Counting On "First Comes a Wedding, Then Comes a Honeymoon"
- As it kicks off, Lauren and her parents are over at the Duggar house looking at baby photos with Jim Bob, Michelle, and Josiah. "It just seems like yesterday we brought him home from the hospital," says Michelle.
- The Duggars love Lauren and her family. "Lauren is very steady, which is good for Josiah," says Joy.
- Josiah--eighth in his family lineup--and Lauren--the oldest of nine, including an infant brother--have known each other since childhood. But they didn't become serious friends until around the time of Joe and Kendra's September 2017 wedding. They were friends for a few months, followed by a six-week courtship and a four-month engagement.
- The wedding day finally arrives. Lauren's father, Dwain Swanson, is officiating. "I have so much emotions wrapped up into this moment," he shares just before seeing his daughter in her wedding dress. "It seems like a lifetime of years from the day that she was born up to this very minute that I'm about to see her. I know she's beautiful. I know that it's going to be sweet."
- "Are you ready to marry us?" Lauren asks her dad, beaming. "You better do it!" As the wedding ceremony begins, Lauren says she is as calm as can be.
- Josiah and Lauren have eight groomsmen and eight bridesmaids. The groomsmen are Joseph, Austin, Jeremiah, Jedidiah, Jason, James, and two others. The bridesmaids are Jana, Kendra, Joy, Lauren Caldwell, and four others. Jordyn is a flower girl.
- The mother of the groom and mother of the bride walk in together with Josiah, each wearing stylish, pink gowns that are knee-length. Josiah and Lauren recite wedding vows that they have written themselves. Click here to read them.
- For protection, Lauren and Josiah decide to have Josiah keep the rings in his pocket, rather than trust someone else with them. Lauren announces that the idea was her.
- During the ceremony, the camera catches glimpses of John and Abbie, seated together in the audience. Looks like they will be the next Duggar couple to walk down the aisle.
- After exchanging vows and rings, Josiah and Lauren are prayed over by their parents. The first kiss is long and beautiful, and then Josiah grabs a beaming Lauren in his arms and runs out of the sanctuary.
- Jedidiah, Jeremiah, and Jason say they have noticed a change in Josiah since he started pursing a closer friendship with Lauren, around the time of Joseph and Kendra’s wedding. “He’s a lot more glued to his phone,” says Jason. “A lot more deodorant. I’ve noticed the bills go up in that.”
- Josiah says he was attracted to Lauren because she has a “head on her shoulders,” as she works through college. “She loves getting out of her shell and just encouraging others,” says Josiah. “There’s a lot of character there.”
- The Swansons have just moved to Arkansas from out of state, so Jana, Jessa, Joy, and Kendra take Lauren out to dinner at MarketPlace Grill. “Y’all have really made us feel at home,” Lauren tells the girls.
- Lauren tells the girls that she once had a five-hour video chat with Josiah. Jessa shares that her longest video chat with Ben was one hour, although they did have longer (unchaperoned) phone conversations.
- The Duggar girls love Lauren. Jessa says: “She’s…very health conscious, which is hilarious because Josiah has a major sweet tooth, always has a stash of candy, and she’s always telling him, ‘That’s not good for you. Let’s make healthy choices.’ She really balances Josiah.”
- During dinner, Josiah appears at the table, pulls up a chair, and asks Lauren an important question: “I was wondering if you wanted to go to the next step from friendship and maybe enter a courtship with me?” “I would love to, Si!” Lauren replies, and the two share a side hug.
- Rewind a few months. After recovering in Northwest Arkansas from the craziness of their wedding, Joseph and Kendra leave for their honeymoon. Destination: Greece!
- The newlyweds arrive in Athens and head to their hotel. The view of the city is incredible. On their first day, they visit Mars Hill, where the Apostle Paul preached a sermon.
- Later, they enjoy “Dinner in the Sky,” a revolving restaurant attached to a crane that is suspended 165 feet above the city. “The views from the top were amazing,” says Josiah. Kendra enjoys chatting with another woman at the table.
- On another day, Joe and Kendra embark on a food walking tour. They have trouble finding the meeting place and have to ask a local for directions. “I ask for directions probably more than your average guy, but I’m still a guy,” says Joe.
- They successfully navigate the subway system. “First for me,” says Kendra, giggling. “Most things are. I haven’t experienced a whole lot.”
- They try cheese pie and spinach pie. Joseph is more adventurous than Kendra with the spinach. Then they visit the meat market (where they see cow heads) and the vegetable market. Kendra loves the olives, while Joe does not.
- With help from the guide, they pick up all the ingredients for a Greek salad, and then they put it together. “The biggest thing I learned is that there’s no lettuce in a Greek salad,” says Joe.
- The lovebirds take a ferry to the Greek island of Santorini. “I think some of the things that I’ve learned about Joe have been that he’s a deep sleeper,” says Kendra. “He can fall asleep on a plane pretty fast. And, well he likes to lick his plate when it’s really, really good food, but I’ve asked him not to do it in public.” Joe says he is not the only one in his family who licks his plate and claims that Jessa is the one who showed him how. Of Kendra, Joe says that she enjoys sharing his food and that she becomes even more giggly when she’s tired.
- “On our honeymoon, I learned that Austin cannot snuggle and sleep at the same time,” says Joy during an interview. “We snuggle, and then he has to be on his side of the bed to sleep.”
- Jessa says she learned during marriage that Ben is very meticulous. He has been known to iron his t-shirts and jeans.
- The resort that Joe and Kendra stay at in Santorini is beautiful. They have a blast driving the streets in a 4x4. “The gas pedal was a little jumpy at times,” laughs Joe.
- At a black sand beach, they go paddle boarding, which is much harder than it looks. Both of them fall off multiple times before finally getting the hang of it.
- Before heading home, Joe and Kendra explore the town of Kendra, which sits on a cliff. They come across some locals singing and dancing, from whom they receive kisses on the cheek in celebration of their honeymoon. They also take part in the “Opa!” plate smashing tradition.
- In Laredo, Jinger and Jeremy take an art class, where they learn how to draw portraits of each other. “I was really nervous about the class because I was sure I was going to be out of my comfort zone,” admits Jinger.
- “It was a very great random person,” Jinger says of Jeremy’s portrait, but she doesn’t think it looks much like her.
- Back in Arkansas, Jessa and Ben share some updates. Ben is in his last year of school and is also working. In celebration of their third anniversary, Ben makes dinner (quinoa, steak, and salad) and watches the kids while Jessa gets her nails done with Jana and Joy.
- Joy, who is about five months pregnant, enjoys feeling her baby kick while she sits at the spa. “I think it’s slowly sinking in that I’m going to be a dad,” Austin says during an interview. “When we hear the heartbeat, it’s like, ‘Wow, whatever it is is going to come out, and it’s going to be our responsibility.’ But I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet.” Austin has only ever changed one diaper.
- Cooking while keeping track of Henry proves to be a difficult task, especially when Henry is missing mama. Ben is thrilled when his little guy falls asleep in his high chair.
- When Jessa returns, the Seewalds enjoy their steak dinner. After the meal, Ben pulls out a necklace, featuring two hearts and three pearls, that he had custom designed for Jessa.
