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Jana Duggar is a married woman! The oldest Duggar daughter from 19 Kids and Counting, who has always marched to the beat of her own drum, has tied the knot with boyfriend Stephen Wissman.
After reports that the 34-year-old obtained a marriage license with her beau — who she has previously not publicly acknowledged — PEOPLE confirmed the two have tied the knot in Arkansas. The pair enjoyed a traditional wedding in front of 500 guests.
The Duggar Family Was Very Involved in the Nuptials
The 19 Kids and Counting alum was surrounded by her famous family as she enjoyed a special moment in her life. Sister Jessa Duggar Seewald took on maid of honor duties. Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johannah Duggar, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, and Jordyn Duggar all served as bridesmaids, along with sister-in-law Abbie Duggar.
Jim-Bob and Michelle were all smiles for their daughter’s special day. Jim-Bob walked Jana down the aisle.
Wissman is no stranger to large families. He is the 8th of 13 children. His younger sister, Hannah, is married to Jana’s younger brother, Jeremiah Duggar.
Over the Years, Jana’s Decision To Keep Dating Private
Jana Duggar has admittedly been one of the more mysterious members of her family. As the oldest girl in the family, many were interested in her journey. Viewers saw Jana stepping in with her younger siblings so often. As a result, they were eager to see her come into her own family. Despite speculation, especially as she entered her 30s as a single woman in a culture where that’s uncommon, Jana kept quiet about courting and plans for the future.
It couldn’t have been easy for Jana to make that decision, however. In the time when she didn’t speak about her private life, there were rumors floating around about her. While people questioned her sexuality and commitment to the tenets of her faith, Jana remained firm in keeping what was going on to herself. She even disappeared from social media for a time, giving people even less detail about her life than ever.
Jana gave some slight insight into her experience when she spoke to PEOPLE about her nuptials.
I think it is one of those things that all girls envision someday. For me, it felt like, ‘Okay, it’s never coming.’ But now it’s starting to sink in. Reality is starting to set in. And I’m like, ‘Wow, this truly is something that I’ve dreamed of.’ And just to see it coming about is incredible and kind of hard to believe. It’s a dream come true.
Jana Duggar, PEOPLE
However people may feel about the larger Duggar family, it seems many are happy to see Jana in this moment of celebration. The feeling is that she earned this happiness, perhaps more than any other member of her family.
