Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Joy at Carlin's Wedding

On Saturday, Carlin Bates married Evan Stewart during a picturesque ceremony at Castleton Farms near Knoxville, Tennessee. About 500 guests attended, including a good number of Duggars. Carlin had two matrons of honor, 10 bridesmaids, and 2 junior bridesmaids. Joy-Anna (Duggar) Forsyth was a bridesmaid, and she was the only female attendant who was not a member of either the Bates or Stewart family.

Visit out Bates blog to see more photos from the wedding day.

Joy Forsyth, Carlin Stewart, Evan Stewart, Austin Forsyth
Joy Forsyth, Carlin Stewart, Evan Stewart, Austin Forsyth

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

155 comments:

  1. Joy looks beautiful! I'm one who usually rolls my eyes when people complain about belly holding, but this is one time where it looks completely out of place. I suppose she's used to doing it in pictures by now, but it just really looks like she's trying to call attention to the fact that she's pregnant and to make the picture all about her. Not saying that was her intention, but that's just what it looks like.

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    1. I agree. This was Carlin's big day. Joy didn't need to draw attention to her pregnancy at Carlin's wedding.

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    2. As someone who is currently 31 weeks and has completed 4 other pregnancies already, I can say that no one holds their belly for attention. They do it for one of two reasons:
      1. To have something to do with their hands now that their body does not exactly accommodate the typical hands down in front stance

      2. To emphasize that they are not, in fact, obese but rather excited to welcome a sweet baby soon.

      #2 is a little more vain, but I’m telling you for a fact that more bellies get held for that reason than for the supposed “craving attention” fallacy.

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    3. She's likely just cradling her belly out of habit. I agree that it looks a bit awkward in the wedding photo. Professional photographers usually tell you to put your hands at your sides.

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    4. I totally agree with you.

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    5. 3:32, I'm the OP. I have had five babies, and never ever did it cross my mind to cradle my belly because I didn't know where to put my hand for a picture. I would hide behind someone else 😁 or put my hand by my side or maybe rest it on top of the baby bump. I think it's become a thing to do in recent years, but there are other options that draw less attention, if that's what the mom is going for.

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    6. 11:49, if you’ve had five babies then you should know that pictures don’t always turn out to look flattering while your pregnant. The way that Joy is standing is flattering to her growing stomach, which is why she stood like that, not to “call attention to the fact that she’s pregnant”.

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    7. Why, yes. I'm well aware of that. When I look at the picture, my eye goes immediately to her belly, not the bride or everyone's faces. Intentional or not, that's the effect of her pose. Which was my main point.

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    8. @4:53 I didn't think being pregnant was about having your pictures look flattering. I thought it was about bringing new life into the world, no matter what it does to your size or shape. Holding in your dress to make your picture more "flattering" means you're self-conscious about your size, like you're ashamed of it. If it bothers you that much, why get pregnant?

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    9. 7:49, that’s a reflection of you, not Joy. I thoght it was a beautiful picture and only thought of Carlin’s wedding when I saw it, not “Oh there goes Joy stealing Carlin’s wedding day attention.

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    10. 8:49, there’s nothing wrong with wanting your pictures to look flattering, and it doesn’t mean your “self consciousness” or “ashamed” Joy just likes to look nice, that’s not a bad thing. Not getting pregnant because you’re afraid of how you look would be ridiculous, especially since being pregnant doesn’t make you look bad, there are many flattering ways to take pictures, for example, what Joy is doing in the above photo.

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    11. Let's not judge here! Maybe just maybe the photographer posed her that way

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    12. I used to wonder why someone would post as "Anonymous". It came to me while reading this blog that that posted that way has been looking for something negative to say. I must say, that it has honestly never crossed my mind to pick on a pregnant woman for where she puts her hands and even after you have all tried to bring it to everyone's attention, it still hasn't crossed my mind. As for Austin's shoes, did you ever think that might be a reason he is wearing those shoes? I can think of quite a few reasons just off the top of my head. I truly pray that no one judges you as much as you are judging here.

