
The Duggars are a conservative family of reality TV stars, and weddings are a big deal. The family has a number of wedding traditions, including strict rules around physical contact, with kissing, hugging, and hand-holding reserved for the wedding day. Food is also a notable feature of Duggar weddings, with some sources commenting on the lack of food served at these events. While some Duggar weddings have included substantial meals, such as Josh and Anna's 200 pounds of crab salad and 500 sandwiches, others have served only snacks, like popcorn and pretzels, or ice cream sundaes, as seen at Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald's wedding. This may be due to the family's religious and cultural background, where serving a full meal at a wedding could be seen as showing off.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food served | Snacks, cake, and punch |
| Full meals | Not typically served; may be considered "worldly" or "showing off" |
| Examples of food served | Popcorn, pretzels, sandwiches, root beer floats, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, brownies, tea sandwiches, and finger foods |
| Exceptions | Josh and Anna's wedding included crab salad and sandwiches; Jill and Derrick's rehearsal dinner included a barbecue dinner |
| Wedding size | Large guest lists |
| Timing | Often in the afternoon |
| Chaperones | Required during courting or dating |
| Physical contact | Kissing, frontal hugs, and hand-holding reserved for the wedding day |
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What You'll Learn
- Duggar weddings are modest affairs, with no large meals or big receptions
- Jessa Duggar served ice cream sundaes and sweet tea at her wedding
- Jill Duggar and Derrick Dillard served root beer floats and chocolate chip cookies
- Joy-Anna Duggar served popcorn, pretzels, and snacks at her wedding
- John and Abbie served the best food out of the televised Duggar weddings

Duggar weddings are modest affairs, with no large meals or big receptions
Duggar weddings are a big deal, with the family's conservative reality TV stars spending much of their lives looking forward to walking down the aisle. However, despite the number of guests invited, Duggar weddings are modest affairs, with no large meals or big receptions.
The Duggars don't typically serve a large meal or have big receptions, opting instead for snacks, cake, and punch. This is partly due to the challenge of providing hot food for a large number of guests, which can number in the thousands. For example, Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald's wedding had over 1,000 guests, but they only served ice cream and sweet tea. Similarly, Joy-Anna Duggar served "popcorn, pretzels, and other snacks," while John David Duggar and Abbie Burnett had a breakfast buffet with cereal, muffins, quiche, bacon, and waffles.
Some have speculated that the Duggars don't serve proper food at their receptions because they have a secret second reception for a smaller group of specially invited guests, where they serve actual meals. This theory suggests that the Duggars want to keep costs down while still celebrating with their large community.
The Duggars' wedding food choices also reflect their religious and cultural background. In pure fundie/IFB weddings, serving a full meal is not expected and could even be seen as "showing off." Instead, snacks or finger foods are the norm, and the timing of the wedding is usually in the afternoon, making a full meal less practical.
While some may criticize the Duggars' wedding food choices, it's important to consider the context of their large community and religious beliefs. Ultimately, Duggar weddings focus on the joyfulness of the occasion and bringing people together, rather than an elaborate meal.
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Jessa Duggar served ice cream sundaes and sweet tea at her wedding
Jessa Duggar, one of the 19 kids from the reality TV show *19 Kids & Counting*, served ice cream sundaes and sweet tea at her wedding to Ben Seewald. The couple hosted over 1,000 guests at their reception in Bentonville, Arkansas, forgoing the traditional wedding cake in favour of ice cream. Jessa, who is now known as Jessa Seewald, explained her decision, saying, "I don't really like cake. We wanted ice cream sundaes instead." The dessert table featured a simple, rustic look, with Mason jars and hand-lettered labels atop unfinished wooden crates trimmed with white burlap ribbon. The groom requested mint chocolate-chip ice cream for his sundae, while the bride chose chocolate.
The Duggar family, who are fundamentalist Christians, have a number of wedding traditions. They do not typically serve large meals or hold grand receptions, and food is not the focus of their celebrations. Instead, Duggar weddings tend to be modest affairs, often resembling afternoon teas with snacks, cake, and punch. This aligns with the cultural norms of their community, where serving a full meal at a wedding could be seen as "showing off."
The Duggars' approach to wedding food has been a topic of discussion among fans and critics alike. Some have expressed surprise at the lack of a more substantial meal, especially given the large number of guests. However, others have defended the family, noting that the quality and quantity of food at a wedding depend on individual preferences, budgets, and cultural expectations.
While Jessa Duggar's choice of ice cream sundaes and sweet tea may not be considered conventional, it reflects her unique personality and preferences. Ultimately, the couple's wedding was about bringing people together to share in their happiness, and the simplicity of their chosen refreshments did not detract from the joy of the occasion.
