The Duggars are excited to attend yet another Bates wedding this spring. After two years of getting to know each other and two months of courting, Alyssa Bates and John Webster have made plans to tie the knot. On January 16th, while 19-year-old Alyssa was in Orlando visiting the Webster family, John took her out on a special date at Disney Resort and popped the question...and she said yes! The future Mr. and Mrs. Webster have planned their wedding for May 24th.
You cruel people, you! :P You knew we would think Jessa and Ben were engaged...! Ah well, it will come eventually I'm sure. Alyssa and John make a beautiful couple.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure these are lovely young people, but they should not be making a life long commitment at 19 years old. Their brains are not mature until 25 and statistically more marriages are successful in the long term if they marry after that age. I'm not sure why this Christian culture (the ultra conservative ones) seems to want to have them marry so early. There is nothing wrong with waiting from a Christian perspective. Is it that they are afraid of something? Perhaps being exposed to other cultures and thinking that might lead them away from the particular kind of faith they were raised in? I hope they are used as role models for other young people of faith.
ReplyDeleteYes,19 is young,but Mrs. Bates said Alyssa is the kind of 12 going on 20 person. She has 19 years olds she wouldn't let them get married,but Alyssa is old for her age:)
DeleteI was 19 when I got married. That was back in 1993. Still going strong.
DeleteI was engaged at 19 and married at 20. That was 7 years ago now. We are just as much in love today plus more. Any matriage will not work no matter the age if God is not your foundation, and if you are not best friends first and lovers second. Age has nothing to do woth maturity.
DeleteI was engaged at 17, married at 18. My husband and I will be married 15 years this April. We still get called newly weds. We knew what we were getting into and we couldn't be happier now!
DeleteI married my best friend, and love of my life at 17. I graduated in 1978 and we had our first daughter on New Years eve of 1978 and no i was not pregnant while dating. Then we had our second daughter when I was 22. We have been married for 36 yrs and we are getting ready to travel together in March to different states and retire. We are 53 and 54. What I am getting at is although it doesn't work for everyone it has for us even at 17 and 18.a marriage works by what the two of you are willing to put into the marriage. I don't think it is right for any one to get on here and judge these people. Judging is only for God to do. But there sure are a lot of people that believe they have that right. No one has that right. You can believe what you want to believe but don't shove your opinions and judgements down anyone else's throats. It's not your right...you be happy Duggar girls as well as Bates girls. At any age...It's your right. That goes for the guys too... .
DeleteEngaged at 18, married at 19 & cheated on 13 years into my "happy, Christian". I did nothing wrong. We were too young and he never grew up. It ended in disaster and me being stranded in a state that doesnt help those who were cheated on and dumped. Cant move to be near my family. My point is, I never saw it coming. People are unpredictable and people really don't become fully secure in who they are until their mid-late 20s. Not saying it happens to everyone, but sometimes women like me become victims because our ex husbands didnt want to be husbands anymore.
DeleteI was 19 & my husband was 20 when we got married that was 43yrs ago. I was 21 when my first child was born & 24 when my second child was born. Our daughters talk about the fun they had growing up as we were always camping, 4 wheel driving, swimming in the creeks etc on weekends. Our motto was we grew up with our children. We both worked- I worked days my husband worked nights, there was always one parent with the children. If you are committed it does not matter what age you are when you marry.
DeleteI was 19 years old by three days when my husband and I were married. He was 20. To say it was a blessing would be understated but it was a HUGE blessing not of our doing at all. By God's grace He brought us together. We have been married going on 12 years and 4 children later we are in love more and more each passing day. How is it possible? Only by God's hand and those that are willing to submit to Him.
DeleteI am not so sure that age is the determining factor in marriages even though it is important. I believe that maturity and how they were raised is second only to their common faith...not just which religion. Being able to pray together is as intimate as sex really cause of the bonding and the trust involved. Alyssa has been brought up to be responsible and accountable and I wish her and John a wonderful life together with God's richest blessings!
DeleteThat is wonderful news!!! May God bless them always!
ReplyDeleteSo excited + happy for them!!
ReplyDeleteTwo months? Wow....seems quick to me. But congrats nonetheless
ReplyDeleteI am excited for Alyssa, but I have to admit when I saw the title, I thought it was about Jessa! Well, that'll come soon enough! ;-) ~Rebekah
ReplyDeletecangrats, kids
ReplyDeleteAll the girls are marrying the same type of guy there all very very handsome cute couple
ReplyDeleteYes, i visited the bates site..and saw all the photos..gil and kelly are busy parents..God Bless them all.
ReplyDeleteI was so hoping that it would be Jessa and Ben engagement news! :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! They are leaving left and right!! Good for the Bates family!!!!! The bates house is brimming with activity!!! I hear that she and John are going to live in Orlando!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking couple. Congratulations and Best Wishes
ReplyDeleteI READ THE TITLE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JESSA AND BEN....
ReplyDeleteWow the bates r fast! I just hope that the duggars will catch up soon, but it seems that the bates r much more open minded about courting tha the duggars
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else see the heading and think it was about Jessa and Ben?
ReplyDeleteMay 24 of 2014?
ReplyDeleteCongratulation!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the happy couple! Best wishes!!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, could their smiles be any bigger! They look so happy! Many blessing for them.
