"I'm so happy to have so many friends here from so many places," Jessa Duggar told PEOPLE.
"When I look at all the faces surrounding us tonight," Ben Seewald told PEOPLE, "I don't know how to thank all of you for investing in our lives, and in our life together. Y'all make us feel so special.
After the rehearsal, guests gathered to watch video tributes created by family and friends. Christian comedian Tim Hawkins even sent one. "Want to see how a Duggar boy rebels?" Hawkins joked in the clip, before proceeding to unbutton the top button of his shirt.
Jessa and Ben's rehearsal dinner consisted of Frito pie, iced tea toasts, and a variety of dessert pies. During the meal, Ben's six younger siblings (Jessica, 17; Danielle, 14; Michelle, 12; Ethan, 10; Faith, 8; and Thomas, 5) made toasts to their older brother and thanked him for his leadership.
"Thanks to all our friends and family," Michael Seewald, Ben's father, told the crowd. "It's a blessing to see Ben and Jessa's life together, and we pray they grow closer."
Jessa's siblings also made tearful toasts. Jinger Duggar talked about her close relationship with Jessa, and Jill (Duggar) Dillard shared marriage advice: "We have great examples in our parents that love doesn't have to end. Spend lots of time together and remember, the honeymoon doesn't have to end."
"And we're looking forward to seeing more cousins," Derick Dillard added.
More details on PEOPLE.com.
Photos: David Welker/TLC
Hope you don't mind me pointing this out but in the last paragraph at the beginning you have put Jill instead of Jessa. You do an amazing job with this site, thanks for all your hard work.
ReplyDeleteMarriage isn't always easy and lots of times it needs work! Both of you give 100% in this marriage and you will have a 200% marriage. Give it your all and be ready to say I'm sorry sometimes and it will be worth it all! God bless you all!!
ReplyDeleteLove love love this family and their dedication to God. My 7 year old also loves watching the show. I have used the episodes about the courtships to plant the seeds with him. I make sure to mention waiting until their wedding day to kiss. Thank for allowing TLC to show us your lives...the good and the sad! Good luck Jessa and Ben!
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed seeing pictures from the dinner. Congrats on your upcoming marriage and may the lord richly bless you both.
ReplyDeleteAnd when do we SEE this happen before she gets pregnant I hope :)
ReplyDeleteLol I agree
DeleteHer wedding airs next season according to people magazine and TLC
DeleteEVEN THO I DONT BELIEVE IN THE DUGGARS WAYS N BELIEFS AND COULD NEVER BE THAT WAY MYSELF OR HAVE MY KIDS RAISED THAT WAY, I WISH JESSA N BENN ALL THE HAPPINESS A MARRIAGE CAN BRING...CONGRATS CONGRATS
DeletePrayers for the newly weds that they will have a very happy life together! This day must have been a very sad but happy day for Jinger cause she and Jessa are such close sisters and best friends. I pray for her also to find a godly man and be married soon.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your wedding day. May God Bless you in your marriage.
ReplyDeleteHugs n Prayers
Just a curious question. Were the Kellers invited to these weddings? I love the Kellers. Such a precious family!
ReplyDeleteOK I have a question. Is there gonna be a chance to see a video of just the wedding b/c I noticed TLC left out some things---like Amy singing, and them praying w/ the parents. I would love to see a video of the WHOLE wedding in it's entirety. Oh and Josh talking to the crowd.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS JESSA AND BEN !!!!!!! Hope it is warmer there than it is here :-)
ReplyDeleteToday is the day!!! I'm so happy that Jessa found the love of her life, the one for her. Congrats to Jessa and Ben <3 Hope everything goes to plan for the wedding of her dreams! Two weddings in a year for the Duggars!
ReplyDeleteI see we are late in the news in Canada and we follow old programs but doesn't matter, we are happy for the two young couples ! What a great family and values !! Manon
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Ben and jessa..
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Ben and Jesse!! May God bless you as you begin your life together. Enjoy your special day!! Never forget why you choose each other and make God the foundation of your relationship.