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    13. I love both families, however I think because they have lived such sheltered lives for most of their growing up years, they easily fall into the more worldly customs and styles once they are married. I think they will modify their current choices in clothing and pregnancy habits in a few years. I love the Bates line of women’s wear dresses though! Just as an aside... I never saw Michelle or Kelly hold their stomachs like that.

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    14. I think Carlin’s wedding was fabulous and the song they did was incredible. Evans is a very talented singer/songwriter. I would have enjoyed seeing JoyAnna’s dress hanging straight down so you could see the beauty of the dress more. I think the photographer probably made her hold her bump but I do notice the Duggar girls are all into these ‘baby bump’ pictures with form fitting tops on them and holding their bump. I think Hollywood celebrities started this “holding your baby bump” thing. They all seem to do it. And an aside, In my day we never wore these clinging tight tops that emphasized the baby bump like they do now. We had nice loose tops that were very attractive. I don’t like the way it now customary to appear anywhere in a skin tight top or dress clinging to a huge baby bump with a belly button poking out of the middle. I find it very immodest.

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  2. Joy looks like she's further along than 17 weeks (if due at the beginning of Nov). She does look very glamorous, very pretty girl. What an honor to be the only non-family bridesmaid. Austin is a handsome guy, but I don't like his shoes. The venue is so fancy, and Austin's shoes are out of place there.

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    1. Looks like passive agression from Austin. He maybe was not in the wedding party and just chose to be 'dressed down'in response.

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    2. He was dressed way too casual for the occasion. With Joy being in the wedding and looking so nice you would think he would've considered a little more formal attire, especially the shoes.

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    3. Maybe they told guests to dress a little bit more casual since it was outside. Maybe those were the only decent shoes that fit. I know from experience that what you are intending to wear and what you actually end up wearing sometimes are 2 different things!

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    4. When Kendra and Joy made their pregnancy pact, Austin didn't sound like he was really on board with it. Oh well, he'll get used to having a new baby in the house every 18 months or so.

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    5. I don't think the Bates would tell anyone how to dress, but considering the venue of this wedding common sense should tell you to dress up a little more.

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    6. It's highly possible that he shed his jacket and tie by the time pictures were being taken on such a hot day. As for his shoes, maybe he forgot his good shoes at home or something. Common sense would tell you that we don't know the whole story from a picture.

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    7. Duggars have dressed down at many of the weddings.

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    8. Austin is so handsome but his dress mode is like a slap in the face to the wedding party.

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  3. Such a happy picture!

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  4. Joy is due in November? She looks very pregnant already

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    1. I’m 10 weeks and I already look seriously pregnant too :-D I think when you start out smaller, you blow up big quick! Bless her, she looks wonderful!

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  5. Beautiful elegant bride, but Austin looks like he is at work.
    Joys belly seems very big for 3 months pregnancy. She's due in November?

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    1. Causal is in. But since Joy was a bridesmaid, you'd think Austin would wear something besides his work shoes to the wedding.

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    2. Like a suit.

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    3. Casual should NOT be 'in'at a wedding..just...no

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  6. WHY OH WHY does she need to put her hand there?! This has gotten ridiculous. Let go, Joy. That baby is not going to fall out.

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    1. Um because she loves her baby? Proud mama? What’s wrong with that?

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    2. If it's so good to have your hand on your stomach, why don't they do it all the time? Why don't the unmarried girls do it to prove that they're not pregnant? Why don't the married ones do it to prove that they're not pregnant again? Why save this hand placement for only pregnancy? It would be the one sign we need to stop speculation about pregnancy or not!

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    3. It was Carlin's day, not Joy's. There was no need to put in her hand on her belly in every single picture.

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    4. 4:38, Joy putting her hand on her stomach does not make the day about her, why would you even think that?! One of your friends being pregnant doesn’t still the joy from your wedding day. Carlin obviously doesn’t feel that way or she wouldn’t have taken a picture with Joy where she (Carlin) is cradling Joy’s belly.

