Franklin Dean
The Duggars are an ultra-conservative, fundamentalist Christian family who first found fame in the early 2000s with their TLC show 19 Kids and Counting. Weddings are a big deal for the family, and they have several traditions that they uphold on their special day. For example, the first kiss is saved for the wedding day, and brides incorporate a piece of Michelle Duggar's wedding dress into their own. However, one aspect that fans have taken issue with is the lack of food served at the wedding receptions, with guests only being offered snacks and finger food.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of guests | 300-2000 |
| Food | Snacks and finger food |
| First kiss | In private or in front of guests |
| Bride's dress | Includes a piece of Michelle Duggar's wedding dress |
| Bride's family | The bride's father walks her down the aisle |
| Groom | Has a best man |
| Bride | Has bridesmaids |
| Ceremony | Includes music and dancing |
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What You'll Learn
Duggar wedding traditions
The Duggars are an ultra-conservative, fundamentalist Christian family who gained fame in the early 2000s with their TLC show, "19 Kids and Counting". With 19 children in the family, weddings are a frequent occurrence and a big deal for the Duggars. Here are some of the wedding traditions that the family abides by:
- Large Guest Lists: Duggar weddings typically have a massive number of guests. Josh Duggar's wedding to Anna Keller had around 300 guests, while Jill Duggar's wedding to Derick Dillard had approximately 2,000 attendees.
- No Dancing: Dancing is not a part of Duggar wedding receptions. At Jason Duggar and Maddie Grace's wedding, the couple shared their first dance, which was noted as a break from the family's tradition of not dancing at weddings.
- Limited Food: The Duggars have a tradition of only serving snacks and finger food at their weddings, rather than providing full meals for their guests. This has been a point of criticism from fans, who find it unacceptable.
- First Kiss: The first kiss is a highly anticipated moment at Duggar weddings. Some couples, like Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald, choose to share their first kiss in private after the ceremony. Others have kissed in front of all their guests.
- Piece of Mother's Wedding Dress: It is a Duggar family tradition for the bride to incorporate a piece of her mother Michelle Duggar's wedding dress into her own gown. The exact placement of the piece is left to the bride's discretion.
- Chaperoned Courtship: Before marriage, Duggar children are required to have chaperones during their courtship or dating period. This helps them avoid any physical intimacy that the family typically reserves for marriage.
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Food at Duggar weddings
The Duggars are a large family, and weddings are a frequent occurrence. The family has gained fame over the years, with their weddings often featuring on their reality TV show.
The Duggars are known for their many traditions, and one such wedding tradition is to only serve snacks and finger food at their weddings, rather than full meals. This is likely due to the huge number of guests they invite—often over 1,000 people—and the cost of feeding so many. For example, Joy-Anna Duggar served "popcorn, pretzels, and other snacks", while Jill and Derick's wedding included root beer floats and cupcakes. John and Abbie, who had the "best food" out of the televised weddings, served a breakfast buffet at their reception, as their venue had no kitchen. Another Duggar couple, Justin and Claire, served guests tacos as their main course.
While some fans of the family find this lack of food unacceptable, others suggest it is a cultural aspect, or that the Duggars are used to more casual weddings with minimal food.
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Duggar wedding guest numbers
Weddings are a big deal in the Duggar family, and with 19 children in the family, they're a fairly frequent occurrence. The Duggars have been known to have a large number of guests at their weddings. For example, Josh Duggar's wedding to Anna Keller in 2008 had around 300 guests, while Jill Duggar's wedding to Derick Dillard in 2014 had around 2,000 people in attendance. Another source mentions that Jason Duggar and Maddie Grace's wedding had around 300 guests.
The Duggars have also been known to have multiple weddings per year, with new announcements about courtships, weddings, and babies occurring yearly. As of 2023, 11 of the 20 Duggar children are married, and there have been 12 Duggar weddings in the last 16 years. With so many weddings and such large guest lists, it's no wonder that the Duggars have become known for their wedding traditions and unique reception choices.
One notable aspect of Duggar weddings is their decision to serve only snacks and finger food instead of full meals for their guests. This has been a source of criticism from fans, who find it unacceptable, especially given the large number of guests in attendance. However, some have speculated that this is a cultural aspect or a way to keep costs down, as providing meals for hundreds of guests can be extremely expensive.
Despite the lack of traditional meals, the Duggars' wedding receptions seem to be casual and festive affairs. One source mentions that Maddie Grace, who married Jason Duggar, described her wedding as "just a big party where everybody gets together." This sentiment seems to capture the joyful and celebratory nature of Duggar wedding receptions, even if they don't follow the typical wedding reception script.