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Jill Duggar and Derrick Dillard served root beer floats and chocolate chip cookies
Food is not the star of Duggar weddings, which tend to be modest affairs. The Duggars are conservative fundamentalist Christians, and their weddings are highly traditional. They do not eat out at "nice" restaurants, so their expectations for wedding food are low.
Jill Duggar and Derrick Dillard served 600 cupcakes, 3,000 root beer floats, and 3,000 chocolate chip cookies at their wedding. The food was all homemade, in keeping with Duggar family tradition. There was also a wedding cake. The reception was attended by over 1,000 guests, including more than 100 immediate family members, and the festivities went off without a hitch.
The Duggars' approach to wedding food is in line with their religious and cultural background. In their community, it is not customary to serve a full meal at weddings. Doing so would be seen as "showing off." Instead, weddings tend to feature snacks, cake, and punch, and are often held in the early afternoon.
Jill and Derrick Dillard's wedding reflected these traditions, with a focus on simple, homemade treats rather than a formal meal. The couple's wedding was a family-friendly affair, and the root beer floats and cookies likely appealed to the many children in attendance, including their over 100 cousins.
Jill and Derrick are known for their love of cooking and baking together, so it is no surprise that they chose to serve these special treats at their wedding. The root beer floats and chocolate chip cookies were a fun and delicious way to celebrate their special day with their large family and many friends.
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Joy-Anna Duggar served popcorn, pretzels, and snacks at her wedding
The Duggars are a far-right, ultra-conservative, fundamentalist Christian family. Weddings are a big deal for them, and with so many children in the family, they are a frequent occurrence. The family has many traditions for their special day, including saving kissing, frontal hugs, and, in some cases, hand-holding for their wedding day.
Joy-Anna Duggar served only popcorn, pretzels, and snacks at her wedding. This is in keeping with the Duggar family tradition of not serving a large meal or having big receptions. Reddit users have pointed out that food is not the focus of Duggar weddings. However, some other Duggar weddings have included more substantial food, such as crab salad, sandwiches, cupcakes, root beer floats, and chocolate chip cookies.
The Duggars' choice to serve only snacks at their weddings may be due to their religious and cultural background. In some fundamentalist Christian circles, serving a full meal at a wedding would be seen as "showing off." Additionally, the Duggars may be accustomed to eating cheap and filling meals due to their large family size and financial constraints. It is also possible that they have a secret second reception for a smaller group of guests where they serve more substantial food.
While some people may criticize the Duggars for not serving a proper meal at their weddings, it is important to consider the cultural and regional context. In some parts of the United States, such as Arkansas, it is not common or expected to serve a full meal at a wedding, especially for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
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John and Abbie served the best food out of the televised Duggar weddings
The Duggar family is known for their wedding traditions, and while their weddings are often modest affairs, some have been televised. John and Abbie's wedding was one such occasion, and it is said to have served the best food out of all the televised Duggar weddings.
The Duggar family is a large one, and weddings are a frequent occurrence. The family follows strict rules and traditions when it comes to marriage, including saving physical intimacy for the wedding day. Their weddings are often highly anticipated by fans, who are curious about the family's unique dynamics and traditions.
While the Duggars' wedding menus have varied, they don't typically serve large meals or have extravagant receptions. Instead, their weddings tend to focus on simplicity and modesty, with snacks, cake, and punch being common offerings. In the past, some Duggar couples have been criticised for their sparse reception menus, with Jessa and Ben Seewald's wedding, for example, only offering ice cream sundaes to guests.
However, John and Abbie's wedding stood out among the televised nuptials. Their wedding was a down-home country-themed celebration, with a unique reception venue—a construction hangar that housed airplanes, reflecting John's occupation as a pilot. While some might expect a full meal at a wedding, it is not uncommon for Duggar weddings to feature lighter fare, and snacks or afternoon tea-style spreads are more in line with their traditions and expectations.
John and Abbie's wedding menu included chocolate milk cartons and plastic bottles of water, a unique and understated choice. While some may consider it a departure from the typical wedding fare, it is consistent with the Duggar family's modest and unpretentious style. The couple's wedding was also notable for being the first time fans were introduced to Abbie, as their relationship and engagement progressed rapidly.
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Frequently asked questions
The Duggars typically do not serve large meals at weddings. Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald served ice cream sundaes and sweet tea to their 1,000 guests. Joy-Anna Duggar served "popcorn, pretzels, and other snacks." However, Jill and Derrick served 600 cupcakes, 3,000 root beer floats, and 3,000 chocolate chip cookies.
The Duggars are conservative fundamentalist Christians, and in their community, serving a full meal at a wedding is seen as "worldly" or "showing off." It is more common to serve cake and punch or finger foods, especially for weddings held in the afternoon.
Weddings are a big deal in the Duggar family, and they follow strict rules when it comes to getting married. The Duggar kids are required to have chaperones while courting or dating, and they save kissing, frontal hugs, and hand-holding for their wedding day.
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