How Jason Duggar's Wedding Broke a Longtime Duggar Family Tradition

The parents of 19 and grandparents of implicit 3 twelve small ones started retired arsenic precocious schoolhouse sweethearts.

Michelle has recalled being "saved" astatine 15. Then, 1 night, Jim Bob was making location outreach visits connected behalf of his Baptist religion and helium ended up knocking connected the Ruark family's doorway aft his person told him that "this miss from schoolhouse that conscionable got saved and is simply a cheerleader" lived there.

They invited Michelle to Sunday schoolhouse astatine their religion and, Jim Bob said, helium prayed to deity that they could beryllium each other's spiritual leaders—though seemingly their archetypal gathering wasn't arsenic memorable for Michelle. A twelvemonth later, she applied for a occupation astatine the frozen yogurt store owned by Jim Bob's parents. "You came to the antagonistic wherever I was lasting by the currency registry and introduced yourself," Michelle remembered successful a missive posted connected the household blog successful 2017 for Jim Bob's day and their 33rd wedding anniversary. "You were shy but precise sweet! I truly don't retrieve overmuch astir that conversation, but that you yet mustered up the courageousness to inquire maine if I would spell to your junior-senior banquet with you!"

She attended the meal with him astatine Shiloh Christian, but it was erstwhile they hung retired afterward discussing the Bible for hours astatine her parents' location that she knew."From there, we judge our hearts were knit together," Michelle has said. "We graduated precocious schoolhouse successful May of 1984 and were joined successful July. I was 17 and Jim Bob was 19."

The mates dedicated themselves to God and each other for the agelong run.

Jim Bob is simply a erstwhile authorities legislator, having served successful the Arkansas House of Representatives for the sixth territory from 1999 until 2002, during which helium was vice seat of the House of Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee. A run for U.S. Senate successful 2002 ended successful the primary, arsenic did a bid successful 2006 to go the Republican nominee for Arkansas State Senate District 35.

He and Michelle, who are some licensed realtors, person been progressive successful blimpish causes—an facet of their manner that won them and 19 Kids and Counting (which premiered successful 2008 as 17 Kids and Counting) both fierce supporters and fierce critics. A robocall Michelle recorded in 2014 encouraging radical to ballot against a projected anti-discrimination ordinance successful Fayetteville—in which she said she was calling to "inform" them of the alleged dangers of making it ineligible for transgender men and women to usage the facilities they consciousness safest and astir comfy in—inspired a Change.org petition demanding TLC cancel their show.

The city assembly approved the ordinance.

Eldest Duggar kid Josh was calved March 3, 1988. He excessively became a blimpish activist, campaigning for the Family Research Council.

He stepped down aft aged constabulary records surfaced successful 2015 revealing that helium had been accused of molesting respective girls, including his sisters Jessa and Jill, erstwhile helium was a teenager. Jessa defended her member successful a sit-down with Fox News that June, insisting that the worst names radical were calling Josh were "so overboard and a lie, really. I mean radical get huffy astatine maine for saying that, but I tin accidental this due to the fact that I was 1 of the victims."

His woman besides stuck by him, including aft helium admitted to being unfaithful. When helium checked into a attraction halfway successful 2016, his parents called it "a important archetypal measurement successful recovering and healing."Parents of three—daughter Mackynzie (Oct. 8, 2009) and sons Michael (June 15, 2011) and Marcus (June 2, 2013)—when the ungraded broke, Anna gave commencement to their 4th child, Meredith, connected July 16, 2015, the aforesaid time TLC canceled 19 Kids. Their 5th child, lad Mason Garett, was calved Sept. 12, 2017, girl Maryella Hope arrived Nov. 27, 2019 and babe No. 7, Madyson Lily, was calved Oct. 23, 2021.

In a national indictment filed successful April 2021, Josh was charged with a number apiece of receipt and possession of kid pornography. He pleaded not blameworthy connected some counts. In 2022, Josh was recovered blameworthy connected some counts, and sentenced to 12 and a fractional years successful prison. 

Shortly aft Josh was born, Michelle got large again, but suffered a miscarriage. While she and Jim Bob were inactive grieving that nonaccomplishment and praying for guidance, they recovered retired that twins were connected the way.

"We felt it was a treble blessing," she told Love to Know. "God was encouraging our hearts. We're inactive learning. It's truly truthful unusual, due to the fact that I breastfeed my babies, but my children are truthful adjacent together. I person a babe and past 8 months aboriginal I'm expecting. Just different antithetic happening the Lord has seen acceptable to bash with our situation."

John-David and his sister Jana were calved connected Jan. 12, 1990.

After a whirlwind courtship (they did "know of each other" for respective years, though, earlier gathering astatine a religion lawsuit successful Abbie's location authorities of Oklahoma) and a short engagement, John-David and Abbie got married connected Nov. 3, 2018. They welcomed daughter Grace Annette Duggar connected Jan. 7, 2020 and son Charlie Duggar successful September 2022.

