It has been just over eight weeks since Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson announced their engagement. In Duggar time, that means the wedding is likely just around the corner. Below is a list of the approximate engagement lengths of the other Duggar couples. Jim Bob and Michelle have had by far the longest engagement in the family. Their kids, however, have only waited a maximum of 15 weeks.
When do you think Josiah and Lauren will tie the knot?
Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell: 15 weeks
Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth: 12 weeks
Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo: 14 weeks
Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald: 11 weeks
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard: 12 weeks
Josh Duggar and Anna Keller: 13 weeks
Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Ruark: 7 months
Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com/Josiah Duggar
They have done this so many times. It can be done a lot fasther. Seame guest, shop for clothes and times.
ReplyDeleteWhenever it fits into TLC's filming schedule, like always.
DeleteExactly.
DeleteWhy not enjoy their time together? Het rush in a wedding so soon with the first boy or girl they meet? And do young.
ReplyDeleteLast week of June or first week of July to fit in between the upcoming births.
ReplyDeleteThat would be too close to Jinger’s due date and I don’t think she could travel.
DeleteThis is her parents that should plan the wedding am I right ?? Also I think her mother is having a baby in the mix there somewhere !! I also believe that they will pick their date & not everyone will always be able to attend ! Can't please everyone. We will see this later on in the new summer program I am sure it will be on this year, I hope anyway !
DeleteThey should date for some time first. And get time to really talk without teen brothers around. It should be more private to really get to know the person
ReplyDeleteI agree. I would be able to truly be myself if I knew someone was watching me. I feel like a guy could act like the perfect man while his gf’s dad and brothers are watching, but once they’re alone... who knows what could happen
DeleteThey do. They get to much better than many secular relationships that are more physical. They get to know each other on a deeper level by spending time with each others families. They spend a lot more time doing this in the friend stage they don't make public.
DeleteJeremy and Jinger said they only got to really know each other's personalities after marriage and having alone time. Additionally, they laughed more during their honeymoon than during their whole courting relationship. It sounds like being monitored be other people meant they couldn't be fully open with each other.
DeleteHaving the privacy before marriage to actually get to know a person without a third party listening in is essential. Intimacy isn't just physical. At times it seems like the courting couples are too immature to be in relationships if they can't control themselves around each other. Accountability should start within and be upheld because you have made a commitment to yourself, your partner, and to God. Having a referee there seems silly and like they can't uphold that commitment on their own.
I got to know my husband on a "deeper level" too, but we didn't put silly rules in place about when we could or couldn't hold hands, how many hugs we were allowed to have each day, etc. Through our dating, we got to know each other quite well. I think it worked. We've been happily married for decades. You can spend time with each other's families, talk about your pasts and your future hopes, watch each other's behaviors in different circumstances, AND be free to be "secular," as you put it. It's not one or the other; it can be both.
DeleteIt bugs me how the Duggars oversimplify everything as if if it's not their hyper chaperoned, no privacy or physical touch whatsoever kind of courtship, then it's just all physical and no depth. My husband and I are Christians, and we managed to date, talk & text without chaperones, get to know each other well, get to know our families, ask deeper questions, etc. while still being able to hug, kiss, hold hands & yet save sex for marriage. Many, many people manage to do that.
DeleteAnon @ 10:50 Thank you for your post. Many on this blog seem to have a very black and white picture of this world but there are many shades of grey inbetween. Many do not live their lives like the Duggars but are good moral peole living good lives, loving their neighbour, helping the less fortunate and are not on drugs, getting drunk or being promiscuous.
Delete4:26, 8:20, and 10:50 - So right! Especially about all intimacy not being physical. My husband and I were so engrossed in each other one night right before we got engaged that we never saw the waitress come to the table to take our dinner order. She practically had to shake us to get our attention! We were a million miles away, in a world of our own, just us two. I'll never forget that night. What a shame the Duggars can't experience that sort of intimacy before marriage, just the two of them on a romantic date. I assure you there was no hanky-panky going on in that restaurant, just focused love and deeply connecting emotionally! No chaperones necessary.
