Finally free? Jana Duggar marries Stephen Wissmann

A long-awaited moment has finally taken place for the Duggar family: Jana Duggar, 34, the eldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19 children, has finally married. In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Jana said that getting married was "a dream come true."

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

Rumors have swirled for years about Jana Duggar, with some critics of the Duggar family, best known as the stars of TLC's 'Counting On' and '19 Kids and Counting', speculating that the oldest daughter of the clan was essentially an "indentured" servant for her parents, living at home, cooking, cleaning, and minding her parents' youngest children.

Photo: duggarfam / Instagram

For years, fans and critics of the Duggars had written in online forums that they believed Jim Bob Duggar would not allow his eldest daughter to leave the family compound so that he could benefit from her services to the family.

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

However, now that Jana has married Stephen Wissman, age 31, the rumors have been put to rest. As reported by People magazine, Jana and Stephen were married on August 15 in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, where 500 guests attended the nuptials. Jana's father, Jim Bob, walked his daughter down the aisle.

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

Per USA TODAY, Jana and Stephen married after a very short engagement period of just two months. This is fairly standard for the large Duggar family, which follows strict courtship rules, such as no kissing before marriage or hand-holding before engagement.

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

Naturally, several of Jana Duggar's sisters were included in the large bridal party, with Jessa Duggar Seewald as maid of honor and Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johanna Duggar, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, Jordyn Duggar, and sister-in-law Abbie Duggar as Jana's bridesmaids.

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

Fans of the Duggar family were surprised to see that Jim Bob and Michelle have clearly relaxed many of their modesty standards. Jana wore an off-the-shoulder bridal gown, and her youngest sisters wore very form-fitting and revealing bridesmaid dresses.

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

Many fans and critics alike speculated about whether Jill Duggar Dillard, who not long ago released a tell-all book criticizing her family, had been invited to the wedding or not, as Jill and her family were missing from the wedding photos.

Photo: jillmdillard / Instagram

Was Jill not welcome over hurt feelings because of her book?
Well, that rumor quickly cleared up when Jill shared photos of her sister's celebration on Instagram this week. Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, were indeed in attendance.

Photo: jillmdillard / Instagram

Jana's husband, Stephen Wissmann, also comes from a very large family with conservative Christian values. As reported by People, Stephen grew up in a family of thirteen children in Nebraska. Wissmann is dedicated to professionally installing irrigation systems and sandblasting and painting projects.

Photo: Wissmannfamily / Instagram

Jana Duggar told People that now that they were married, the couple would be settling down in Nebraska in "a little house we bought that we've been fixing up."

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

This will be a huge change for Duggar, who has spent the last 34 years living on the family compound surrounded by her many siblings.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Jana told People that she met Stephen for the first time around 13 years ago; however, since he is three years younger than her, "he was not at all on my radar."

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

The Duggar family is now well acquainted with the Wissmann, particularly since Jana's brother Jeremiah Duggar (pictured) married Wissmann's sister Hannah in 2022.

Photo: Wissmannfamily / Instagram

Some years later, Jana said that she reconnected with Stephen, and they dated (or courted in Duggar lingo) for a while but called things off.

Photo: janamduggar / Instagram

Fans have speculated that the couple may have called things off because it was around the time that Jana's older brother, Josh Duggar, and her family were facing a lot of controversy over Josh's various scandals involving infidelity, abuse of minors, and possession of violent videos involving children.

Naturally, Jana did not speak to the press about whether her eldest brother's scandals affected her dating life or not. Jana told People that she and Stephen started dating again earlier this year and realized, "We still enjoy each other. We still really appreciate each other."

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Photo: janamduggar / Instagram