groom sit at a corner table called the "eck", and the attendants sit nearby.
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The wedding feast is prepared during the church service and the couple sits at a corner table called the eck
Amish weddings are a community affair, with anywhere from 200 to 600 guests in attendance. The wedding ceremony is held at the bride's home, and the day typically starts early, with morning chores completed before the wedding begins, usually before 9 am. The church service is meant only for church members, and non-Amish guests are not allowed to attend. The service includes hymns, prayers, scripture reading, and a sermon, and can last up to 3 hours. During the church service, the wedding feast is prepared.
The wedding feast is a grand affair, with a variety of dishes served. Fried or broasted chicken, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, creamed celery, coleslaw, vegetables, applesauce, pies, donuts, pudding, fruits, and breads with butter and jelly are commonly served. The "Eck", a corner table reserved for the bride and groom, receives special food, such as steaks and the couple's favourite dishes. Desserts include pudding pies, a fruit mix, and ice cream. The food is served in a particular order, with a new dish brought out only after the previous one has been mostly cleared.
The bride and groom sit at the "Eck", with their families seated nearby, and the wedding attendants sitting close by as well. The attendants are usually unmarried, and the couple may play matchmakers for them during the celebration. After the feast, the bride and groom may offer wedding favours to their guests, such as candy from a basket.
The wedding celebrations last most of the day, and the newlyweds and their families eat first, followed by the other guests. The meal is served by the women, while the men set up the tables. After the feast, the plates and cutlery are washed, and the couple helps with the cleanup, as is the Amish custom.
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There is no dancing, kissing at the altar, or photography, but there is socialising, singing, and games
Amish weddings are markedly different from English weddings. The Amish do not dance at weddings, nor do the couple kiss at the altar or have their photo taken. Instead, the afternoon is filled with socialising, singing, and games.
Volleyball is a popular game at Amish weddings, with nets set up in the yards for guests to play. Other games include softball, a common playground game played by Amish schoolchildren, and cornerball, a traditional game played by young Amish men at auctions in Lancaster County. The game involves two teams of six players, and a large, straw-covered square that softens the fall when players jump, bend, and dive to avoid being hit by a ball.
In addition to sports, the Amish also enjoy board and card games. Card games are generally discouraged, but themed card games like Old Maid, Uno, and Dutch Blitz are popular. Dutch Blitz is especially popular and is played fast, demanding that players think and act quickly. Other games include Settlers of Catan, Farmopoly (an agricultural-themed game in the style of Monopoly), and classics like Connect 4, LIFE, and Checkers.
The Amish also play some battery-operated games, such as the 1970s memory game "Simon," and Spikeball, which involves two teams of two players, a ball, and a round trampoline-like net. Similar to volleyball, each team has three hits of the ball, and the object is to "spike" the ball into the net so the other team cannot return it.
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Frequently asked questions
Amish weddings are all-day affairs, typically starting in the morning and ending late at night.
Amish weddings usually start early in the morning, before 9 am.
The Amish wedding ceremony can last up to 3 hours.
The reception can last several hours. It includes a large meal, singing, games, and socializing.
The wedding date is typically announced on a Sunday in October or November after a church service.