Delete10:50...I completely agree! I, too, am Christian and know for fact we can date and hold hands and kiss sans chaperones with losing control. I personally would not have married my husband if they only way he could “control” himself was with chaperones.
DeleteI think they will have a June wedding!
ReplyDeleteSometime over Memorial Day weekend.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing June!
ReplyDeleteWhy such a rush to get married?
ReplyDeleteOnce you know it’s the person you want to marry, why would you wait?
DeleteBecause they are trying to stay pure in their relationships. The reason for engagement is to plan the wedding, and you really don't need a lot of time to do that. I think it's GREAT that they don't have long engagements!
DeleteMe too! Long engagements to me are nonsense. I had an 12 week engagement! And my wedding was beautiful! And were Christians!we knew we wanted to marry each other so we did as fast as we could because we also waited to get physical!
DeleteTry being engaged to a military man, with Uncle Sam dictating how long your engagement will have to be. It's hard to get married when the groom is thousands of miles away for months on end. But I wouldn't have traded my long engagement for anything. Under those circumstances, I was simply glad to be engaged. The right spouse is worth waiting for.
Deletemy prediction is that it will be an early July or late June wedding
ReplyDeleteMy prediction is that it will be late June early July
ReplyDeleteMy prediction is that it will be late June early July
ReplyDeleteSo happy for Josiah and Lauren. Why keep the wedding date a secret? Lol
ReplyDeletePaparazzi...
DeleteI guess it sells more magazines. The average couple just announces their wedding and everyone is happy and there is no guessing or surprise. I hope they will do like Jinger and Jeremy and actually have some time as a married couple before starting a family.
DeleteI think they do it to avoid wedding crashers or others who might try to cause trouble.
Delete11:19, there were wedding crashes at Jingers wedding.
DeleteWhen you combine the weeks/months of combined courtship and engagement, then you equal a similar amount of time to their parents' engagement period. Jim Bob and Michelle didn't have an official courtship period prior to engagement, while their children did, which makes the comparison off.
ReplyDeleteJim Bob and Michelle dated prior to getting engaged. They took a longer time to know each other and privately determine they were a good match and would have a successful marriage. I'm sure at least one or two of the younger couples wish they had the same opportunity. Having chaperones with you at every moment doesn't allow for open communication.
DeleteJim Bob and Michelle actually dated
DeleteIf they choose to stay pure before marriage it's their right to do so
DeleteI think it will be on Lauren’s 19 birthday (18th of May)
ReplyDeleteGood point! Getting married at 19 sounds better than 18, so I think you may be right that the wedding will be around or a little after Lauren's 19th birthday. Also, if it's in May, sweet Jinger will perhaps find it easier to be there, and adorable Kendra will still have a few weeks to go be before her baby is due. Best wishes to all!
DeleteSome people like to get married on their birthdays; we might find out that Josiah and Lauren just married on Lauren's birthday. I don't think they will wait till end of June.
DeleteI'm going to guess June 2.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think it will be June 2nd.
DeleteA friend of the Duggars (Alexandra Perez) is getting married that day. The Duggars have attended all of the Perez’ weddings in Texas, so I doubt Josiah and Lauren will be married that weekend
DeleteJosiah and Lauren, take your time. What's the rush?
ReplyDeleteI kind of think they rush because they have zero privacy in their relationship while courting. They are chaperoned when together, every text they send gets also sent to the parents so they must feel almost desperate to just be alone together and the only way that can happen is marriage. I feel that is such a betrayal to the young couple to take this precious time of getting to know each other away and make it instead a family affair. Michelle and Jim Bob weren't treated like that.
DeleteWhy do they need to wait? They know they want to married each other, why be engaged for a year instead of getting married. Since their families rules are so strict I’d rather get out of there too.
DeleteThey need to be careful about getting married too quick because they believe that they can never divorce no matter what the spouse does, so I would take my good old time getting to know this potential spouse. I would be real careful.
