Jana Duggar, a former contestant on “19 Kids and Counting” and “Counting On,” married Stephen Wissmann in a wedding in Arkansas on August 15.
Duggar and Wissmann got engaged in June and married in front of friends and family at a luxury wedding venue, The Grand at Willow Springs, she revealed in photos on Instagram. Duggar’s bridal party included Jessa Duggar Seewald as maid of honor and sister-in-law Abbie Duggar, and sisters Jordyn Duggar, Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johannah Duggar and Jinger Duggar Vuolo as bridesmaids.
Wissmann has been a good friend for years, Duggar told People Magazine in an exclusive interview.
“It takes me a while to open up, but I think he’s just always there, no matter what, in good times and bad. He’s been a good friend over the years and hasn’t put any pressure on me.”
The couple have known each other for a long time through their families and reunited in March 2022 when Duggar’s brother Jeremiah Duggar married Wissmann’s sister Hannah Wissmann Duggar, according to the Duggar family website.
“(The Wissmanns) traveled and sang. I remember them coming to our house about 13 years ago and eventually getting snowed in… I remember us playing games late into the night and doing puzzles together until the snow melted,” Duggar told People.
Who is Stephen Wissman?
Wissmann, 31, is one of 13 children who live with his family in Nebraska. According to the Wissmann family website, he is the “vice president of Wissmann Enterprises, Inc.” and is also involved in directing the musical arrangements, singing, and playing instruments in the family’s gospel group..
Controversy surrounding the Duggar family
The family starred on TLC’s reality TV show “19 Kids and Counting” for 10 seasons from September 2008 to May 2015. TLC canceled the show in 2015 after a report came to light that Josh Duggar had sexually assaulted four sisters, one of whom was Jessa, and a babysitter. Duggar later admitted his behavior to his parents and authorities and apologized in a public statement on the network’s website.
“I confessed to my parents, who took several steps to help me deal with the situation. We spoke to the authorities, where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged counseling for me and those affected by my actions.”
The family then appeared on the TLC show “Counting On,” a spin-off of “19 Kids and Counting,” for 11 seasons from December 2015 to September 2020. The show was canceled in 2021 following Josh Duggar’s arrest.
Duggar pleaded not guilty on April 30, 2021, to receiving and possessing material depicting the sexual abuse of children that he downloaded from the dark web to his laptop. The investigation lasted until December 9, 2021, when a federal jury found Duggar guilty. He was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
At that time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas issued a press release.
“…This ruling also demonstrates that no one is above the law. Regardless of wealth, social status or fame, our office will continue to track down all those who abuse and prey on children through the downloading, possession and sharing of child pornography,” said Clay Fowlkes, U.S. Attorney for Western Arkansas.
