The Amish are a traditional Christian group known for living simple, technology-free lives. Among their customs is the tradition of not wearing wedding rings. This often raises the question – do Amish people wear wedding rings?
Quick Answer
The quick answer is no, most Amish do not wear wedding rings. This stems from their religious beliefs of practicing simplicity, humility, and plainness. Wearing jewelry, including wedding bands, is generally seen as prideful and showy by the Amish.
Why Don’t Amish Wear Wedding Rings?
There are a few key reasons why Amish couples do not exchange or wear wedding rings:
- Simplicity – Wearing simple, plain clothing is a core belief. Rings are seen as decorative jewelry, which goes against this value.
- Avoiding pride – Anything that calls attention to oneself is frowned upon. Rings could be seen as boastful.
- Cost – Precious metals and gems are expensive. The thrifty Amish avoid unnecessary costs.
- Uniformity – Standing apart from others is not encouraged. Rings would single out married couples.
- Worldly associations – Wedding rings are largely a modern, mainstream tradition. The Amish try to separate themselves from worldly influences.
These religious motivations shape the Amish approach to wedding rings and jewelry in general. They aim to live humble, egalitarian lives guided by their faith and Bible principles.
Amish Wedding Traditions
So if they don’t exchange rings, how do Amish couples commemorate their marriage? The Amish have several symbolic traditions:
Wedding Vows
Most Amish couples recite traditional wedding vows during their ceremony. These vows have been passed down for generations and promise fidelity, partnership, and faithfulness until death. Reciting solemn vows binds the couple together spiritually.
Joining Right Hands
During the ceremony, the bride and groom join their right hands together to symbolize the joining of their lives. This is done in front of the congregation, further cementing the union.
Marriage Certificates
The couple signs a marriage certificate after the ceremony to make the union legally official. This replaces the legal function of wedding rings in wider society.
Plain Wedding Bands
Some traditional Amish may wear very plain wedding bands during the ceremony to symbolize marriage. These bands are simple, unfussy metal with no adornments. Rings become an occasional symbol, not an everyday item.
Amish Engagement
Rings are also not used during Amish engagements. Rather than proposing with an engagement ring, Amish men signify their intent to marry by asking for the blessing of the woman’s parents. This traditional approach avoids the pride and conspicuous consumption associated with diamond rings in mainstream culture. Parental blessings cement the engagement rather than jewelry.
Variations Among Amish Groups
There is diversity across Amish communities when it comes to wearing rings. Each church district ultimately sets its own rules.
New Order Amish Allowances
More progressive New Order Amish groups sometimes permit wedding bands and simple engagement rings. These signal marital status while still upholding Amish values of simplicity. Diamonds and ornate designs are still prohibited.
Strict Swartzentruber Sect
At the other end, the most traditional Swartzentruber Amish forbid wedding rings entirely. The Swartzentrubers represent the most conservative faction – they also prohibit flower decorations and full-body wedding photos.
Gender Differences
Amish practices around rings and jewelry also differ along gender lines:
Men
Amish men do not wear rings at all, even plain bands. These are seen as decorative jewelry, prohibited by most Ordnung (Amish rules and guidelines). Men can show marital status in other symbolic ways if needed, like beards or hat styles.
Women
Some Amish women may wear simple wedding bands, though this varies. Women are not permitted to wear other jewelry like earrings, necklaces or bracelets. Rings are the only exception if allowed by their district. Even then, these bands are very modest and humble.
Amish Perspectives
According to Amish experts, here are some insights on how the Amish view wedding rings:
“The wedding band is a recent tradition, not required in Amish church standards, so has no religious significance for Amish.” – Amish America
“The meaningfulness is placed not on the ring, but on the commitment.” – The Amish Village
“We just feel like rings are unnecessary. I mean my wife knows I’m married!” – Amish farmer
As these perspectives demonstrate, Amish identity and commitment comes from within, from faith and community ties. Outward symbols like rings are not needed to affirm marital status.
Rare Exceptions
While avoiding wedding ring use is the norm across Amish society, rare exceptions occasionally occur:
- If an Amish convert was married before joining, they may continue wearing rings.
- Some Amish allow subdued rings if required by a spouse’s occupation. For example, a construction worker may need a plain band to avoid degloving injury.
- Certain professions like law enforcement or the military may mandate wearing rings, which some Amish comply with.
- A few elders or bishops may use simple bands if their job involves interacting often with non-Amish who inquire about marital status.
However, these cases are very uncommon – the vast majority adhere to traditional norms of no jewelry, especially for men. Only very plain bands are ever permitted.
Do Former Amish Wear Rings?
Those who leave Amish communities often begin embracing jewelry, including wedding bands. Some key points:
- Former Amish who had a church wedding may start wearing plain bands to symbolize their existing marriage after leaving.
- Those who had civil weddings outside the church as a result of leaving may also begin wearing wedding rings at this point.
- Some former Amish renew their vows in new churches after leaving and exchange rings at this ceremony.
- In their new non-Amish lives, wearing rings becomes a new way to signify marital commitment.
Adopting wedding ring use can be part of the cultural transition. But rings hold more symbolic than practical meaning, as their marriages were already established.
Understanding the Context
To understand Amish practices, it’s essential to view them within the full religious and cultural context:
- Separation from the world – Visible markers of Amish identity like plain dress reinforce boundaries from wider society.
- Simple lifestyles – Material simplicity in all realms of life, including jewelry, upholds Amish values.
- Church norms – Each district’s Ordnung shapes allowances around wedding ring use in their community.
- Homogeneity – Standing apart is discouraged; rings could single out married couples.
- Gender roles – What is permitted differs for men and women based on traditional gender norms.
- Religious devotion – Marriage is sacred; rings are not needed to represent this spiritual bond.
- Slow-changing culture – As a traditional group, change happens incrementally regarding social customs like symbols of marriage.
Taken together, these core Amish values and beliefs shed light on why wedding rings have not been widely adopted. Understanding the cultural logic allows outsiders to make sense of practices that may seem unusual.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, wedding rings hold more significance in modern society than they do among the Amish. Plain bands conflict with key aspects of Amish identity and belief, from simplicity and uniformity to separation from worldly influences. For Amish couples, marital commitment springs from faith, tradition, and community ties – not from wearing or exchanging rings. So although some minor exceptions exist, the standard practice across Amish society is to forego wedding ring use altogether.