Things You Didn’t Know About Jessa Duggar And Ben Seewald’s Relationship

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11. Fell for Her While Watching 19 Kids and Counting

Before he actually met Jessa, Ben watched 19 Kids and Counting and that’s how he first became interested in Jessa. From watching the show, he could see that she was motivated and “hungry to learn,” and when he met her in person, it was clear to him that this wasn’t an act that she put on for the cameras. She was just as intelligent and motivated off-screen as she was on-screen.

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10. Courtship

The couple announced that they were courting in September 2013. This meant that the couple could now give each other a quick side hug when they greeted each other and another quick side hug when they said goodbye. The two corresponded via text and phone and most of their communication revolved around theology and scripture. The two also had to be chaperoned when they were together.

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9. Breaking the Courtship Rules

Ben and Jessa broke the Duggar family courtship rules when they held hands during a pre-meal prayer. According to Duggar family courtship rules, people who are courting can’t hold hands – that’s only for engaged couples. Jim-Bob, who was there, wasn’t upset though because he expected the two to be engaged shortly.

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8. Breaking the Engagement Rules

When Ben popped the question to Jessa (after a long scavenger hunt where she had to find him), the two engaged in a full front hug. Fortunately for them, Jim-Bob was nowhere to be found. He definitely would not have approved because front hugs aren’t allowed until marriage!

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7. Wedding

The 19 Kids and Counting star wed her beau in front of 1,000 guests on November 1, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jessa wore a blush-colored Allure Bridals wedding, which featured Swarovski crystals, and instead of serving cake at the reception, the couple served ice cream sundaes.

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6. First Kiss

During the couple’s wedding ceremony, they didn’t share their first kiss in front of their 1,000 guests. They wanted their first kiss to be in private so, instead, Jim Bob and Michelle kissed for the crowd. At the wedding reception, however, Jessa and Ben did end up kissing several times in front of their guests.

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5. Surprise Pregnancy

The couple’s first pregnancy was a total surprise. Jessa took a pregnancy test before church one day and it was positive! She then delivered the news to Ben. “I said, ‘Hey Ben, guess what? Yeah, you’re a dad,” she told People. “We are so excited. We have started talking baby names. It is one of those things that is so special, picking a name for a baby.”

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4. They Want to Adopt

Ben and Jessa revealed to People in 2015 that they wanted to adopt. “We hope to adopt a lot of kids,” she told People. “If God blesses us with biological kids of our own, it’s not going to quench our desire to adopt.” When they were expecting their second child, they confirmed they are still planning on adopting. “Ben and I still have a deep desire to adopt, and it’s something we continue to look into,” she told People. “We’ve also talked about fostering to adopt.”

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3. He Makes Sure She Has Alone Time

According to Jessa, her hubby makes sure that she gets the alone time that she needs. “Ben is great with the boys and is so sweet to insist on me taking a break from mom duties so I can have quiet time to read, or meet up with a girlfriend or grab a coffee,” she told Us Weekly. “I do love these moments of downtime and refreshment, but it usually isn’t long before I feel myself missing my babies and longing to be back with them.”

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2. Date Nights

With two young kids at home, this couple has to make sure to have their date nights. “Having alone time when you have two young kids doesn’t just happen,” Jessa told Us Weekly. “We have to be purposeful.” Rather than go out, these two order in after the boys have gone to bed. “It’s great because our conversations can go long and you’re not on a time-clock with a babysitter or wondering if the baby’s bedtime routine went smoothly,” she revealed. “It’s a good fit for us at this time in our lives.”

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1. Complicated Child Birth

With her first child, Spurgeon, Jessa opted to do a natural home birth, but it was anything but easy. Her delivery took 48 hours and, as soon as it was done, she began bleeding so much that her mother, Michelle Duggar, had to call 911. Jessa ended up needing a blood transfusion and had to stay in the hospital overnight.

Cate

Cate has a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature and has been the Managing Editor of Fame10 for more than 6 years. Despite having a love for the works of Thomas Hardy, Leo Tolstoy and Lord Byron, she also has an intense fascination with pop culture. When she isn’t writing for Fame10, she’s planning her next big adventure in Southeast Asia.