How to Arrange an Amish Engagement

If you plan to get married during the Amish wedding season in the fall, here is how to properly arrange your engagement.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Amish Caps
• Amish Men's Hats
• Aprons

1. Join the Amish church if you don't already belong and get baptized into the Amish faith.

2. Follow the Ordnung, which is a set of rules for daily living.

3. Keep the engagement a secret until July or August, at which point the bride can share the plans with her family.

4. Begin wedding planning after Fast Day, which is October 11.

5. Show proper certification of your membership to the church on the second Sunday after fall communion is held, to prove you are eligible for marriage.

6. Expect your name to be "published" by the deacon at church, along with the names of other engaged couples.

7. Ask your father to announce the date and time of your wedding and invite church members to attend.

8. Plan for the expected bride and groom to have a meal alone together at the bride's family home while the rest of the family is at church.

9. Formally introduce the groom to the family when they return home from church.

10. Arrange for the wedding to take place in a few days.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that the bride will help her mother prepare for the wedding feast.
• Expect the groom to invite members of his church if he belongs to a different one.
• Take advantage of this last opportunity to go to a singing with friends before taking on your marital duties.

[dgingerich]

on 3/22/2008 The Amish groom will invite members of his district if he is from a different one. He will not even be considered a candidate for marriage if he is from a different religion than the bride.