On their 30th day successful January 2020, John-David's duplicate confessed successful a sweet message to him, "Ever since John and I were small we've been asked if we person that 'twin thing'. You know, the happening wherever you consciousness what the different 1 is feeling oregon cognize what the different 1 is thinking...Well, John, I've ever answered that with a no—but present I tin honestly accidental that the time small Gracie was calved I felt each spot of happiness that you did, truthful I conjecture it indispensable beryllium real!"

Jana continued, "It's truthful saccharine watching you & Abbie arsenic parents! You're naturals! And the aforesaid qualities that person made you a fantastic member volition besides marque you an astonishing dad."

And portion Jana watched 11 of her 18 brothers and sisters get joined earlier she recovered emotion with Stephen Wissmann—who sister Hannah Wissmann is joined to the erstwhile TLC star's member Jeremiah—she believes it's each portion of God's plan.

"I haven't ever understood what the bigger representation is, but I cognize that God knows what is champion for each of us. And truthful for me, it's getting joined later," Jana told People successful August 2024, soon earlier her wedding. "Each of our stories volition beryllium written differently. If we were each the nonstop same, it would beryllium a boring life."

Jill was born on May 17, 1991. In a emotion communicative reminiscent of her parents', Jill archetypal met Derick (who grew up astir 45 minutes away) connected Christmas 2011 erstwhile helium stopped by the Duggar household abode portion retired caroling with his religion group.

Jim Bob played matchmaker, and Jill and Derick deed it off, increasing person implicit email and Skype. Father and girl went to sojourn Derick successful Nepal that November and Jill and Derick continued to autumn for each other. In February 2014, Derick asked Jim Bob for his daughter's manus successful marriage, and they tied the knot connected June 21, 2014. They are parents to 3 sons—Israel, calved connected April 6, 2015, Samuel, calved July 8, 2017, and Frederick, calved July 7, 2022.

In April 2024, Jill shared that she had suffered a gestation loss portion expecting her and Derick's archetypal babe girl.

The mates starred on 19 Kids and Counting and later, Counting On. Derick was fired from the amusement successful 2017 aft making homophobic remarks astir chap TLC world star, Jazzy Jennings.

Jill and Derick reflected connected the controversies and spiritual beliefs surrounding her household successful the Amazon Prime Video documentary Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which premiered successful June 2023. 

Jim Bob and Michelle's 5th kid was calved Nov. 4, 1992.

Jessa met Ben done religion and helium began courting her successful 2013—the old-fashioned approach to romance coming arsenic a brand-new conception to a batch of viewers. The kids ne'er talked astir their romances pre-engagement, truthful Jim Bob explained to People, "Courting is getting to cognize each different successful a radical setting, some families spending clip unneurotic and the mates mounting goals unneurotic to find if they are meant to marry. With dating, a mates volition often brace disconnected unsocial and that sometimes leads to a much carnal relationship."

Ben asked for Jessa's manus and past projected successful August 2014—sealing the woody by holding her manus for the archetypal time. They joined connected Nov. 1, 2014. Jessa was large with their archetypal kid when 19 Kids and Counting was canceled and TLC subsequently aired a peculiar astir intersexual abuse, featuring Jill and Jessa, to further amended viewers connected the subject. The sisters would extremity up the stars of their ain show, Jill and Jessa: Counting On, that winter; the amusement past evolved to become Counting On, featuring different Duggar siblings arsenic well.

Meanwhile, Jessa and Ben welcomed son Spurgeon on Nov. 5, 2015, lad Henry connected Feb. 6, 2017, daughter Ivy Jane on May 28, 2019 and daughter Fern successful July 2021. In February 2023, Jessa shared that she suffered a miscarriage implicit the 2022 vacation season. She gave commencement to her 5th child, George, successful December 2023. 

The sixth Duggar kid was calved Dec. 21, 1993.

Jinger and Jeremy met doing ministry enactment successful Laredo, Texas, and started courting successful 2016. They joined connected Nov. 5, 2016 (the bride's nephew Spurgeon's birthday—but you conscionable effort not overlapping milestones erstwhile you're 1 of 19), and were promptly the taxable of gestation rumors.

"Where we spot ourselves successful a twelvemonth is astir apt conscionable settled down, inactive doing ministry present successful Laredo, and conscionable seeking to service the Lord, however, we can," Jinger said connected a June 2017 occurrence of Counting On.

Their daughter Felicity was born July 19, 2018. In May of that year, they revealed that Jinger was pregnant again—and that she had suffered a miscarriage the erstwhile fall. In November 2020, they welcomed daughter Evangeline Jo.

No. 7 was calved connected Jan. 20, 1995. Taking vantage of the romantic setting, Joseph projected to Kendra (whom helium met done church) astatine his sister Joy-Anna's wedding successful May 2017 aft conscionable a fewer months of courting.

"I was decidedly tense going into it, but I wasn't acrophobic that she was going to accidental no, due to the fact that she has said, 'I'm conscionable waiting connected you!'" Joseph told People aft popping the question. Added Kendra, "I'm truthful blessed and truthful shocked. There's truthful galore words I privation to say, but conscionable shocked."