ReplyDeletedid not waste anytime selling the photos to people magazine. hope ben and jessa get the money they will need it. where will they be living. hope not in the storage shed? praying for them.
ReplyDeleteSo excited for them!
ReplyDeleteLily and Ellie, do you know who Jessa's bridesmaids/flower girls are? Thanks!
Blessings,
Grace
Congats on your wedding day and marriage. May it last as long as it would take a broken glass to become whole again.
ReplyDeleteCan someone explain the barefoot thing to me with Jill and now Jessa?
ReplyDeleteI can't explain it, but I went barefoot at my wedding too. It was more comfortable.
DeleteIt must be a countryfied southern thing, even though Northwest west AK. is not very southern.Now in small town Tennessee i can see, maybe.A church is supposed to be a sacred place, ballet flats would have been confortable, if that was the reason.
DeleteSo exciting!!!! God Bless!!!
ReplyDeleteBen and Jessa,
ReplyDeleteSo very excited for you both!!! "Happy Wedding Day" to YOU!!!!
May God bless you and keep you always!!!!
Congratulations,Mr and Mrs Benjamin Michael Seewald!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:O)) Much Love,Nancy(Iowa)
Are Jessa and Ben getting married at the same church Jill and Derrick did? Also, did Michelle's side of the family come to the wedding? I don't hear them mentioned, and don't ever see them on camera. Is Michelle not close with them?
ReplyDeleteOops, I think that last paragraph is supposed to say "Jessa's siblings..", not Jill's.
ReplyDeleteVery happy day for the bride and groom!
ReplyDeleteMay God bless you both while walking your life path together.
I feel bad for them having to keep such a quiet lip over all the details. I am sure TLC wants to be first to tell it all. I would not be surprised if it airs in February while she announces her first child on the way. Until then we will enjoy all your efforts Ellie and Lily ...thank you so very much
How sweet :-) Thank You Lily and Elie for keeping us up to date, I hope you attended The Seewalds wedding too.Cant wait for more details.:-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations you two! I'm so happy for you and look forward to seeing you two be married and later on parents. Just don't start a family too fast the way it happed to Jill and Derick and wait as long as maybe three or four months after marriage to start a family. Hope to see some sneek peek wedding pictures later on on the blog Lily and Ellie plus wedding information and reception information too.
ReplyDelete~Haley~
Is that Kirk Cameron behind Ben next to john?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Seewald!!!
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or does the person behind Ben's right shoulder look a lot like Kirk Cameron?
Thought the exact same thing. I am 97% positive that is Kirk Cameron.
DeletePastor Mike Schadt Founder of S.O.S. Ministries officiated the wedding
DeleteBest of luck to the young couple. I just read Jessa did not kiss at her wedding, but chose to do so privately and not in front of their guests. I guess we will have to see if it is true. She also had a beige/blush colored gown, according to what I read. She looked beautiful, modest, but definitely not as much as Jill. I think if any of the Duggars is going to march to the beat of his/her own drum, it will be Jessa.
ReplyDeleteHey we just got back from the wedding!!!! Were getting ready to go to the Duggars house!!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait!!!
Lily & Ellie, can you please ask the Duggars:
ReplyDeleteWhy the girls go barefoot on their wedding day? and
Why does the couple run down the aisle after the ceremony?
We didn't see any of this at Josh & Anna's wedding. What is the significance of the girls doing this.
Thanks
Just saw a picture of the newly married couple on People.com. GORGEOUS!!!! Congratulations Ben and Jessa!
ReplyDeleteWas Amy at Jessa's wedding?
ReplyDeletewhat id the deal with running down the aisle, and being in Church barefoot
ReplyDeleteJust wondering is the a reason for running out of the church, Jill and Derick ran out after the cermoney and it looks like Ben and Jessa plan on doing the same thing. Just wondering I thought it was kind of cute, like they wanted to have as long as possible together.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the couple. Can't wait to see the wedding next season. People please stop worrying about how soon we will hear baby news from them. They will be the ones raising the baby not any if us.