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    5. Maybe she had a cramp

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    6. I honestly didn't notice the belly holding til y'all brought it up! Makin sech a fuss over nothing

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    7. Lol to all you people making a huge deal out of this. Maybe it's the generation gap, but I can't imagine me or any of the other 20-somethings I know having a problem with this. I would be THRILLED that my best friend is pregnant and we got a special photo together on my wedding day. I'm not the most selfless person you'll meet, yet it's never crossed my mind to make sure I was the star of any photos. It's about preserving memories, not doing a glamour photoshoot!

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  7. I'm sorry. I don't get baby bump holding in formal wedding pictures. The bride should be the center of attention.

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    1. Apology accepted! To each their own! I think she looks phenomenal. And holding that beautiful bump is just a sign of love. Nothing wrong with that to me.

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    2. Yes - take that hand down. Look how much nicer the picture would have been.

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    3. All the young girls are holding their baby bumps for pictures now and its so strange to me. Will someone explain to me why? Are they afraid people will think they are just overweight? To me, it is such a personal and private gesture.

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    4. Anon 4:50 I’m going to assume you are genuinely asking so I’ll try to explain. I’ve been through four pregnancies fairly recently so I have some experience. When pregnant, one can feel much larger than she even looks, and one can feel self conscious about dramatic body changes. I think many women do this to give definition and show that it’s a baby bump and not just fat/big (as it can feel). Of course our culture is obsessed with physical beauty and being thin so I can hardly blame them. This is just my opinion, but I do think it is usually done to try to show that the person isn’t fat, just pregnant. For what it’s worth, I do think it looks kind of odd, and I think we can tell they are pregnant without the hand, but I think it’s just hard to not do it in a picture.

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    5. @9:41 Why would you feel self-conscious about being "fat/big" if you're pregnant? It's not Joy's first pregnancy. She (and everyone else) knows what happens to a pregnant woman's body. That didn't stop her from getting pregnant again. But that also doesn't mean you have to push your clothing in to prove that you're expecting, not eating too much.

      What about the people who are genuinely big? Why don't they press in on their clothes in pictures to look smaller, too? Because it doesn't need to be done, that's why. It's OK to be big without trying to explain why.

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    6. 11:53, holding your dress in doesn’t make you look smaller, it outlines your belly so you look pregnant and not obese. The whole point is so the picture turns out to look more flattering.

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    7. Thank you ginjenkins. I was genuinely asking. I'm in my 50s and had my last baby 15 years ago when holding one's pregnant belly just was not done. You would see it if a woman was taking a picture for herself to document her pregnancy but rarely would you see it otherwise and you definitely would not have seen it in social situations like a wedding. I can see how in the age of social media and selfies young women are concerned with how they look and might want make sure everyone knows there's a baby in there. Carlin's sister Josie is pregnant and I didn't see a picture of her holding her belly at the wedding and I think those pictures look much nicer. Your eye doesn't automatically go to a woman's bump. Anon 4:50 PM

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    8. 6:38, Josie holds her dress against her stomach in pretty much every photo she takes. That’s just what people do today, there’s nothing wrong with it like so many people on the blog are trying to say there is. Really it’s sad.

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    9. Standing beside Carlin a young lady would feel the need to be understood. Carlin is like a high fashion beauty. I don't think she could look any better than she does here. Evan could be a male model. This couple has all the looks!

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    10. @4:48 I've seen and known "obese" women who were gorgeous and had very flattering pictures. It's pretty upsetting that you think you have to outline your pregnant belly so you aren't mistaken for an obese person.

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    11. Nope..not forgiven! Lol (joking)

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  8. How selfish and immature of Joy to hold her stomach like that in the photo! This was Carlin's day! She needs to realize that not everything is about her and her pregnancy. We all know she's pregnant. There's no need to point it out in every single photo, especially when she is at a celebration honoring her best friend. Let someone else shine for a day or weekend.

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    1. More love is just more love. I’m sorry you find a mother holding her baby offensive; how terribly sad for you to live in a mind state where you pick on such a lovely young lady for being a happy mama. Praying for you.

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    2. Yes I’m sure Joy holding her stomach for a picture ruined Carlin’s wedding day🙄🙄 Honestly you need to get a grip.