They've since welcomed three kids, lad Garrett, calved June 2018, daughter Addison, calved November 2019, girl Brooklyn, calved February 2019, and son Justus born May 2023. 

Eighth successful line, Josiah was calved connected Aug. 28, 1996.

Just a fewer months aft his courtship with Lauren went public, the mates announced their engagement in March 2018. "The spot wherever I proposed to Lauren is the nonstop spot wherever her parents were engaged," helium said successful a statement. "There's a lot of household past connected this spot making it a peculiar spot for Lauren."

Her aboriginal mother-in-law, Michelle, said successful a video posted connected the family's blog, "We emotion Lauren, she is specified a precious girl." Jessa and Ben besides offered congratulations, and cocoa shaped similar x's and o's. "Pretty definite that y'all privation to prevention your archetypal buss for your wedding day, but if you travel implicit present we'll springiness you..." She held up the saccharine consolation prize.

A previous courtship with Marjorie Jackson didn't enactment retired and they went their abstracted ways successful the summertime of 2015. "Marjorie and I had a bully clip together," Josiah recalled to People successful March 2016. "We were conscionable trying to travel God's pb connected everything. She didn't consciousness that it was the close timing then, truthful we called it quits for a bit."

He and Lauren tied the knot June 30, 2018, telling People their wedding time was "absolutely perfect." They welcomed girl Bella Milagro connected Nov. 8, 2019—the sanction translating to "miracle baby," aft the mates revealed Lauren had suffered a miscarriage successful October 2018. They welcomed different daughter, Daisy, successful 2022, and a lad named Ezra successful May 2023. 

The ninth Duggar sibling was calved Oct. 28, 1997.

She knew Austin for 15 years arsenic a person earlier helium started courting her—after which they didn't discarded immoderate time. He projected successful February 2017 and they joined connected May 26, 2017, astatine Cross Church successful Rogers, Ark. (the wedding wherever Joseph projected to Kendra!). They welcomed lad Gideon Martin Forsyth connected Feb. 23, 2018.

In 2019, Joy-Anna suffered a gestation nonaccomplishment with a babe miss astatine 20 weeks along.

On Aug. 21, 2020, the mates welcomed daughter Evelyn Mae Forsyth.

Jim Bob and Michelle's 2nd acceptable of twins were calved connected Dec. 30, 1998.

It was reported successful February 2017 that Jed was interning astatine his dad's aged stomping grounds astatine the authorities capitol, moving for the Arkansas House of Representative—and astatine 21 he's connected the ballot running for State Representative for District 89, committed to "putting Springdale's blimpish values first." He married Katey Nakatsu after 1 twelvemonth of courting successful April 2021. They are parents to son Truett, calved May 2022, and girl Nora Kate, calved June 2023. 

Jeremiah, a certified formation instructor, is joined to Hannah Wissmann and the 2 are parents to girl Brynley, calved December 2022, and Brielle, calved February 2024. 

Duggar kid No. 12 was calved connected April 21, 2000.

In January 2017, the Daily Mail reported that Jim Bob helped Jase bargain a $33,000 fixer-upper in Prairie Grove, Ark., about 30 minutes distant from the Duggar household homestead, and helium ended up starting his ain operation company. But of people he wasn't excessively engaged to help Jed with his campaign.

He went Instagram official with woman Maddie Grace successful May 2024 and the 2 got engaged successful August 2024.

Charmed No. 13, James arrived connected July 7, 2001.

On his 19th day successful 2019, his ma wrote, "He is the 'funcle' (fun uncle!) and each the younger boys astir present look up to him and privation to beryllium conscionable similar him! James is capable to bash conscionable astir thing helium thinks up. Even arsenic a child, we would find James 'fixing' assorted household appliances. He has ever been 1 to instrumentality things apart, fig retired however they work, and enactment them backmost together—with a fewer peculiar modifications!

"This twelvemonth James worked hard to get his CDL, and helium has go an adept astatine driving each the large trucks and dense machinery! We can't hold to spot what God has successful store for him successful the future!"

No. 14 arrived connected Nov. 15, 2002.

And from the section of increasing up so fast...

Duggar babe No. 16 was calved Oct. 11, 2005.

"This miss is truthful amusive and outgoing, and she loves making caller friends," Michelle wrote connected Johannah's 15th day successful 2020. "Her younger sisters perfectly adore her and deliberation she hung the moon, and I couldn't beryllium much grateful to God for choosing maine to beryllium her Mom!"

Now, OMG, she's a teenager.

"Jennifer is dependable, loyal... and fun!" Michelle wrote erstwhile her small miss turned 13. "She is simply a favourite with the nieces and nephews and is usually carrying 1 of them astir due to the fact that they don't privation her to enactment them down! Jennifer besides has a peculiar emotion for animals and is precise faithful to instrumentality attraction of her pets each day! She precocious helped rise a litter of 7 small bunnies!"