DeleteI would say soon. Since they all seem to wait 3 months. But I think they should pray about it, and just flow with God's timing. Seek his will.
ReplyDeleteI think God has more important things to consider than planning a wedding date. Save prayers for world peace and the stuff that matters.
DeleteGod hears big and small prayers. He's answered little prayers of mine as well as big ones! He's a personal God.
Delete2:47 - His eye is on even the sparrow. Luke 12:6, etc.
DeleteNo HE doesn't GOD wants to be a part of all our lives and a wedding is a big part of ones live
DeleteLike any good father, God cares about the little things, as well as the big things. He says so in His Word, the Bible.
Delete2:47, your comment is just like saying some people matter to God and others dont. Not true! We all matter to God and He wants you to include Him in every part of your life not just one day a week on Sunday mornings!
DeleteAhhh...God has time for everything and encourages us to bring everything to him. I believe God transcends time.
DeleteMaybe Lauren's family is requesting a longer engagement. She is still pretty young
ReplyDeleteIf you’re engaged you might as well get married
DeleteI disagree with "if you're engaged you might as well get married". We dated 5 years, got engaged, dress bought, and counting down when he realized he wasn't as ready as he thought (baggage from his parent's two failed marriages). It ended up being good for me, as I realized I had some baggage from my parents' marriage I needed to work through and shed. After both working privately on our baggage for a year, we began seeing each other and will be celebrating 27 years this fall. We heavily favor a longer engagement because many people/families put on a good face (even some Christian ones, unfortunately). We'd also never expect our daughter to go from never being alone with her intended to the intimacy of marriage in less than 24 hours. If purity and self-control are such overriding issues/fears, the young person either hasn't been raised correctly or has zero interest in what Mom & Dad have been selling value-wise. It seems like Michelle and Jim Bob have done a good job projecting their past sins onto their children. It's like they expect them not to either have much self-control or that they won't use self-control and they've set themselves up to be the self-control for their children with extreme rules. It's played off as being done out of love and concern for the children and their eternity, but it's really sad. It's twice as bad that they've been telling the country for years how well disciplined, well-instructed, well-mannered their children are and how close to the Lord they all are and serving Him.
Delete11:06, but that’s isnt their family situation. And why be engaged? And I’m sorry, but if you dated for five years (not on and off dating, but just dating straight through 5 years)you should be able to find out in that time zone that you have baggage from your parents poor choices.
DeleteIt takes awhile to plan a wedding. Mine was about 6 months or so of planning.
DeleteAnonymous @ 4:23- Wrong and no need to demean a fellow poster. A large percentage of marriages don't make it past the 5 year mark because the couple brought the baggage to the marriage (an even greater number don't make 10). When the dysfunction is your normal, you can't always see that it's dysfunctional, Nor are you aware that you're going to tend to default to that in your own relationship because it's a learned response. That's not something most couples are aware of when they're dating- nor is it covered in most pastoral counseling sessions (especially when the future-in-laws appear to be such fine, upstanding Christians and so involved in their Church). We got the counseling and and are so grateful. Unfortunately, many of our friends that we love and care about did not and their 20-25 year marriages are on shaky ground (staying together for the kids). You're going to spend a lifetime together, God willing, you need to be able to sit down together (just the two of you) and talk about what you like or dislike about your parents' marriage and the way they do things and what you want your marriage relationship to be. With a third party, there's too much pressure to uphold the family image/reputation, bury/minimize the family secrets, or put your best face forward to "win" the person.
DeleteYou probably had more to your wedding than root beer floats in a cold parking lot, 7:22.
DeleteI think they'll get married in June
ReplyDeleteAny time between May 9th and June 16th.
ReplyDeleteThey will likely wait until mid August since two siblings are due to have babies. Jinger would not be able to travel after June first so August makes since.
ReplyDeleteThey won't wait til August. It's time to tightly tie that knot and get on to the family making part.
DeleteThat’s kinda draggin their feet in Duggar World. Married and expecting by mid-July.
ReplyDeleteThey can definitely pull that off, 7:28.
