Amish weddings are traditionally held on Tuesdays or Thursdays in later fall after the harvest. Amish wedding tradition has had to give way to practicality. Weddings are now held year round and on other days to accommodate the number of couples getting married. Courtship among the Amish is more secretive. A couple won't announce their engagement until just a few weeks before their wedding. They keep it a secret (as long as they can). It is always an occasion for a new dress for the bride. They typically don't wear white but one of the more acceptable colors of their group. They take great care in choosing the fabrics and colors of their wedding party. The wedding party, called attendants in English ceremonies are all dressed in the same dress color. The young men of the wedding party also wear matching shirts in some cases. At the least they are the same color. The servers, who assist at the meal, also have special colors that the bride picks for them to wear.Many times the couple will set up housekeeping with one of the parents until they can get on their feet and either buy, rent or build a new home. The wife may continue to work part time outside the home, continuing her cleaning business or working in a local establishment. But they soon retire to begin their family.
