Hey, I’m Kayla. I joined an Amish dating site for two months. If you’d like a second opinion, here’s an honest take from someone else who tried an Amish dating site. I wanted a calm place to meet folks who care about faith, family, and simple living. I’m not Amish, but I grew up near Holmes County, Ohio. I know the slower pace. I bake bread on Saturdays. I like quiet Sundays. So this felt close to home.
You know what? It wasn’t flashy. It was gentle. And sometimes a little slow. Let me explain. If you’re curious about the “why” behind that slow, deliberate rhythm, an overview of Amish dating customs and practices sheds light on how tradition shapes everything from first messages to meet-ups.
How I’m breaking this down
- Sign-up and setup
- My profile and what I wrote
- Messaging and pace
- Meeting up, the careful way
- What I liked
- What bugged me
- Tips that helped
- Who it’s for
- Final take
Sign-up felt different (in a good way)
The site asked plain questions. Not just looks and hobbies. It asked about church life, family, and work. It also had a “technology comfort” slider. Mine was set to “basic.” That seemed right.
I had to upload a modest photo. No big poses. Just a clear headshot. My photo got reviewed, which took a day. That felt strict, but safe. There was no app. Just the website. It ran fine on my phone, but it looked old—like a school site from years ago.
A small thing I liked: distance filters by county. Rural folks think that way—by county lines, not just miles.
Building my profile (I kept it plain)
My bio was short:
- “I bake bread on Saturdays and read by lamplight for fun.”
- “I help my niece with chores and Sunday school.”
- “I turn my phone off on Sunday.”
Prompts I answered:
- Favorite hymn: “Be Thou My Vision”
- Skills: canning, sourdough, quilting
- Weeknight rhythm: “Early supper, no TV, walk after dinner”
- Comfort with photos: “Limited”
I also checked a box that said “Open to letters by mail.” Wild, right? But it fits. Some members used a shared family phone or the community phone shed. So letters made sense.
Messaging was slow, but kind
The first message I got said:
- “Peace to you, Kayla. Would you like to write letters for a while?”
Another said:
- “I use the phone at Miller’s store on Thursdays at 6. If you want to talk, I can call then.”
No one spammed me. No weird lines. Folks asked about chores, recipes, and church dinners. One man (let’s call him Elam) wrote:
- “I’m up at 4:30 for cows. I’m tired by 9. What time do you read?”
So I told him. And we traded simple notes for a week. Yes, it was slow. But it felt real. Real beats fast, most days.
One hiccup: the inbox looked plain. Threads got long and a bit messy. I missed a message once since there was no push alert. I had to check back and wait.
Meeting in person (careful and clear)
We set ground rules early. Public place. Bring a friend if you want. Keep it short.
My first meet-up was at a bulk food store off a county road. We walked the aisle, talked about bread flour, and laughed about sticky buns. His sister came, sat nearby, and knit. It was calm. No pressure. Later, I met someone else at the farmers’ market. We talked produce and weather. Classic small town chat.
These dates were daytime. Simple. We both left with a plan:
- “Let’s write again this week.”
- “Let’s talk Thursday on the store phone.”
No late-night calls. No weird vibes. Just steady.
What I liked
- Real values: Family, faith, work, rest. It was front and center.
- Kind tone: Folks were gentle and clear. No games.
- Photo rules: Modest and simple. I felt safe.
- Filters that made sense: Denomination notes, county distance, tech comfort.
- Offline options: Letters, simple calls. That surprised me, in a good way.
What bugged me
- Slow tools: The inbox needs love. I lost a thread once.
- Few folks near cities: Expect wide gaps. Rural rules here.
- Photo review lag: A day isn’t long, but it felt long when I was ready to start.
- No app or alerts: You have to remember to check in.
- Support replies took a day or two: Not bad, but slow if you’re stuck.
For anyone who realizes midway that the letter-style pace just isn’t cutting it and dreams of instant, back-and-forth chatting instead, hopping over to InstantChat can be a breath of fresh air—there you can open private rooms in seconds and enjoy real-time text or video conversations without sacrificing safety or simplicity.
If you ever crave a faster, more swipe-style experience, you can always pop over to DateHotter and dive into a modern scene in seconds. For an example of how lively a niche rural space can be, check out what happened when someone tried a cowgirl dating site for 60 days—it’s a fun, boot-kicking read.
And if you’re closer to California’s capital region and decide you’d rather skip courtship altogether and jump straight into grown-up, no-strings meetups, take a peek at Adult Search Elk Grove—there you’ll find a location-based dashboard with discreet profiles, reviews, and tools to set up a same-day connection in minutes.
Little moments that felt real
- A woman named Ruth asked for a bread recipe. We swapped recipes like pen pals.
- A man ended every note with “May you rest well.” Simple. Kind. It stuck with me.
- One match didn’t want photos at all. We traded letters for two weeks. It felt old-fashioned and sweet.
Tips that helped me
- Write a short, honest bio. One line about chores or church says a lot.
- Keep your photo plain. Good light, neat clothes. No filters.
- Be patient. This is not a swipe fest. It’s more like planting seeds.
- Suggest safe dates. Market. Bakery. Park bench. Daylight.
- Respect tech limits. Not everyone texts. Letters count.
Who it’s for
- Folks in or near Plain communities (Amish, Mennonite, or similar).
- People who want slow and steady over fast and flashy.
- Anyone who values faith and family time more than screen time.
Side note: if you’re leaning more “yeehaw” than “plain,” you might like reading about how one dater tried cowboy online dating sites and what actually happened—it’s a handy comparison before you saddle up.
Not great for people who want constant chat, video calls, or big city speed. It’s not that kind of place.
Final take
Was it perfect? No. The site looks dated and runs slow sometimes. But the people? Good-hearted. The pace? Calm. I met two kind men and a few new friends. I swapped recipes and prayed for strangers by name. That felt special.
If you want simple, safe, and sincere, this site does the job. Bring patience. Bring respect. Bring a pen, even. For more perspectives, you can skim a review of Amish dating services and user experiences to see how my journey compares. You might be surprised how far a quiet letter can go.