Overall, while the Duggars may have unique approaches to their wedding receptions, their focus on family, celebration, and tradition shines through. With their large family and frequent weddings, the Duggars have certainly made their mark on the world of wedding culture.
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Duggar wedding costs
The Duggar family, known for their reality TV show "19 Kids and Counting," has a unique set of wedding traditions and customs. With a large family and many children, weddings are a frequent occurrence and a highly anticipated event. While the Duggars are known for their thriftiness, they don't hold back when it comes to wedding expenses, especially given their massive guest lists.
Jim Bob Duggar, the patriarch of the family, has stated that he aims to keep each wedding budget between $10,000 and $20,000. This range is impressive, considering that the average wedding in their state of Arkansas costs around $21,000. However, with guest lists often exceeding 1,000 people, it's understandable that costs can escalate quickly. Reddit users have speculated that the family may cut costs by relying on friends and family as a labour force.
One notable aspect of Duggar weddings is the absence of traditional meals for guests. Instead, they offer snacks and finger foods, which some fans have criticised. This approach may be influenced by the family's cultural norms or their desire to keep costs down, as catering for a large number of guests can be expensive.
The Duggars have unique traditions surrounding the wedding gown. Each daughter incorporates a piece of her mother's wedding dress into her own gown, commemorating their family heritage. Another highly anticipated moment is the first kiss between the couple, as they abstain from intimate contact until marriage.
While specific cost breakdowns are not available for most Duggar weddings, we can estimate the expenses for Jana Duggar's wedding to Stephen Wissmann. The venue, The Grand at Willow Springs, likely cost less than $6,000 for a mid-week rental. Jana's dress was likely in the average range of $1,800 to $2,400, and flowers, photography, and music may have added another $4,000. Therefore, it's estimated that Jana and Stephen spent between $10,000 and $15,000 on their special day, which is still significantly less than the state average.
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Duggar wedding dances
The Duggars are an American family who gained fame in the early 2000s with their TLC show, "19 Kids and Counting". The show followed the lives of the family, including patriarch Jim Bob, his wife Michelle, and their 19 children, all of whom have names beginning with the letter "J". The family is known for their conservative and religious values, which are often reflected in their wedding traditions.
When it comes to Duggar wedding dances, there doesn't seem to be much information available. However, one source mentions that at the wedding of Jason Duggar and Maddie Grace, the couple shared the first dance, which was followed by a father-daughter dance before the dance floor was opened to all guests. This wedding was noted as breaking a Duggar family tradition, implying that dancing is not typically a part of Duggar wedding receptions.
While there may not be a strong focus on dancing at Duggar weddings, the family does have several other wedding traditions. One common tradition is for the bride to incorporate a piece of her mother Michelle's wedding dress into her own gown. This tradition was shared by Jinger Duggar, who married Jeremy Vuolo in 2016, and likely by other Duggar daughters as well.
Another notable aspect of Duggar weddings is the size of the guest list. Duggar weddings tend to have a large number of guests, with estimates ranging from 300 to 2,000 people in attendance. This may be due in part to the family's conservative and religious values, which encourage large gatherings for celebrations.
In addition to the large guest lists, Duggar weddings are also known for their limited food options. Fans have noticed that the family tends to serve only snacks and finger food at their weddings, rather than providing full meals for their guests. This has been a source of criticism from some fans, who find it unacceptable that a wedding would not include a proper meal. However, others have defended the practice, suggesting that it may be a cultural or financial decision.
Overall, while dancing does not appear to be a prominent feature of Duggar wedding receptions, the family does have a number of unique wedding traditions that reflect their values and cultural background.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Duggars do have wedding receptions. However, they do not serve full meals, opting for snacks and finger food instead. This could be due to the large number of guests, with weddings having around 300 to 2,000 attendees.
The Duggars have several wedding traditions. One tradition is for the bride to incorporate a piece of her mother Michelle's wedding dress into her own. Another is for the couple's first kiss to be saved for the wedding day, often shared privately after the ceremony.
Yes, the wedding of Jason Duggar and Maddie Grace broke a long-held family tradition by including a dance floor for guests. This was noted by Jinger Duggar and her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, on their podcast.
As of 2024, there have been at least 12 Duggar weddings, with more expected in the future as there are still unmarried Duggar children.
Courtship and marriage are considered important steps into adulthood for the Duggars. During courtship, they follow strict rules, including having chaperones to avoid physical contact typically reserved for marriage. Once married, the couple is expected to procreate, resulting in frequent baby announcements.