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    3. 3:44, it is offensive because it looks like she is stealing the limelight away form Carlin who is the bride and she deserves all the attention. You can show your love for your children without upstaging the bride.

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    4. Anon 3:44 There is a time and a place for everything, and being in someone's wedding in a dress they chose for you to wear and getting wedding pictures taken would not be the time to stand there holding your belly. Take pictures another time and hold your belly all you want, but this is not the time. Everyone knows she is pregnant!

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    5. Anon 5:15 I totally agree. It's wedding photos, not a pregnancy photo shoot. Just for once those hands could have stayed down.

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    6. Oh my gosh!!! Can we find anything else to "rag" on Joy about? She looks beautiful; Joy, don't pay any attention to the negative "Nellies". And, let's tell Austin how he should dress while we're at it. Give me a break!

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    7. 5:10, How is Joy’s pregnancy upstaging the bride? The are millions of pregnant women, it’s not that big of a deal

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    8. Please keep in mind that this is NOT a formal wedding photo, as some have described it above (not just in this discussion). It's a phot' photo on Carlin's special day, and that's just what it is. Considering how hot it was that day -- and that it was a long afternoon outside -- I can imagine sweet Carlin thanking Joy for being in her wedding party, and wanting to have a photo of them and their husbands to remember the day.

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    9. Duuuude.. ya ever think it was the photographer's idea??!!

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    10. I’m fairly certain the photographer did not say, “Hey you! The lady who is pregnant! In this shot hold your belly.”

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  9. The picture of Joy is pretty but there is no need to keep her hand under her belly like that, she has her dress all crumpled up by doing that. I don't get it lol

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    1. Sometimes in a loose dress, holding your bump can be very flattering, as it gives more of a feminine form vs. a potato sack look. I think she looks amazing! <3

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    2. Potato sack look? A flowing dress is the most flattering and appropriate look on an expectant mother, instead of one that clings.

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    3. We wouldn't noticed Joy was pregnant if she didn't hold her belly. lol

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    4. Joy is clearly pregnant, there was no need to hold her stomach in every photograph. The day was about Carlin and Evan not about her pregnancy.

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    5. 4:08, flowing dresses on pregnant women just make you look fat.

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    6. 9:18, How does Joy’s pose make the day about her pregnancy and not about Carlin’s wedding? Honestly, everyone commenting on how it’s “stealing from Carlin’s day” must be really insecure.

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    7. @12:38 Would you say that to a fat person? "Your flowing dress makes you look fat." What a horrible thing to say to anyone, pregnant or not.

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    8. 6:50, I’m simply stating a fact. No one likes to look overweight, which is why Joy put her stomach there to show the outline of her pregnant belly which is more flattering on pregnant women then just letting your dress hand down which creates more of a ballon effect.

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    9. Uhhhhh being pregnant is a time when it's perfectly acceptable to "look overweight." Not that other times aren't too, but you don't need to go out of your way when pregnant to show that it's "only" a pregnancy belly. I have pictures from when pregnant and I never pushed my clothes down or grabbed below my belly. So what if I looked big? I was pregnant.

      I also disagree with your "No one likes to look overweight" statement. Some people are perfectly comfortable with their weight, no matter what it is, no matter how it looks to others.

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  10. What a beautiful wedding! Did Austin forget to change his shoes after working on a flip house?

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    1. ? .... it is not necessary to attempt to analyze the details of the picture. Because there is not enough information given to us to know. This picture looks like it is well into the reception. Maybe Austin went to the back of his vehicle and put his suit jacket and tie in there and took off a pair of uncomfortable new leather shoes and put on his comfy broken in shoes. Give him a break cause it looks like he is taking one!

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    2. Maybe he only has one pair of shoes. lol

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    3. I've never seen the Duggars dress very nice for any wedding they've ever attended. The Bates family have certainly stepped up their fashion sense over the years The Duggars always seem to look the same, no matter if they're go going to a wedding or shopping or whatever they're doing they're always casual. The bates family dresses up more for church on Sunday than the Duggers do for a wedding.

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    4. Austin forgot to completely change for the wedding.

