Two months after Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar gave their first daughter away in marriage, wedding bells are ringing for another Duggar. The world has been following the relationship of Ben Seewald and Jessa Duggar since the couple began courting 11 months ago, eagerly awaiting an engagement announcement.
Last night, Ben Seewald got down on one knee and asked his girlfriend to marry him. That's right, Jessa Duggar is engaged!
"We are so blessed to be engaged!" the couple told
PEOPLE Magazine. "God has written an amazing story
through our courtship, and another chapter has just begun! We are thrilled to see what the future
holds – especially the wedding bells!"
Like Jessa's brother Josh and sister Jill, the couple is saving their first kiss for marriage. During their courtship, Ben and Jessa only shared quick side hugs during pictures and greetings, but now that they are engaged, they are free to hold hands.
The date of the wedding has not been announced, but the couple is looking forward to tying the knot. Both Ben, who is the oldest of seven, and Jessa, who is number 5 of 19, hope to have a large family and plan to leave the timing up to God.
"We are talking about our goals and even just like future, with
family, we both talked about adoptions," Jessa told People. "We are
open to having children and both want to adopt, too."
How is Ben handling his new life in the spotlight?
"The Duggar family gets asked a lot of questions," he told People. "A
lot of times we take it as a lesson, and we ask other people who are
older and wiser than us to share wisdom with us about relationships.
It's an important thing."
Jessa says she is taking advice from her sisters on how to be romantic.
"[Ben and I] do have a lot in common," she told People. "He is a mellow personality, very romantic and very sweet. I
am very cut and dried. And my sisters are coaching me on sweet romantic
things to say."
Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com
