Modern couples typically fly to tropical beaches or luxury resorts for their honeymoons. An Amish honeymoon is fundamentally different, focusing on strengthening family connections, visiting surrounding church districts, and collecting practical household items to start their new life together.
The Winter Visiting Season
Following their wedding, the newly married couple spends the winter months traveling by horse and buggy or hired driver to visit dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends across various settlements. They stay overnight at relative farmsteads, sharing meals and introducing the new spouse to the broader family network.
Practical Wedding Gifts for Setting Up House
During these visits, relatives give the couple practical handmade or durable home goods:
- Handmade Quilts & Linens: Stitched by grandmothers, aunts, and sisters.
- Woodworking & Tools: Hand-carved kitchen utensils, wooden clocks, benches, and carpentry tools.
- Cookware & Oil Lamps: Heavy cast-iron skillets, stainless steel canning pots, and glass kerosene lamps.