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  11. A beautiful picture, but why would Joy want to wrinkle her lovely dress. Jane

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    1. I need to be honest, I think the wedding photo for the public would of look nicer if Joy would of not press hard under here expecting belly. It seems silly and I refuge to look at it again, Lol. Jane

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    2. I think the blog would look nicer without all the comments hypercritcizing Joy, yet here we are.

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  12. Joy’s makeup was stunning. However there is absolutely no reason for her to be emphasizing her belly in this picture- let the bride be the center of attention on her day

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    1. I honestly don’t understand why there are so many comments on here, upset at this lovely young mama holding her baby. She’s happy, glowing and gorgeous! Leave her be <3

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    2. @ 3:46 Joy's not holding her baby. She's holding her stomach.

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    3. Y'all are jealous lol. You all want to he preggo and have a pic.of you holdin your belly

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    4. Yep. That’s it, 8:58.

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  13. Joy looks like she has a stomachache

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    1. You sound like you have a stomach ache. It’s a proud pregnant mama for goodness sake. SMH.

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    2. It was Carlin’s day not joy’s

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    3. It's not the end of the world, but I agree that the photo looks awkward with her hand in that particular position.

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  14. Beautiful picture. Carlin is a stunningly beautiful young woman who is as pretty as any photographic model iv ever seen pictures of. All the Bates girls are lovely, but this picture of Carlin in her wedding dress just radiates beauty. Joy looks lovely too, she is blossoming with her second pregnancy. Hope all is going well for her, she certainly looks well.

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  15. I'm in approval of Joy holding her hand as she is! There IS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE PICTURE! The picture is still all about Carlin and Evan! To say a baby takes away from the focus is so uninclusive! Include and accept the life within Joy, and realize Carlin included them because they are her friends who she loves. There is no way it is "wrong" or "tacky" for Joy to place her hand as she did!

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    1. 3:21- Joy didn't need to hold her stomach to show that she's pregnant, if that was her intention. It's quite obvious. I just think it's an odd pose, like she's feeling sick or something. Maybe she's just in the habit of it, rather than making any statement about another person being in the pic.

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    2. 3:27, How does it look like she’s sick? The “pose” that she is doing is just more flattering than it would be for her to stand with her hands at her side.

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    3. 4:45- People sometimes hold their stomach if it aches. Everyone is entitled to their own impressions of things. While you may think the pose is flattering and appropriate, many do not. Is it a huge deal? No.

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    4. 5:56, she is obviously cradling her stomach because she is pregnant, not because it hurts. Her touching her stomach is not a big deal, that rude women commenting on the blog are a big deal. These poor girls can touch their own bodies without being told they’re don’t something wrong and that is not only sad, it’s extremely rude.

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  16. I think Joy should have left the emphasizing her pregnancy to another time and place. It was Carlin's day in the sun.

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    1. You are some of the most shallow people I’ve ever heard that you think someone being pregnant takes any of the spotlight off of Carlin.

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    2. It was still Carlin's day. You are making the big deal over it.. if she wore something skin tight you all would whine about that too!

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  17. Do Duggar babies fall out if their mamas don’t hold their tummies during pregnancies?

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    1. Perhaps that's a good question to ask Prince Harry's wife, Megan!

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  18. One thing I wondered about is the bridal party pairings on the wedding stage. I remember a spouse getting quite upset about his wife being paired in the bridal party before. Remember that? What dfo people think of this?

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    1. The bridal party pairing is up to the bride and groom. If a husband of a bridesmaid gets "upset", he's just being childish.

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    2. I do remember that because it happened at TWO Duggar weddings. Josh grabbed and kissed Anna during the recessional (the bridal party exiting the ceremony site) at Jill's wedding. Derick then kissed Jill during the recessional at Jessa's wedding. The groomsman seemed shocked and irritated with Derick. It was so weird that they couldn't stand their wives simply walking with a groomsman or that they felt it was an appropriate thing to do at someone else's wedding.

