Family is the center of the Amish church, so marriage is the start of a new life for the church as well. Boys and girls begin their search for a mate when they turn sixteen. By the time a young woman turns twenty or a young man is in his early twenties, he or she is probably looking forward to the wedding day. But several steps must be taken by a couple before they may marry. Both must join the Amish church, which you do only as an adult. They are baptized, and are then responsible for following the Ordnung - a written and unwritten set of rules for daily living. Joining the church prepares the young people for the seriousness of setting up their own home.
A whirlwind of activity begins after Fast Day on October 11. The fall communion takes place the following church Sunday. After communion, proper certification of membership is requested, and it is given by the second Sunday after communion. Then, all the couples who plan to marry are "published" - that is, the deacon announces the names of the girls and their intended after the service. The fathers then announce the date and time of the wedding and invite the members to attend.
Wedding dates for the Amish are generally limited to November and part of December, when the harvest has been completed but winter has not yet arrived. A full day is needed to prepare for the wedding. Most are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are used as days to prepare for or to clean-up after. Saturdays are not used as wedding days because it would be sacrilegious to work or clean-up on the following day, Sunday.
Blue is a typical color chosen for weddings by young Amish women. Navy blue, sky blue and shades of purple are the most popular colors donning Amish brides in any year. An Amish bride's wedding attire is always new. She usually makes her own dress and also those of her attendants, known as newehockers, (Plattdietsch for sidesitters). The style of the dresses are a plain cut and are mid-calf length. They are unadorned, there is no fancy trim or lace and there is never a train. Most non-Amish brides wear their bridal dress once, but an Amish bride's practical dress will serve her for more than just her wedding day. Her wedding outfit will become her Sunday church attire after she is married. She will also be buried in the same dress when she dies. And, the bride must wear black high-topped shoes. No one in the bridal party carries flowers
At the end of a special service - one that can last up to four hours and can have 400 members of the communities all around attending - the couple are married by the Pastor. From then on, it's time for a major feast which is a celebration of both the harvest just put in and the new life ahead. It will be a hard life in some ways, but they will always have the community that was there with them on their wedding day.
They can settle in to their new home in the springtime, but for now they take up residence with the bride's family. Winter will be setting in soon, and there's always more work to do. The difference is that now they young couple will do it together.
Written and published by Harmony Cedar, all rights reserved.