Amish Weddings by Beth Oberholtzer (Author), Suzanne Woods Fisher (Foreword)
Publisher: Herald Press
Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Genres: Christian Nonfiction
Pages: 192
Format: ebook – NetGalley
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The true story of Amish romance.

Enter into Amish courtship, weddings, and marriage in this richly researched and illustrated book about wedding traditions in a Plain community. Through stories, history, and evocative photographs, Amish Weddings offers an insider’s look into the making of an Amish wedding. Author Beth Oberholtzer introduces real Amish couples in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, inviting readers into the broader courtship process as well as the inner workings of a daylong event like no other. 
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Personal stories from brides and grooms and a host of friends and family who contribute to the celebration provide a window into a one-of-a-kind gathering that honors the couple while enveloping them in their community of faith. In addition to photos from actual Amish weddings, menus and recipes enjoyed by generations of celebrants offer a front-row seat to a fascinating and unique ritual that is supported by a vast community.

My Review and Reflections

Just as the name of this book implies, it is about not only Amish weddings, but the courtship leading up to the ceremony, as well as what happens with the bride and groom directly after the nuptials. This read was so incredibly fascinating. It kept me engaged and enthralled the entire time I was reading it, which didn’t take long, because I just didn’t want to put it down. As someone who loves Amish romance, it is so captivating to see the actual process, things that they don’t say in the romances or that aren’t spelled out. It also helps to understand how members of the Amish faith feel about their different roles during the celebration and to see how well they all work together.

When you first start reading this title, you feel like maybe some of the details are being repeated, but once you get further in, you understand the rhyme and reason of that. It might be mentioned one time because it’s related, but then it will be talked about again later on with greater detail so that you have a better understanding of what that point is. The pictures are gorgeous and make me want to live on a farm. After seeing these images, I would enjoy the opportunity to spend some time in Pennsylvania, in the Amish country.

Anyone interested in other religions, especially if you’re interested in the Plain communities’ traditions, will greatly enjoy this work.