DeleteMy prediction is Lauren will announce a “blessing” before Jinger has hers.
DeleteI was praying that she would be a June bride.
ReplyDeleteThat is such an odd thing to pray for
DeleteWhy is it important for anyone to be a June bride?
DeleteTradition
Deletemonth of June derives its name from Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. It was thought that couples who married in June would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. There were some films that made it popular in the 40's-50's. I remember a song from 7 brides for 7 brothers that said if you marry in June you are always a bride.
DeleteThank you. That is really interesting. I wondered where the tradition of June bride came from.
Delete11:45! I love 7 Brides for 7 Brothers! What a fun classic.
DeleteI've seen it live on stage, which was an event. But when you think of it, kidnapping a bunch of girls isn't really funny.
Delete7:35, me too (I am 11:45)! 5:10, no but it is entertaining and the movie is just awesome!
DeleteSomehow I doubt the Duggars would want to follow a wedding tradition based on a pagan goddess. Also, while Juno (aka Hera) was the goddess of marriage per Greek/Roman myths, her own marriage to Jupiter/Zeus, a serial cheater who was also her brother, isn't exactly what most women these days would sign up for.
DeleteI'm gonna guess the end of May.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI think they'll get married either the last week of this month or the first week of June. I think May 26 would be good, since that's over Memorial Day weekend this year. Share their anniversary with Joy and Austin's and Gramma Duggar's birthday.
ReplyDeleteTime 9:05PM
ReplyDeleteI would take a guess & Say 10 weeks.
June 2nd
ReplyDeleteI SAY AUGUST AFTER THE 2 NEW BABY,S HAVE ARRIVED AND BOTH MUMMY AND BABY ARE DOING OK SO KENDRA IS DUE JUNE AND THEN JINGER IS DUE JULY SO THE NEXT FREE MONTH IS AUGUST
ReplyDeleteBUT GOOD LUCK TO JO AND KENDRA AND JINGER AND JEREMY ON HAPPY BUT SAFTY BIRTHS AND GOOD LUCK TO JOSIAH AND LAUREN ON THERE WEDDING DAY WHEN EVER IT IS
SEND YOU ALL LOVE AND BLESSING FROM ENGLAND UK
Tracey, they won’t wait until August. That’s nearly eternity in Duggarville.
DeleteAugust is too late
DeleteBy August they will have a baby on the way. I'd think end of May wedding.
DeleteI am going to go with May 26 for their wedding. Joy's one year anniversary!
ReplyDeleteDo you know if they will be married in Arkansas or Georgia where she is from?
ReplyDeleteLOL, it's a Duggar wedding, it'll be within miles of the Duggars' home.
DeleteAnna got married in Florida
DeleteThat was a million years ago. She also sewed her own dress. Now duggar brides choose between a half dozen custom made gowns.
DeleteHow about you just tell us the date?
ReplyDeleteYeah, really. The wedding secrecy games are silly.
DeleteI agree.
DeleteWedding crashers showed up at Jingers wedding and took/posted pictures, which kind of messes up their dealings with People Magazine
DeleteThey had curtains put up outside all the weddings. If they had a security lapse and people got pictures, then it was the wedding planner's fault. Besides, you can't stop the public from being on a public street or sidewalk for those long shots from outside the security zone. Not one wedding date yet has been kept a complete secret. Some guest has always leaked it. Games people play, huh.
DeleteIf security leaks are problem, maybe the guest list should be down-sized to a more manageable number or trustworthy few. Just a suggestion.
DeleteI think they will get married in october and will wait tell Kendra & Jinger have their babies.
ReplyDeleteWay too late for a Duggar wedding
DeleteI'm going with June 9th.
ReplyDeleteI'd say wedding May sometime, pregnant by July and baby by next May 2019!😊
ReplyDeleteSounds likely. I'll second your prediction.
Delete2:09, why guess when they’ll have a baby? They could have fertility issues and not be able to conceive.
DeleteI'd say baby next March.
