I'm going to an Amish Wedding Feast tonight - ask me anything.

[sybylla]

The daughter of my very wonderful New Order Amish neighbors is getting married today and they've kindly invited us to share their dinner with them.

I'm very excited to go. Never been to one though we've been invited in the past. The only difficulty I have is what to get for a gift, if a gift is appropriate.

[Mara Steele]

1. Sounds fascinating...

Please tell us about it when you come back. I imagine a simple gift of some basic food would be appreciated, but I don't really know much about the Amish.

[sybylla]

5. I should have included what I know in the original post

Waiting in the walk-in freezer is the remains of an entire steer cooked up and ready to be warmed up, a dozen chickens cooked and picked apart for chicken and noodles, and 500 dinner rolls. And that's just what they told me.

They are expecting about 350 people

After dinner they will have a hymn sing where everyone joins in. I don't know hymns I look forward to hearing it.

The wedding takes place this afternoon in their tiny church in front of the couple's large extended family, many of whom traveled here from out of state.

Already several women have walked past my home wearing somber colored dresses. But they do wear colors. I've never seen them wear black like the Old Order Amish who live 20 miles away.

The buggies are out and buzzing around the neighborhood. I can't believe all the prep work that has gone into it.

[Mara Steele]

6. It really sounds beautiful...

You're very lucky to be able to witness this!

[eyesroll]

2. Sounds wonderful!

Here's something on what to give:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7201_give-amish-wedding.html

Sounds like you'd give what you'd give to any other couple, except you wouldn't give a TV or a bread machine or anything like that. Booze is probably a bad idea, too.

[sybylla]

8. Thanks for the link

It looks like a good one. Who'd a thought you could find Amish wedding gift ideas on the internet.

I started the thread on a lark because I've never done one of the "ask me anything" thread and now I'm very glad I did.

[Bowline]

3. Unique opportunity, and certainly a gift giving dilemma.

I believe that, in this case, it would be acceptable to ask the parents of the bride what constitutes an appropriate gift.

[Spinzonner]

4. Some Google sources

such as http://www.mhsc.ca/index.asp?content=http://www.mhsc.ca/encyclopedia/contents/N4945ME.html

and

http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/pennsylvania/a/amish_2.htm

suggest that new Order Amish use electricity so some typical kitchen appliances might be appropriate.

I dont suppose they're registered anywhere ...

But I agree with another poster, asking might be safest under the circumstances.

[sybylla]

7. Yes, electricity and phones and tractors

I have thought about asking. The last time, when we had to miss the dinner, we brought a gift of bake and take dishes. They have so many potlucks that I thought they would get a lot of use out of it and it's tough to have too many. But I don't want to give the same thing here.

Thanks for the links. I'll take a look. I never thought about searching for Amish wedding gift tips.