This week, my husband and I are blessed to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary!
At the time that we left the Amish lifestyle and religion, we had only been married for four years and there were those who told us that our marriage would fall apart and we’d be divorced within two years. By God’s grace, thirty-six years have passed since then and our marriage has only grown sweeter.
40th Anniversary
“With this ring I thee keep.”
Enjoy this partial description of our Amish wedding day from my autobiography, The Greater Inheritance.
Four o’clock came quickly, and the merciless blaring of the alarm clock rudely awakened me. Fumbling for the object of disturbance on my nightstand, I was suddenly jerked to reality. That noise indicated it was March 25, 1980, our wedding day at last! It was also my twenty-second birthday, making the day even a bit more special.
The clear twinkling sky was promising a perfect day for a wedding. I sensed that it was going to be the happiest day of my life!
Dat and the boys did the milking that morning. I had many other things to tend to and was thankful to be relieved from outside responsibilities.
After a quick breakfast, we dashed upstairs to get dressed in our traditional wedding clothes. I wore my new navy dress with a starched sheer white apron and shoulder cape over it, along with a black head covering. The two girls who were to be our attendants wore the same colors and styles.
At seven o’clock, the three hostlers (chauffeurs) were there to transport the wedding party to our neighbor’s house, where the wedding service was to be held. It was after seven-thirty by the time we were situated at the neighbors. They had a special place prepared for us in the dining room, where the ladies would also be seated later.
Soon several hundred guests were arriving in a steady stream. After many had come by to greet us and were seated in their proper places, the service began at nine o’clock.
…
After we were dismissed from the counseling room upstairs, we again joined the rest of the congregation. We were then ceremoniously seated with our attendants at the front of the living room, close to the ministers’ bench. We had ample time to seize the moment as another song was sung while we waited for the ministers to return. I glanced at John, wishing I could read his mind as we sat in solemn meditation. I wondered if the minutes seemed like hours to him as well, as we eagerly waited for the preachers to continue with the rest of the service.
When the singing ended, the first preacher stood to preach, similar to a typical church service. He preached on various subjects, some not particularly related to the occasion. In closing his portion of the service, the congregation knelt as he read a prayer. Since we had asked Bishop Yoder to perform the vows, he preached for the last forty-five minutes of the service.
After a while, it was almost twelve o’clock, and time for us to be joined in holy matrimony. That sacred moment was about to become reality!
At Bishop Yoder’s request, John and I nervously stepped forward and stood before him to repeat the vows. He joined our hands as we promised to remain faithful to each other “until death do us part.” Kissing the bride publicly was not a part of the Amish tradition. There were no rings to exchange either, because wearing jewelry was perceived to be a worldly practice. However, we were married nonetheless.
As we returned to our seats, I tried to grasp the reality of us now being husband and wife. What a blessed milestone we had reached! Amazingly, God gave me a husband of remarkable character, who deserved my very best as his helpmeet, by God’s grace.
Four years after our wedding, soon after leaving the Amish lifestyle and religion
For sake of space, I have only included a condensed version here. You can read a more detailed version of the extensive wedding preparations and the details of our wedding day in my book, The Greater Inheritance.
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The Greater Inheritance
Read more details about my Amish wedding day in my book!