For one of the most important days of her life, an Amish girl wears a simple, dark-colored dress which either she, a friend or a family member has made, drapes over her shoulders, flowing down to her ankles. She will also wear a white apron, and her hair is pinned up atop her head, secured with a white bonnet.
Beside her stands an Amish man, dressed in a new black suit, which is sometimes accompanied by white tie or a black bow tie.
These are the traditional garments warn on an Amish couples wedding, a day when two people within the community come together as man and wife.
Men and women are usually between 21 and 30 years-old when they get married, although sometimes couples will wed at a younger age.
A wedding is usually published, or announced at church just a few weeks before the wedding is to take place, though the congregation is usually abuzz with the knowledge long before the official announcement is made.
November or December is the most popular time to have a wedding in the Amish community, summer is too busy on the farm to prepare for a wedding.
Amish couples are often married in the middle of the week, never on a Sunday or a Monday, because the Sabbath is not for work, and preparing and holding a wedding is hard work.
One of the reasons a wedding is considered hard work is because it is often held at the home of the brides parents, in either a barn or in another building which is large enough for all of the guests.
Many wedding ceremonies are held in the morning and like church services, men and women sit facing each other, including the bridal party.
The wedding ceremony itself usually lasts about three hours, with all clergymen present offering a sermon.
These sermons traditionally start with a reading from the book of Genesis and proceed through the entire Bible. There is also singing and prayer.
When it comes time for the couple to recite their vows, they and their witnesses (usually two men and two women) will face the bishop or preacher. The entire congregation will rise to show their support for the couple as the groom and bride repeat the traditional words, vowing to love, honor and cherish each other until death do they part.
As part of the Amish adherence to the principle of wifely submission, the bride will also promise to obey her husband.
Conservative orders of the Amish faith do not permit divorce or remarriage if a spouse dies, so the marriage commitment is an eternal one.
With these vows, the ceremony is complete.
After the bride and groom are pronounced husband and wife, a celebration begins, starting with the noon meal.
The celebration, particularly the meal, is where a large amount of the labor has been placed.
Amish cookbooks frequently list recipes for chicken, potatoes, dressing and puddings that feed several hundred people. Several hundred people attend the celebration, which is a huge event
for the entire family.
Because the ceremony is usually held at the bride's parents home, the women of the community come together to clean up the home, move furniture and prepare food that can be made in advance. Many times the bride's parents will borrow chairs, dishes and benches from friends and neighbors.
The cooks and servers for the day are usually the bride and grooms close friends and relatives. To be selected to do one of these tasks is an honor, but it is also a long day of work.
These individuals arrive early on the day of the wedding, sometimes before the sun comes up, to start cooking.
Typically, the meal consists of chicken, dressing, mashed potatoes noodles, salads, fruits, pies and puddings.
In some orders, there is a wedding cake, which is usually decorated simply with flowers or hearts.
Simple candles, hurricane lamps and small flower arrangements may adorn the dining tables and the area where the bride, groom and their attendants eat is usually decorated as well.
Honeymoons do not exist in the Amish community. Instead, the newlyweds will spend a few days cleaning up the bride's home after the celebration is over.
Amish weddings are solemn affairs, which are meant to be a simple expression of love, family and faith.
They are also social gatherings which everyone in the community looks forward too.