In Amish communities, couples don’t sleep together before marriage. Pre-marital sex is strictly forbidden and seen as a major sin in Amish culture. Physical intimacy begins only after the wedding.
The Amish highly value commitment and see marriage as a sacred, lifelong commitment.
In some Amish communities, there’s a custom called “Uneheliche Beischlaf” where an Amish boy spends the night in his girlfriend’s bed, in the same house as her parents.
The custom involves the couple lying beside each other all night, talking but not touching, to develop self-discipline.
To resist temptation, the young man is often wrapped in a full-length blanket, somewhat resembling a sausage wrapper.
However, today, the majority of Amish communities have moved away from this custom and no longer practice it.
When Do Amish Weddings Take Place?
In the past, Amish weddings happened on Tuesdays or Thursdays in late fall after the harvest.
But things have changed.
Now, Amish couples get married throughout the year and on different days. This shift is because more couples are tying the knot, and it’s become more practical to be flexible with wedding dates.
Amish weddings follow a service similar to the typical Amish worship service. The Bishop and ministers preside over the ceremony, and the couple takes their vows before the entire church congregation.
After the wedding, everyone enjoys a tasty meal.
⇒ Fun Fact: The wedding guests wear matching dresses and shirts of the same color.
What Do the Amish Do After Getting Married?
Amish couples stay at the bride’s parents’ house on their wedding night to help with cleanup the next day.
After the wedding, Amish couples spend the first two to four weeks visiting relatives and friends, offering candy baskets as favors while personally greeting everyone. During these visits, they receive practical household gifts from everyone, providing a helpful start to their newlywed life.
The parents often gift the newlyweds their first bedroom suite, handmade by family or a skilled craftsman in the community.
The Amish view marriage as a sacred and lifelong commitment. Weddings are seen not only as a union between two individuals but also as a joining of two families.