There’s a new pair of newlyweds in the Duggar family!
Jason Duggar, the 12th child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, tied the knot with his girlfriend Maddie Grace in front of 300 family members and friends in a “breathtaking” fall ceremony on Oct. 3, 2024, at The Estate at Sweetwater Creek.
Aheads of the couple’s nuptials, Maddie told PEOPLE that the pair couldn’t wait to mark the happy occasion with loved ones. “Just having everybody together just to celebrate us, because you never get another day in your life where all of your loved ones are together,” says Maddie.
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“Especially for us, because I’m from Tennessee, and so half my family lives in Tennessee and Kentucky, and then we’re moving to Arkansas. “Just being able to see everybody in one place. It’s just a big party where everybody gets together.”
The couple chose to exchange vows in Maddie’s home state of Newport, Tenn. because the “gorgeous” mountains and scenery were “just perfect” for their fall-themed nuptials.
When planning their wedding, family was a top priority as they noted that eight of Jason’s siblings were in the wedding party, including Jedidiah Duggar who was the best man. James Duggar, Justin Duggar and Jackson Duggar rounded out the groomsmen. Maddie’s bridesmaids included Johanna Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Jordan Duggar, and Josie Duggar (the youngest Duggar family member).
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Their guests also played a special role in the wedding ceremony as they got to pray over the rings in a special “ring warming” ceremony.
Jason wore a tan suit with a white tie, while his groomsmen wore similar colored suits with ties to match from Macy’s.
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The bride walked down the aisle to Sleeping at Last’s romantic ballad “Turning Page” as she met her husband-to-be at the altar and her longtime pastor, who officiated the ceremony.
During the reception, the couple opted for an Italian menu — as a nod to their upcoming honeymoon in Italy — and in lieu of a cake, they chose cheesecake and ice cream for dessert. They then ended the night with a fun dance party with family and friends.
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The pair first connected on Instagram in December, 2023.
“I kind of basically got lost on there,” Jason recalls. “I was talking with Jana. I was telling her, I was like, ‘Listen, Jana, you got to put yourself out there if you want to find a guy.’ So I was like, ‘Look, listen, I’m going to hop on here just to find someone, just to show you that I can do it.'”
Adds Maddie: “But Jase found my profile just because he accidentally tapped on the notifications button, he saw my profile picture. He was like, ‘Oh, she’s cute.’ It was definitely a God thing though. There’s no way we would’ve found each other. It was just crazy.”
A few months later in May, Jason announced their relationship on Instagram with a carousel of photos featuring the couple dancing on the beach and embracing in the middle of the ocean.
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“We really became each other’s best friends and it just kind of built from there,” says Jason. “The journey is what has showed us that we are just perfect for each other.”
Jason popped the question on August 24 and they revealed their engagement with a joint Instagram post showing snaps from the proposal on the beach, where he created a romantic setup with candles, white flowers and a lit-up sign reading ‘Will you marry me?’”
As for what comes next for the couple, they say they are looking forward to “traveling” and “settling down” for a bit.
“I think for both of us, we’re pretty simple people really. It’s like just doing life together,” says Jason. “Just being able to enjoy the next seasons of life and just be able to take those next steps.”
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