ReplyDeleteIf you are so young and you all are debt free how in the world are you able to afford TWO weddings? For the average bride it's expensive. I dont understand when ya all have barely been out in the world, where you live and how you afford such speedy things
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Ben and Jessa, ! .. I love that both Jessa and Jill went barefoot .. I'm a barefoot kinda gal .. never like wearing shoes ..and Loved that they opted to go without . It's a pleasure to see the Duggar Girls grow up and now enter marriage. Thank You for blessing my life through your families show.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless
Sara
Lilly and Ellie did you guys go to Jessa and Ben's wedding?
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS BEN & JESSA!! may God bless your union. many years of health, wealth, happiness, peace, love & contentment.
ReplyDeleteReally barefoot in church. Have you ever heard of Sunday best. I know you own shoes and I think they should be worn in Church. Barefoot is ok for the Park and backyard. Show some respect for the house of God.
ReplyDeleteive heard of sunday best but cant seem to find it in the bible, can you tell me which verse it is? its not your clothes and what you wear that make it respectful.
DeleteGoing barefoot shows humility and simplicity of life. The Bible mentions many who removed shoes out of respect. It depends on what teachings you are raised with.
ReplyDeleteI am not trying to be rude, honest. However, what is with everyone running down the aisle and out of the church? Is this a new thing with young people today. I'm not trying to be rude, I have never seen anyone do that until J&D and J&B.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED THE PICTURES! THEY ARE A GORGEOUS COUPLE, I have never before seen just beautiful NOSE SHOTS, as in the second pic! ;) (LOL) yes, their noses are very cute, and so are they!! I love you Jessa and Ben!!!! God bless you!!
ReplyDelete@AnonymousBE REAL!! "WHOM THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED!!"I loved SEEIN GHER PRECIOUS FREEDOME AND HER DARLING FEET!! I love EVRYTHING ABOUT THE DUGGARS, BECAuSE THEY GLORIFY GOD :):):)
ReplyDeletePraising the LORD for this couple and their love for Christ and each other! God had Moses remove his sandals for he was on Holy ground. Also, the girls dress modestly, which is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to them!
love that she went barefoot if that's what she's comfortable with. Really isn't a matter of respect. Definitely not a matter of right and wrong. It's her choice.
ReplyDeleteIn churches in third world countries people do not wear shoes. Also in Biblical times takin your shoes off at a holy place was expected.
ReplyDeleteInteresting tidbit on going barefoot in church... In Nepal, where Derrick was working, it is customary to take shoes off before entering church. It is offensive in that culture to wear shoes inside homes or churches. Not sure this had anything to do with them going barefooted, but it certainly isn't a measure of spirituality or the lack thereof.
ReplyDeleteHer dress seems short for the modesty standards they purport to maintain.
ReplyDeleteLighten up! God traveled barefoot. Many blessings to the happy couple!
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited for Ben and Jessa! I hope their wedding went well and they enjoy their lives together. Random question: does the Duggar family participate in Halloween? I'm assuming not since the rehearsal dinner was Halloween night. Just curious if we'll ever see pictures of the kids in costumes.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere the answer to that is no. They consider it pagan and/or demonic. To each his own.
DeleteI think it is kind of fun that their wedding was on the first Saturday Nov 1 after mine :) We were married 6 years ago! I'll always remember their anniversary...
ReplyDelete@Kathyb1960
ReplyDeleteI would love the see the whole wedding also. I am willing to pay for a DVD! Please!
Ii think shoes should be worn in church. Hopefully she was only barefoot at the rehearsal. Why not try to be yourself Jessa, why did she have to go barefoot like Jill did. Is this going to be a new Duggar tradition?.
ReplyDeleteCute pictures, especially like the happiness I see in their faces in the first picture. Very sweet, very genuine.
ReplyDeleteWhere are Ben and Jessa going to live? Does Ben have a steady job? Hope they are not planning to live with the family. They are so young, well at least he is.
ReplyDeleteHappy for you both!
