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Amish couples are expected to remain married to the mates they select as young adults. The Amish church depends on the biological reproduction of its members rather than on acquiring new members through proselytization. There is thus a strong commitment to marrying within the church, although females tend to move outside the district since males usually inherit the family farm. Despite the fact that mate choice is limited to other church members, the young people do not necessarily choose to marry close relatives. The high inbreeding of the Amish population results not from marriages between first cousins but from the Intermarriages that have occurred over generations within a genetically isolated group.

Baptism into the church is preliminary to marriage. Courtship tends to be a private matter prior to the wedding announcement by the minister. A wedding, on the other hand, is a public affair celebrated in anticipation of certain benefits that will accrue to the entire community. Members of the congregation see the marriage as an end to a sometimes spirited adolescence and expect to have the couple's home as a new place for the Sunday service; they also look forward to more children who will be raised in the Amish way. Guests give household gifts; parents may provide livestock, furniture, and equipment to help the young people get started.

Where a newlywed couple resides depends on the Opportunity to continue farming in the traditional manner. This may mean working in a factory until enough savings have been accumulated to invest in a farm of their own. If the couple remains on the family farm, their parents may, at retirement, move to a separate house on the property and Eventually leave the management of the farm to the younger couple. No provision is made for divorce, nor is separation a part of Amish expectations for conformity to church-based rules of behavior.

Read more: Marriage and family - Amish http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Amish-Marriage-and-Family.html#ixzz1uQo0Gt7k

Colleen

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Lupe
Karma: 9795

I live in a county with many Amish so I know much of what you talked about. I don't know about the registration of the couple with the county for the marriage license and I am not sure if I could ask one of those I do business with. It might be private or an insult and I don't want to do that.

There are many Amish people in my area! I was surprised to learn that young folks are allowed to go out into everyday life for 1 year before deciding if the Amish way is to their choosing! This means no electric or  powered up things  The Amish in this area drive horse drawn buggies!  But the young are allowed to choose! What amazed me was seeing Amish folks at an air show! The air show even provided horse carriage parking!  Check out some Amish made furniture! Totally beautiful!