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  19. Everyone is freaking out about Joy. Meanwhile, Carlin—you know, the actual bride who you all claim has been wronged in this picture—loved it so much that she allowed it to be published. Likewise, she is probably unselfishly so thrilled for her best friend that she didn’t think a THING about the fact that Joy’s hands naturally gravitated to her belly. There are some major wannabe bridezillas on this blog! Good grief.

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    1. You know Carlin? I doubt you have any idea what she thinks about anything. I'm sure she's used to Joy and her ways.

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    2. I doubt that Carlin is doing photo approving while on her honeymoon.

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    3. 8:16, I doubt that Carlin would have had Joy in her wedding party if it would bother her for people to see that she has a pregnant friend🙄 Honestly is it that big of a deal?

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    4. Lol I know OP!

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  20. Oh my stars! Joy is looking seriously gorgeous!

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  21. I know Joy likes showing off her "bump", but it would have been nice if she'd refrained from doing it at Carlin's wedding.

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    1. Exactly it was Carlin’s big day.

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    2. Carlin still had her day! If she doesn't like it, they can fix the.pic

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  22. Joy-Anna is such a beauty. Nice picture of two good friends and their husbands. Carlin is a beautiful bride.
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

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  23. Why are we all so critical of each other??? Shoes not nice enough, holding baby bump and it goes on and on. I do it sometimes myself. I think we should ask God to help us all to stop being so unkind to each other. They may read this blog.

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    1. Hey hey hey!!!! You all are NUTS!!! CLEARLY Carlin planned HER wedding during Joy’s pregnancy! Carlin is the one stealing the attention from Joy!!!! A good friend wouldn’t have a wedding until their friends are out of childbearing years!! To have the audacity to distract from Joy’s most important 9 months by wearing a wedding dress and marrying Evan is just RUDE!!!!!!

      Aaaaaaaaand the above statement is the equivalent of how ridiculous the rest of you sound. Chill out, humble yourselves, and admit that you don’t know everything about tact, manners, or what offends another girl’s best friend.

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    2. Don’t know why my comment posted as a reply to the original comment. Didn’t mean for it to!

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    3. With the way the Duggar and Bates families are going, every single day of the year will be a celebration for someone of some.sort ;)

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  24. Just curious to everyone commenting about Joy holding her stomach; how does Joy being noticeably pregnant take ANY joy from Carlin’s wedding? I’ve seen plenty of pregnant women at weddings doing the exact same pose for pictures (so that the picture turns out more flattering) and never once have I thought “wow she’s stealing the brides thunder”. You all sound like you would be terrible friends.

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    1. I mean, you do sorta think about it more with her holding her stomach, or at least I do. It does kind of take the spotlight off Carlin a bit with Joy's obviously protruding stomach next to her. There's a pregnant lady standing next to the bride is my main impression of the picture.

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    2. 11:43, how does it take away from Carlin’s wedding? It’s a single picture.

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    3. I didn't notice it at all

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  25. lovely picture and love their friendship!

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  26. Lovely picture! Carlin is stunning and Joy looks beautiful

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  27. To each is own, if the Duggars and Bates like to hold their stomachs in every photo, then who is it hurting? It must be a generational thing because my friends and family that have had children didn't feel the need to do that. I think these girls don't want to be perceived at fat, so they want to let the world know they are expecting.Like I said, what ever makes them happy, no harm no foul😉😎

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    1. Social norms change. However, I do think holding your pregnant belly is somewhat over the top when you're doing wedding photos with the bride.

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    2. 7:09, How so?

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    3. What if the photographer posed her like that??

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    4. It looks more like a pose for a maternity shoot, which is all about focusing on the mom and baby. Nothing wrong in that context. It just looks out of context here.

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  28. I agree with those who are tired of the Duggar girls showing off their bumps by holding them all the time or pushing their clothing in to accentuate the size. Your feet and ankles (along with other things) also get bigger when you're pregnant, but nobody seems to have the need to show them to the camera, just bellies.

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    1. Well your baby isn’t in your feet or ankles🙄 Honestly is it that big of a dark to you? Literally all pregnant women who have social media accounts do that.