DeleteI thought Jessa and Ben dated for a year before their engagement? Am I mistaken?
ReplyDeleteJessa and Ben courted 11 months before engagement. But from engagement to wedding, it was only 11 weeks!
DeleteI thought so too. I wonder what the timeframe is if you look at courting and engagement...It would take a big fan to figure that out.
DeleteNo, you're right that they dated for a longer period before their engagement. This post is just listing how long the engagements were.
DeleteJessa and Ben did court for a long time before engagement. This post is about the time between the engagement and the wedding.
DeleteI think you're correct, it was about 11 months between courtship and engagement. I seem to recall a lot of drama between Jill and Jessa because Jessa started courting first but Jill wanted to beat her down the aisle.
DeleteMe too! I thought they were engagement for at least a year. Maybe it was their courtship that lasted longer??
DeleteYeah me too! I thought that were engaged at least a year? Maybe it was their courtship?
DeleteI don't recall any drama between them, but they were asking Ben about his engagement plans at Jill's wedding. They were engaged that summer, and married in November. Jill was pregnant at Jessa's wedding.
DeleteHa ha ha, engaged for a year? You must be new to the Duggars. Nope, Not one duggar has been engaged for a year and neither will they start.
Delete11:59, there was no drama, there was indeed playful teasing, but no drama
DeleteSorry folks, i must have misunderstood the post. I thought it was about how long their courtship was
DeleteI'm going with Memorial Day weekend to beat the babies.
ReplyDeleteMe too, no later than that.
DeleteYep :)
DeleteI think May or August. I wish them the best and lot's of happiness.
ReplyDeleteWhen the dress is ready and everything else is arranged...it Wil be ad fast as they can arrange it.
ReplyDeleteThe Duggars are lucky that, unlike most brides that have to order their dresses 6 months in advance, their custom dresses are fast tracked. They do not seem to have to worry about long lead times to book reception venues plus they do not seem to have to take pre-marriage couple course with their church.
If you want to be clever about it, theres 10 weeks between this weekend and the first weekend in July and looking at the birthdays of the family members, there's 8 birthdays in that time. 5 of those are on Saturdays which assuming they won't have a wedding on someone's birthday and the wedding being on a Saturday, means that the biggest gaps without a birthday in them is the weekends of the 5th and 12th of May, or, the 9th and 16th of June. Kendra would probably be nearly due at that point which is a risk especially as Josiah was Joe's best man and it will likely be that Joe is Josiah' s best man, although she doesn't HAVE to attend but probably would want to. July is pretty free with regards to birthdays on Saturdays so it could be in July but I reckon Jinger will be due around the 22nd so...I think it will be this weekend or next weekend.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 10:52 Hate to break it to you but a birthday won't stop a Duggar wedding, Jinger married Jeremy on Spurgeons first birthday.
DeleteJinger got married on Spurgen's first birthday
DeleteWell Jinger and Jeremy got married on Spurgons Birthday
DeleteIt would be nice if they waited until later in the summer at least, so that Jinger and Kendra don't have to show up in a maternity dress or with a newborn.
ReplyDeleteThere's likely always going to be someone pregnant or with a newborn. Trying to plan a wedding around those factors would be next to impossible.
DeleteBetween their families and hundreds of wedding guesses, someone is going to have a newborn baby at that wedding
DeleteIf the girls can go to weddings on flip flops, t shirts, and even bare feet, I really don’t see why a maternity dress would matter.
DeleteI think Josiah and Lauren will get married in the month of May.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that they will get married TOMORROW-May 4!
ReplyDeleteIf they are smart they will wait a good year or two......
ReplyDeleteWhy? They’ve known each other for years, it’s not like they’re strangers.
DeleteMay 26 and Joy will announce second pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteGet real!!! Shes just had baby!
DeleteI've heard on the grapevine it's June 30th.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to another Duggar wedding. It will probably be timed perfectly as not to coincide with the babies due in June and July.