ReplyDeleteIt also is unsanitary to go barefoot in public places because others before you, who wore shoes in church also wore them everywhere else, like public restrooms and we all know how filthy the floors in public bathrooms are. Jessa was walking right on those germs with her bare feet. Anyone follow my point?
ReplyDeleteAll the best to Jessa and Ben! May the Lord bless them all the days of their lives.
ReplyDeleteRe Charity comment: If it is customary in Nepal for everyone to remove their shoes before entering a house of worship over there, those floors will be clean and not so bad for your feet to pick up awful germs from the outside. That is not the custom here. The church carpet is filthy from the shoe soles of others.
ReplyDeleteNot in the Duggar’s Religion. It may just be their feet do hurt.
DeleteCongradulations Mr and Mrs. Seewald
ReplyDeleteIs she pregnant yet? Time to get busy having her 19 kids!
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous 32 don't you know that the Duggars are millionaires!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 41......Not to be rude but, maybe the bare feet is not so much a southern thing as it is a Duggar thing. The Bates family live in small town Tennessee and Erin and Alyssa had beautiful heals on in their wedding pictures. I completely agree that a church is a sacred place and flats, or any other comfortable shoe would have been a better choice.
ReplyDeleteJean Ellen Comment #59: What are you referring to?
ReplyDeleteBut then they put the shoes when going back outside in Nepal. They wear shoes inside their house.
ReplyDeleteJill mentioned she goes barefoot all the time and was most comfortable barefoot. I assume Jessa must go barefoot as well. Looks like Jessa looks up to Jill so I imagine a lot about their wedding's will be similar. Found the kiss interesting. A Duggar actually did something in private. I say good for them. As for the comment about People magazine. I would sell my wedding photo's if they wanted them too, so good for them. Hope they have a happy marriage down the road. Right now they will be in honeymoon stage for a couple of year's, so I know they are happy now. I wish them the best.
ReplyDelete@Christelle Adelaine
ReplyDeleteHi Christelle,
Michelle's side of the family was at the wedding, although most of them live far away and are unable to see the Duggars as often as Jim Bob's family does. We had a nice chat with Michelle's oldest sister. :)
~Lily and Ellie
~Lily and Ellie
Lily and Ellie,
ReplyDeleteJust curious like another poster, if that is Kirk Cameron next to John David? Also, are the Camerons related to the Duggars? Jana looks so much like Kirk's sister Candace{D.J. from Full House}.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous 34,
Amy was at Jessa's wedding. We were able to catch up with her for a few moments before she had to leave.
~Lily and Ellie
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous 40,
Yes, we were able to attend Jessa and Ben's wedding. It was a beautiful event.
Blessings,
Lily and Ellie
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous 77,
That's correct! The man sitting next to John-David is Kirk Cameron. He is a friend of the Duggars' and attended Jessa and Ben's rehearsal dinner and wedding. We were blessed to be able to talk with him at church on Sunday.
~Lily and Ellie
Why was Jill not at the engagement party for Jenna and Ben?
ReplyDeletePraying for Ben and Jessa congrats and also to Derrick and Jill. I am so grateful for 19 and counting and consider blessed to watch your family. What a testimony and bringing glory to God. You have blessed me soo much. Linda
ReplyDeleteJessa and Ben I am so happy for you, I hope and pray that your marriage will be great in every way, and that God will be with you always
ReplyDeletecongtats Ben and Jessa hope you have many years of happiness and success. Good luck in all you share together. Jill and Derrick congrats on your baby boy.
ReplyDeleteHow come they run down the aisle after the ceremony?
ReplyDeleteIf I had a day with you, and nothing special nothing much to do I wouldnt let it get away or pass me by. And you could be a duchess or a queen and I would be the name that makes you sing and nobody would notice us and nobody would see passing by. And time would be standing still. And if you had a day with me there's no one there that couldn't let you be and we would count the ripples in the sea passing by. And we would write love letters in the sand define the line where sky becomes the land and time would be standing still, time would be standing still, and I would be standing still here with you.
ReplyDeleteWhat song is this? Played during Jessa and Ben's wedding!