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    2. Yeah. Where are the pictures of swollen feet and ankles from the Duggars? lol

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    3. Yeah, don't they want to show off everything else that gets bigger? Swollen fingers, feet, ankles, and so on. If you're showing a growing belly, why not just as proudly show the others? Unless...they think it's tacky to show any body part like that? Except the most private bellies, of course. Those you point out for the world to admire. Makes no sense.

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    4. I'm sure at some point in time, a Bates girl will hold her belly at a Duggar wedding..

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  29. Wow, hasn't anyone thought that this picture was probably made more for Joy and Austin than for the bride and groom? It's a wedding memory for them, and Joy wants to show that her little one was there too! Carlin probably got tons of other pictures with her bridesmaids. Maybe Joy and Austin even requested this one themselves!

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    1. Yeah. I know holding your pregnant belly is the "new normal" but I'm still not in favor of it. I grew up in a family where drawing attention to yourself wasn't regarded favorably.

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    2. Yes sure this is not the official wedding portrait. Looks to me like Carlin and Joy was having their picture took and the guys jumped in and photo bombed it.lol..

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    3. @7:05 When I grew up, you didn't put your hand there in public, let alone take a picture of it and share it with the whole town. Some things don't become right, no matter how much time passes.

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    4. 7:05, just because your family thought that doesn’t make it so. Times change, and if there’s nothing “wrong” with what someone’s doing, it’s really not worth it to take the time and criticize.

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    5. 8:37, there is NOTHING wrong with putting YOUR hand on YOUR belly while YOU are pregnant with YOUR baby! Just because you lived in a town where social media didn’t exist so you can’t even compare it to today, doesn’t mean what Joy is doing is in any way wrong. If you don’t like the picture DONT COMMENT ON IT

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  30. You all need to get grip, Carlin looks stunning and Joy’s belly isn’t taking any focus off of that. Your comments are what have done that, and honestly it’s really rude. Don’t try to flip that back around and blaim it on Joy, because it’s all on you. Great job turning a beautiful picture into a negative situation.

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  31. For all the squeemish people who try to find something wrong in the photo, there is nothing wrong in the photo. (Try to imagine a real wrong and be glad there is no photo of that idea, if you just can't look at this picture without looking for problems.) This is a happy picture!

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  32. Wow! If I were Carlin, I'd be so LIVID with Joy, for stealing my limelight, in this pic. I'd end my lifelong friendship, with her, over it.I WOULD!

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    Replies
    1. I hope you're being sarcastic.

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    2. Consider Jim Bob Duggar or Gil Bates....how do they look at the world? They have learned what to focus on and think about and what to not give a thought to. They can't waste a second of their precious lives on unworthy thoughts. All day long they have reasons to smile and laugh and love and anything that requires a serious thought has to actually be important for them. It's essential they master the art of focusing on what matters!

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    3. Think this is her only wedding photo? I would be more horrified by what Austin wears if I were Carlin.

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    4. You’re kidding, right? If not, you’re a lousy friend.

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    5. I’m pretty sure this comment is being sarcastic because of all the ridiculous ones criticizing Joy.

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  33. Oh my goodness people, calm down.
    I don’t see this as Joy stealing Carlin’s spotlight.
    I see 2 couples truly happy and celebrating a special occasion.
    Please don’t overthink a picture. To me it looks like everyone is extremely happy.
    I do feel sorry for this family, someone always has to cast a negative comment. Joy did nothing wrong cradling her belly.

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    Replies
    1. 7:59- I don't think you need to feel sorry for them. Posting photos on public social media, blogs, and in the tabloids is strictly voluntary. When you choose to do it, you unfortunately make yourself a target.

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  34. looks like a beautiful picture! i am so happy for carlin and evan!

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  35. Comfort ye my people, comes from the yay crowd....saves from the nay crowd. Both expressed themselves in these comments!

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  36. The entire comment section is about people whining about Joy's hand on her belly...GET OVER IT!!!

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  37. I'm fairly certain a Bates Girl will hold her belly at a Duggar wedding so you all can have at it then too

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  38. It's time for another Duggar courtship and wedding. The Bates weddings aren't nearly as lavish.

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