ReplyDeleteJoan,Marion and Marilyn
I think they will get married either the beginning of June or August as Kendra is due on Fathers Day and Jinger is due mid July
ReplyDeleteAll you MARRIAGE and RELATIONSHIP experts, saying they NEED to take MORE time to REALLY get to KNOW each other.I just heard a story. Where a guy, who after LIVING with his girlfriend for 10 yrs, FINALLY got married. Probably cause they THOUGHT, 10 yrs of LIVING and TALKING ALONE together,was time ENOUGH to REALLY get to KNOW each other. After ONLY 7 months of marriage,while on vacation, she asked for a divorce. So. Can 1 of you, PLEASE! Explain why this man's relationship/marriage didn't work out? I'm SURE. At least1 of you has the "Expert's" answer..opinion
ReplyDelete10:21 why are you acting so upset? Marriage is serious business and you cited 1 example of a failed marriage. If a family's beliefs are that there will be no divorce no matter what then it just stands to reason that it would be in the best interest of a young potential couple to take their time before jumping into a life long commitment like marriage. It's not being a relationship expert to say this it is just good sense.
DeleteWould the couple have stayed married if they married after a few months? Do YOU know why the wife asked for a divorce? What happened on that vacation that led her to end their relationship?
DeleteThe marriage could have ended for a number of reasons. Was the husband unfaithful or did he change once they were officially married? There are marriages that start with courtship and end with infidelity, though some marriages continue even when one breaks their marriage vows. You seem to be an expert yourself so let us know.
The answer is simple...they didn't have God in the center of their relationship. "Fear the Lord and keep His commandments." We are allowed one scriptul way out of marriage and that is because of adultry.
DeleteWho can explain why, we don't know anything about the couple. I'm sure someone would agree with me that courting someone for a few months or 10 yrs., if you want to make the marriage work, you will make it work...Jane
DeleteEnough 7:07
Delete7:07- I hate to break it to you, but my husband and I have been happily married for almost 30 years and we have never associated with any church or organizied religion. A successful marriage takes love, commitment, a 50/50 partnership, and two individuals who have learned not to keep score.
Deletei just guess june very pretty
ReplyDeleteimo, it's kind of sad that the kids have to marry in order for them to leave home.
ReplyDeleteThey don’t have to marry to leave home. It is a choice. My daughter is 22 and lives at home. She has chosen to stay home for now and save money. She almost has her one year old new car completely paid for and will go into marriage debt free later this year. Fiancially it makes sense for them to save money while they can.
Deletecongrats Josiah and Lauren! although I do think you should've dated for a longer period of time before getting engaged.
ReplyDeleteJust my two cents, but whenever there's a Duggar marriage pending, I think a lot of people weigh in on these young-by-society's-standards marriages because they genuinely care about these young people and what happens to them. The pro and con posts are equally important to the discussion. A lot of posters bring life experience to the table to share. We can agree to disagree when it comes to the Duggars' lifestyle choices, without being disagreeable with one another. We should respect that someone else can and often does have a different opinion. The fact that so many post about these very young couples says that many people care about these young people, which is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for Lily & Ellie- We've heard Jim Bob and the girls in past episodes over the years refer to Jim Bob's 50 page questionnaire for a guy who wants to court his daughters? Was he actually being serious? Is there a questionnaire for potential wives/future-daughters-in law? Do the girls' dads have questionnaires for the Duggar guys to complete or is this just a Jim Bob's thing? Genuinely curious how this all works, here.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was a joke about the questionnaire, and didn't they say that he modeled it after another one that was out there online somewhere? But we've never heard of a potential wife having to go through the same paperwork. Maybe that's because the wives have all come from families who are friends?
DeleteLet's add how long they courted as well and total it up, do the math for me, hee hee I hate math, lol😎
ReplyDeleteHow do they justify Josiah having "given away pieces of his heart" to Marjorie, when that was said over and over on the show to be a no-no? You don't hear anyone talking about it now. Why is it OK that it happened to Josiah and he went on to another successful courtship, but the kids were warned not to date and do that, because it wasn't a good thing? Things that confuse show viewers!
ReplyDelete