ReplyDeleteawwwww! Congrats!
ReplyDeletethat's awesome. I wish more teens today would take some notes. You guys are definitely raising kids right.... God Bless
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous 16,
Yep, the wedding is on May 24th, 2014.
Lily and Ellie:)
@Anonymous Kelly wrote about this to another visitor to her site and said that Alyssa is very mature for her age, more than some adults she's met. And that you have to consider the individual! John and Alyssa evidently didn't make a fly by night decision and knew each other for quite awhile before "engagement" time. Pretty cool
ReplyDeleteWell I married just past my 20th birthday and will celebrate 22 years with my wonderful spouse. When God is in it there's nothing to fear. You also must remember these young adults have grown more mature than the average worldly teen of today. I don't conservative has anything to do with it. It's all God.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI think Mrs. Bates said on her blog that John is 24. They've known each other for two years but waited to begin courtship until Alyssa was nineteen.
He's not 19…he's 24. And he's the son of a US senator. Not too shabby, I'd say! :)
ReplyDeleteyour family is buotafule how did jessa and ben meat
ReplyDelete@Amy
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! I'm taking notes tho:) In my head..What wonderful examples!
So many weddings for the Bates in 6 months time! Amazing! Looking forward to a Summer wedding for my son. He will be 18 next month but his girlfriend of 3 years won't be until July.
ReplyDelete@AnonymousI will definitely say that I know plenty of Christians that have waited until they are much older. I'd say the average I know of (coming from "this" circle) is 23-27. Sometimes it just happens at a younger age!
ReplyDeleteAge does not necessarily equal maturity. I think the fact that their parents have blessed their marriage plans implies that fear is not a factor but trust that they are indeed mature enough to handle a lifelong commitment.
ReplyDelete- A believer who is not a member of this "ultra-conservative culture."
I agree with you! My mother married at 19, she said if she could turn back time she would wait a few more yeares.
ReplyDeleteI think every couple is different and it's unfair to assume they are not ready to make a life-long commitment at 19 years old. My husband and I were 18 and 21 when we were married, and we are celebrating 10 years of marriage this August.
ReplyDeleteMy reply to comment # 14 is tut, tut .... this is not a race/competition with the Duggars, don't even suggest that! Let the young people be, don't start treating it like so and so much sport!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the couple who got engaged and CONGRATULATIONS to the individuals who are SINGLE, way to go!!!
Things where different in most of the 20th century until the early 80's. I was born in 1974 and my parents were considered "old" by 70's standards (my father was 33 and my mother was 29, which is normal now to get married and start a family). Most of my friends growing up, their parents were 10-15 years sometimes younger than my parents (with some exception).
ReplyDeleteI am happy for this young couple and if they are like anything like The Duggars, which I know they are, then I think they will do fine. I just hope that this young lady if she is in college stays in college to finish her degree or if she is some sort of other job learning (hairdressing, etc) she stays. I do worry that some of the ladies brought up in this enviroment are expected to drop out of school or trade school to start a family. Then if something ever unfortunately happens to their husbands at a young age, they have nothing to fall back on for work to support their family (as I know she will be expected to stay at home, unless they live on a farm).
hope all the children live a fulfilling life with lots of love , friendship during their marriages
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I thought for sure Alyssa would get a degree like Erin.
ReplyDeleteSeriously ppl commenting thought it was Jessa. Bahaha. Pst Jana is next. Jim bob even hinted at that. Then John. Then Jill. Then Jessa. Currently no one in duggar house is courting
ReplyDeleteJessa has been in a courtship since November...
ReplyDeleteyou really need to let your children grow way from the family and let the older ones move out and live on there own or with there boy/ girl friends
ReplyDeleteMy sister-in-law had just turned 18 years old when she married my brother and they have been happily married for 60 years. I think it depends on the maturity of the individual at the time.
ReplyDeleteI was 18 and my husband was 19 when we got married 41 years ago. Marriage is a commitment and love grows deeper with each passing year.
ReplyDeleteI got Married at 18 years old, After knowing my now husband for 2 years, having dated for 8 months when we got engaged and we married 12 months later. We have now been married for 10 years this coming April. Whilst we have had our moments there are no married destroying cracks in our relationship. I highly recommend the you and marriage and children path. We have energy, time, etc for everyone, (it probably also helps I am a full time stay home mum), but we also have 4 kids with us and 4 angels.
ReplyDeleteI married my husband when I was 19 years old and he was 20. This July we will be celebrating 34 years of marriage. True love means trust and commitment to each other. Congratulations to them and I wish them all the happiness in the world. With God's help, they will have a wonderful life together.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit makes all the difference in the life of a Christian.When you honor God you trust Him to bring your husband or wife in His perfect time. A true Christian doesnt run around lusting after other women or think the way the world thinks. Its not seeing a woman as a piece of meat. When you are content and satisfied inside you dont have to chase around trying to find satisfaction in what the world thinks can satisfy and bring happiness. We trust God for everything in our life why not trust Him for a mate? His plan is different for each person. Brenda
ReplyDelete@Anonymous Their idea is to get married before they fall prey to sexual sin.
ReplyDeleteToday, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and
ReplyDeletetested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she
has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with
someone!