Following a surprise wedding just 49 days earlier, another member of the Duggar family has tied the knot. Jason Duggar, the seventh son in the well-known “19 Kids & Counting” family, married his girlfriend Maddie Grace in a picturesque outdoor ceremony set against the mountains in her home state of Tennessee.
The event showcased a Renaissance-chic bride, a muted autumn color scheme, pasta on the menu, and concluded with a festive sparkler send-off. Fans of the somewhat controversial reality show may feel a sense of nostalgia as they reflect on how far the family has come since the show first aired in 2008.
Jason and Maddie’s wedding concluded with a sparkler send-off, marking the 10th Duggar sibling marriage
At that time, Jason was just eight years old, and their mother, Michelle, was pregnant with her 18th child. Now, nearly all of the siblings are adults—13 are married—and the count of Duggar grandchildren has reached 33, with twin girls expected in early 2025.
Despite the happy occasion, some quirky details from this latest wedding distinguish it from the previous nine Duggar ceremonies. The Duggars’ conservative Christian organization has influenced many of the children’s marriages.
Due to their belief in courtship over casual dating, the younger Duggars primarily socialized with church members or those from similar faith backgrounds. Events like homeschooling conferences, weddings, and mission trips foster connections among families, often leading to romantic relationships.
Many of the Duggar daughters, including Jinger, Jill, Joy-Anna, and Jessa, met their spouses in this manner, as did brothers Joshua, John-David, Josiah, Joseph, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, and Justin.
Jana’s marriage is particularly familial, as her husband, Stephen Wissmann, is the brother of Hannah Wissmann Duggar, married to Jeremiah, making both women each other’s in-laws as well as siblings.
Jason and Maddie’s relationship began in a more modern fashion: online. According to their account to People, Jason was teaching Jana how to connect with potential partners on Instagram when he noticed Maddie had liked or commented on one of his posts.
With thousands of likes coming his way, it was a coincidence that her interaction caught his eye. Although he was already following her, they had never met, prompting him to send her a direct message that finally led to their romance.
Their relationship progressed rapidly, even by Duggar standards. Unlike other couples, such as Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle, who seem to have prolonged their engagement, the Duggar family adheres to a more expedited approach.
As conservative Christians, they uphold the belief that couples should save their first kiss for marriage and not delay in committing to their partners. For example, John-David proposed to Abbie just a month into their courtship, marrying three months later.
Similarly, Jill, Jinger, Joy, Joseph, and Josiah also made quick decisions, often within four months. Staying true to this family tradition, Jason and Maddie went public with their relationship on Instagram in May 2024, hinting at future announcements.
Two weeks after Jana and Stephen’s wedding on August 15, they revealed a romantic beach proposal via Instagram. Maddie expressed her excitement, stating, “On August 24, Jason asked me to marry him, and I could not be more excited!!”
While they had only met online prior to New Year’s Eve 2023, their entire relationship history spans less than ten months. Some may find it amusing how quickly they moved, comparing it to the time it takes to keep a jar of mayonnaise in the fridge.
In breaking away from some traditional Duggar norms, it’s become more common for the siblings to disregard some of the stricter rules of their upbringing. The adult Duggar daughters, for instance, have long since cast off their parents’ restrictions on wearing pants and sleeveless tops, and they often incorporate secular music into their social media content.
Jason has also chosen to follow his personal values, as seen in his Instagram posts with Maddie, which feature them sharing close embraces and even posing for piggyback pictures.
Such displays of affection represent a shift from previous Duggar courtships, where physical contact before marriage was largely forbidden. Additionally, the wedding included a dance hour, an activity that was once frowned upon by their childhood religious community, which deemed dancing too suggestive.
Another departure from tradition occurred in the couple’s choice of wedding cake. Instead of opting for the typical tiered buttercream cake, the newlyweds selected a small cheesecake and even provided an ice cream truck to satisfy their guests’ sweet cravings.
