Thursday, July 21, 2016

Duggars Celebrate 32 Years of Marriage


Thirty-two years ago, Jim Bob Duggar, 19, and Michelle Ruark, 17, became husband and wife in front of a small crowd of family members and friends at First Baptist Church of Springdale. (Click here to find out why that church means so much to the Duggar family.) Michelle arranged her own bridal bouquet, baked her own wedding cake, and wore a hand-me-down dress from Grandma Duggar.

Seven years ago, Jim Bob and Michelle renewed their wedding vows in celebration of their 25th anniversary (18 Kids and Counting, "20 Years, 20 Duggars"). Every year on July 21st, the Duggar kids gather around to listen to the audio recording of Mom and Dad's wedding ceremony.

Happy 32nd wedding anniversary, Jim Bob and Michelle! May your love for each other continue to grow as the years go by. (Scroll down to see pictures.)

 Jim Bob and Michelle, dating and wedding photos

 Michelle Ruark Duggar with her parents and siblings at her wedding

The "wedding party" at Jim Bob and Michelle's 2009 vow renewal
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar at their vow renewal

Photos courtesy TLC, DCL, duggarfamily.com

49 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary, Jim Bob and Michelle!!!!!

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  2. Happy Anniversary, Jim Bob and Michelle!!!!!

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  3. happy wedding anniversary jim bob and michelle may you have many more years of marrige and many more grandchildren love you guy
    SOLI DEO GLORIA .

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  4. That vow renewal and taking them to Kleinfeld's (TV show tie-in!) to find the dress was one of the craziest episodes ever thought up by TLC. Jim Bob's fashion sense...oh my.

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    1. Yep on the fashion comment. I think Jim Bob expected the store to have turtleneck gowns. And Michelle was not very sweet about making the associate leave the room when she was getting dressed. The associates don't like to leave you alone like that. First, they want to be as helpful to as possible, and the gowns are not always easy to put on or take off by yourself. Second, those are expensive gowns, often sold later at sample sales, and the store wants to make sure nothing happens to them during the dressing and undressing. The staff is trained to be discreet and there was no good reason to kick the associate out like that.

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  5. Happy Anniversary! I never realized before that Michelle had two different wedding dresses for her wedding 32 years ago (the long sleeved lace dress, and then the short sleeved one with the ruffle around the top and bottom). But even her hair is different in each picture, so those two different looks must have been on two different days?

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    1. Short sleeved one was a date, before they were married. I know - it really looks like a wedding gown.

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    2. I think the short sleeve dress looks like a different occasion...maybe a formal dance or prom?

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    3. She only had one wedding dress...the one with the long sleeves. The picture with the dress with the ruffled neckline and hem looks like it was from a dance....Michelle is wearing a corsage and Jim Bob has a boutinerre.

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    4. No Michelle did NOT have two wedding dresses 32 years ago. The dress with the ruffle on the bottom was worn on a date, looks like the prom. She didn't have different looks as you put it Anonymous at 10:02am

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    5. Maybe one was a formal dance? Prom?

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    6. I think the short sleeved one was from a banquet they attended when they were dating.

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    7. The picture with short sleeves wasn't their wedding day. It was a banquet that they attended.

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    8. The short sleeve dress was to a dance not her wedding.

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    9. No the one with the ruffles she took to a dinner banquet not to her wedding

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    10. The long sleeve lace dress was her actual married in 1984 the other short sleeve was when they renewed their vows in 2009.

      If you read under the picture it would tell you.

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  6. Why do people renew vows? Didn't they stick the first time? Didn't you really mean it when you originally said it? Did you forget what you promised you were going to do for your spouse? Seems to simply be an excuse for playing wedding again. After all, Michelle has made a big deal about training her children to listen the first time she says something, so she doesn't have to repeat herself.

    You have one wedding day. The rest should not be necessary. If you feel you need to avow your undying love to your spouse a second or third time, then just say it to them. Don't make a big production out of it, not even if you have a reality show footing the bill.

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    1. thats mean they can do what they want sorry but its there marrige so let them live there marrige how they want to.love you duggars so so so so so much your fan from san antonio tx

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    2. My husband and I have been married 22 years. We renewed our vows on our 10th anniversary and we will do it again on our 25th. For our 10th anniversary, it was a simple affair in the back yard with immediate family and close friends. A brother of mine, who didn't make it to our wedding, said "I'm not going to miss this one." And he was very happy to be there.

      My In-laws renewed their vows for their 25th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries.

      It's not that our vows at our wedding didn't mean anything. In fact, it's because they meant everything and we remember those vows and commitments that our marriages have lasted so long.

      This is a way of celebrating and commorating our long and happy marriages.

      The celebration can be as big or small as you want it. My sister and brother-in-law took their kids and grandkids to the Smoky Mountains for their 25th anniversary.

      I also have friends who couldn't have a big wedding when they first got married, so they did for their 10th anniversary.

      My husband and I have been in many places where they had the married couples stand up for a vow renewal. It's nice to stop and look at each other and say, "I still do!"

      And yes, there are many times when, in the middle of the day, we'll say "I do" or ask each other to marry each other again. Every Valentine's Day I ask him to be mine. Every anniversary we'll watch our wedding video or dance to our song, which has been the same song for 22 years.

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    3. I agree with the "once and done" marriage ceremony idea. TLC has made most of their TV couples renew vows on their shows. John and Kate (flew them to Hawaii to do this right before they split), The Little Couple, and these two. If TLC can't have a wedding, they'll MAKE a wedding. You know it's for ratings.

