Perhaps the most interesting religious sect in the U. S. is that of the Amish people. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Holmes County, Ohio, have the largest Amish population of any other counties in the U. S. The Amish are easily recognized by their quaint clothes, their horses and buggies, and by the fact that they do not use electricity or other modern conveniences. Visiting Amish country makes for an interesting vacation.

Preparation for an Amish Wedding

The Amish conduct their weddings differently from most weddings in American society today. First, the wedding is not likely to take place in June. That’s because the majority of Amish work in agriculture. Beginning with spring and lasting through the fall harvest, the majority of Amish people are busy working in the fields. Therefore, the period from spring through early fall is not ideal for weddings. Accordingly, most Amish weddings are held in November and December. Because travel is more difficult during the winter, the Amish rarely hold weddings during January and February.

One of the first things the couple’s family will do is to plant celery. The reason why celery has to be planted months ahead of the wedding is that between 300 and 400 stalks of celery are typically eaten at an Amish wedding. Most Amish brides sew the dress in which they will be married, and they select identical material for the bride’s attendants. These attendants will likewise sew their own dresses. The husband-to-be and the groomsmen will all be dressed in Amish-style black suits, which sport hooks and eyes instead of buttons.

Amish Marriage Ceremony

The wedding will be held at the home of the bride’s parents. No instrumental music is played at the wedding, and no solo singers are featured. However, there is a great deal of singing by the wedding guests. The couple normally enter during the second hymn. The Amish minister delivers a message that emphasizes the indissolubility and responsibility of marriage.

When the minister is finished preaching, the bride and groom step forward, holding hands. Next, the pastor reads a number of questions to the groom: “Do you acknowledge that you accept this sister to be your wife, and do you affirm that you will never leave her until you are separated by death? Do you firmly believe that marriage is from God and that you have come to this place in life due to your prayers and faith? Do you promise to be faithful to your wife and to take care of her if she is ever in affliction, illness, adversity, weakness or faintheartedness, as is the duty of a Christian husband who fears God?”

The bride is asked similar questions. Upon each of them saying “Yes,” the minister then pronounces the happy couple to be man and wife. And that concludes the ceremony.

The author, Tomas Byler, writes extensively about Amish life. He recently wrote an ebook about the Amish, entitled “Amish Life.” It tells about their distinctive way of life and explains why they live the way they do. This ebook features many color pictures. For a limited time, you can obtain a free copy by visiting his website, Amish life.


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