Jana Duggar and Stephen Wissmann’s Relationship Timeline

Jana Duggar she could not always count on finding her eternal husband.

For nearly 12 years, the reality star let the cameras document her life on TLC’s 19 Children and counting and spinoffs Counting on. During the show, Duggar witnessed her sisters fall in love and leave her she wondered when her time would come.

“I’m just like, ‘What is it? is it me Do I have a problem?’ People in August 2024. “All my siblings, most of them married in their 20s. I am by far the oldest. So it was daunting at times.”

Duggar had no idea something special was brewing with the longtime family friend Stephen Wissman.

While their romance wasn’t exactly love at first sight, the pair reconnected in early 2024, fell in love, and had a fairytale summer wedding.

“Just seeing it happen is unbelievable and hard to believe,” Duggar said People days before the wedding in August 2024. “It’s a dream come true.”

Keep reading to learn more about Duggar’s journey to finding love with her forever partner, Wissmann:

2011

Wissmann — who lives in Nebraska with his parents and siblings — first connected with Duggar through their families when they were teenagers.

“(The Wissmanns) would travel and sing,” Duggar recalled People in 2024. “I remember them coming to our house probably 13 years ago and ending up here getting snowed in, which almost never happens in Arkansas. I remember us playing games late into the night, doing puzzles together until the snow melted and they could travel back home. I don’t actually remember Stephen that well because I’m older than him, so he wasn’t on my radar at all.’

2020-2022

In a 2024 interview with PeopleDuggar revealed that she briefly dated Wissmann a few years ago before they went their separate ways. Despite the split, the pair remained in touch and “spoke repeatedly over the years. In March 2022 Duggar’s brother Jeremiah Duggar married Wissmann’s sister Hannah.

Early 2024

In the early months of 2024, both Jana and Stephen reconnected and decided to take their relationship more seriously. “It was like, ‘What are we doing? We still enjoy each other. We still really appreciate each other,” she recalled People. “I was slower, but over time his character, his return, still loved me no matter what. I know we have a big crazy family and we still put up with a lot of things. I’m like, oh my god, not too many people do that. He must really care about me.”

June 2024

Although the pair never spoke publicly about their courtship, they secretly got engaged on June 15, 2024. A month later, fans speculated that Jana was engaged when she posted a series of photos on Instagram with a ring on her left hand.

August 2024

Two months after the engagement, the couple was able to experience theirs dream wedding in front of 500 guests. Jana and Stephen were married in a “classic, elegant” ceremony near Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on Thursday the 15th. People reported. “I’ve been praying for this for years,” Duggar told the paper as he celebrated the ceremony.

The Counting on star enjoyed her wedding with Jessa Duggar Seewald serving as her maid of honor. Janina’s sister-in-law Abbie Duggar as well as sisters Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johannah Duggar, Jinger Duggar Vuolo and Jordyn Duggar served as bridesmaids.

“Sweetest wedding ever,” Jessa he wrote through her Instagram Story after the wedding. Jinger added, “The most amazing bride.”

January 2025

Stephen celebrated Jane’s 35th birthday by sharing a collage of photos from throughout the pair’s relationship on his social media.

“Happy birthday to the most beautiful and incredible girlfriend and wife! I love you!” he wrote via Instagram on January 12 “DEFINITION OF LOVELY: Charming or exquisitely beautiful, Having a beauty that appeals to the heart or mind as well as the eyes, as a person or face, Adorable; very pleasing, of great moral or spiritual beauty.”

According to Stephen, his wife fits the bill. “You have so many gifts and talents that you choose to bless others with!” he added.