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    4. My late grand parents did seven times. Every ten years the family grew,the friends became closer and the vow renewal was an affirmation of their faith and renewed commitment to each other. They deserved a badge of honor with what life dealt at times but their faith and commitment deepened each year.
      Looking back I'm not sure many of us can say that but what a gift.

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    5. I for one am offended! How do you think you just made Jim Bob and Michelle feel? That is CLEARLY none of your business I just don't understand why people like you think they have the right to tell them how to live their lives!?? Count the blessings they've given and shared instead of condemning them for something that was ABSOLUTLEY no harm done! I feel deeply that you owe them an apology. Please think on that. God Bless You.

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    6. Well said, My husband and I renewed our vows on our twentieth wedding anniversary and I no regrets.

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    7. I agree with the original commenter. Renewing vows is fir attention and frankly a slap in the face to the Lord. Notice there's no renewing vows in the Bible. It's just silly.

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    8. I don't find it a slap in the face of the Lord.and I am a Christian. I am sorry you think it is silly.It is nothing worng with doing it and that you and your husband and everyone else as well with god that you are committed to each other

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  7. Happy Anniversary.
    Praying for many, many healthier, happier years to come. The two of you have shared a God given love that can lead others to Christ. You've shared the ups and the downs with the world in transparency, truth and love. Keep sharing your faith, keep reaching out, keep sharing the truth, the word of God with all who will listen. Thank you and May God continue to bless your marriage, your family and your lives.

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    1. I beg to differ on the "transparency" angle. Josh's issues were discovered and made public by people outside the family. Also, whether or not the Duggars are sharing any truth about God or anything else is up for debate.

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  8. I have been married a long time as well--over 2 decades. I can't even imagine putting my children through watching our wedding tapes( only VHS back then!) every single year!

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    1. But in your family, it probably isn't all about the mom & dad....

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  9. Amidst the storm, it is great to know you are celebrating 32 years of marriage. Let the joy of the Lord continue to be your strength. Be blessed Michelle and Jim Bob

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  10. Happy Anniversary! May God bless ya'll! Love you

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  11. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
    MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!!!

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  12. Michele was only seventeen?! I love seeing old pictures! Happy anniversary, i hope they're truly happy

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    1. They'd never let their own girls marry at 17. One of many things that are different between mother & daughters.

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  13. Congratulations!!!
    Michelle hasn't hardly aged looking at the photos... Just amazing.
    Wishing them another 32 years.

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    1. I disagree. I think she's aged.

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  14. I really feel bad for the Duggar kids for Michelle and JimBob not allowing their kids to grow up how they did. Even though they went to public school, Michelle had boyfriends and JimBob and Michelle kissed before marriage, they turned out fine! I really wish that they would allow the kids to experience more things in life instead of having a chaperone all the time. And Michelle had a part time job! I know the Duggar's are trying to protect their kids and raise their kids Christian but I still think they could have done this by allowing the kids to go to public school and at least make that decision for their self.

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  15. Wow, I think I knew Michelle was a minor when they got married, but I must have forgotten. I wonder if her parents had to give permission?

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  16. Happy Anniversary Jim Bob and Michelle!!!! Wishing them many more years. Also miss your show!!

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  17. Happy Anniversary Jim Bob & Michelle.

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  18. Michelle and jimbob duggars got married on my brithday which is 21July

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  19. Wishing you a very Happy Anniversary!Enjoy many more!

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  20. I really admire you both. You are such an example to so many people. Thank you so much for that! I hope you really did have a good anniversary!

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  21. My husband and I renewed our wedding vowels two years ago when it was our twentieth wedding anniversary. Nothing wrong with doing it again. God bless with many more.

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  22. Congratulations! I knew I was a little late but HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! We hit 33 last Jan! Still one of your biggest fans! Charter member.. Lol. "14 and pregnant again" I could quote word for word. The reason I loved and still love y'all so much was your morals and values. Believing the same way of life as you live is right but my husband didn't agree about some things like having a TV, which I absolutely hate. (He's changing finally, (Thanking Jesus!!) Except when y'all, the Bates, or the Robertsons are on and of course Charles Stanley;)! Anyway I've told y'all before, I think but that I called once in 05 or 06 expecting a recording to order that "debt free" pkg. Jim Bob ANSERED ☺️And he was taking a few of the boys to eat for one of their birthdays and I was so embarrassed that I forgot to tell the young lad HB:-/. This part IS embarrassing but on 2 occasions we'd take a trip to your area just to sight see and I was hoping to run into y'all out somewhere. No readers, I'm not a stalker! Haha. I just have always loved, respected, and defended this precious family. I too, was 17 when I married too. Lol. I listen by audio of this scripture tonight and needed to come say Happy Annv. And to share Psalms 112. It's true, Jim Bob, you are a wonderful man of God as is your beautiful wife, Michelle. Your an awesome family and I pray for you still.. Love in Christ, Tonya Fagg

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  23. Wow that's amazing. I've been married almost 1 decade. So I love when couples make it this far. Congrats on 32 years I knew a couple that was married 73 years. Now that's a love story to tell. God Bless you and, keep you. Yall have been through a lot and, are always in My thought. Miss seeing your beautiful family on T.V. but, do catch the girls show when its on.

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  24. I love the idea of listening to the ceremony on cassette tape every year with the kids, what a special way to remember it all and to instill in your children a sense of security in mommy and daddy's commitment and a reverence for marriage at a young age. I just got married in June and think I might borrow this idea in some way.

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  25. Happy Anniversary Jim Bob and Michelle. I really miss your TV show. :( Hope you come back soon.

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