RomanceEverAfter
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People You Should Know A Conversation with Ross Howard, A Cure for Kirby, Meet Monica Davis and Geir Ness. The Beauty of Change Series Historical Romance Column and Book Reviewer: Kaye Hatfield NEW! Sam DeMarco Have you dreamed of starting your own business? Sam DeMarco, owner of Compliance Team, did and he tells us how he made his dream a reality! Photo Gallery Romance & You (Articles) Romantic Memoir
Quotes & Poetry Expand your quotes and poetic horizons by visiting our various Quotes & Poetry categories: Thought of the Week: Time for New Beginnings A series of 8 articles by Melissa Hamilton comprising a collection of principles that will allow you to make your vision for the future a reality. Read about the Amish, India, Philippines, Greece, & Rome.
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The Wedding Day The wedding day begins at 4:00 a.m.! Farm chores must be completed before the wedding workers begin to arrive at the bride’s home at 6:30 a.m. The wedding party will have completed their breakfast and changed into their wedding clothes by 7:00 a.m. As the guests begin to arrive, the Forgehers will make sure they are seated along one of the long wooden benches in the meeting or church room of the home. The number of guests attending an Amish wedding can be two hundred people or more. Everyone needs to be in place when the service begins at 8:30 a.m. The Ceremony The environment of an Amish wedding is simple. There are no kisses, exchange of rings, photography or flowers. The bride and female Newehockers will not carry flowers. In addition, although hymns will be sung, there is no instrumental accompaniment. (The Amish don’t play musical instruments). The ceremony can average between 3 ˝ - 4 hours. Before the actual service begins, the minister will counsel the couple in another part of the house. Relatives of the groom will act as Forsinger (song leaders). The minister and couple return to the church room. There is no special wedding march. The service continues with a prayer and a Scripture reading. The minister then gives a lengthy sermon. After the sermon is done, the couple will step forward to answer questions about their marriage. This part of the service is similar to an exchange of wedding vows. The couple is blessed and a final prayer closes the ceremony. The Wedding Feast When the ceremony is completed, the women go to the kitchen to begin serving dinner. The men assigned to set up tables will do so, forming a U-shape around the walls of the living room. Guests will sit according to the bride’s assigned seating. In addition, the bride and groom will take their place at the corner table, called the "Eck" or corner. The bride will sit at the left of her groom. The single women will sit on the same side as the bride. The single men will sit on the same side as the groom. Visiting, playing games and matchmaking follow a dinner of delicious food. The second meal, or evening meal, will take place around 5:00 p.m. At this time, the bride’s parents are moved to the head table and served before the guests. The wedding festivities can continue up until 10:30 p.m. Clean up of the day’s celebration will be tended to the next morning. The Honeymoon The bride and groom will spend their first night together at the bride’s home. The day afterward will be used for clean up with the bride and groom assisting. The couple’s honeymoon is spent throughout the winter season visiting the families. Since very few gifts are given at the wedding, the couple will collect the majority of their wedding gifts during the visiting season. Gifts will consist of kitchen related items such as dishes, cookware, pots and pans. They will also receive canned food. The groom will receive a wide variety of tools that he will use to maintain the home.
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