This is the first time that Jana Duggar has discussed how she fell in love with her husband, Stephen Wissmann.
PEOPLE had an exclusive conversation with the former Counting On star, who is now 34 years old. In the interview, she said that she “had been a slower mover on” the romantic part of her relationship with Stephen, which has developed over the course of time.
Since they had been lifelong family friends, the two had known one other for a considerable amount of time (Jeremiah, Jana’s brother, even married Hannah, Stephen’s sister, in the year 2022).
Jana and Stephen reunited in recent years when they briefly dated before parting up. Their wedding took place on Thursday, August 15, in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and was described as a “classic, elegant” ceremony as the event was described. In the end, they reignited their love affair in the beginning of this year, and on June 15th, they were engaged.
When Jana was interviewed by PEOPLE, she said that it was Stephen’s “character” and his constancy that led her to the conclusion that he was “the one.”
“I think it’s just been over time, his character, his coming back, and still loving me no matter what,” says Jana, the oldest child of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar. “It’s just been over time.” The fact that we have a large and wacky family is something that I am aware of, and it demands me to continue to put up with a lot of things. Oh my gosh, there aren’t that many individuals that do it. I’m amazed at how few there are. Since I haven’t seen him showing any signs of true concern for me, I can only assume that he does.
In addition, Jana mentions that Stephen has remained “a good friend over the years and has continued to be that through ups and downs and not pressuring me in a lot of ways.” This is despite the fact that it takes her some time “to open up” to other people.
“I think I’ve just been so guarded and just trying to protect and not really hurt again,” she further elaborates.
Stephen, who is 31 years old, sent her a letter that he had written by hand when he asked her out earlier this year. In spite of the fact that I thought it was so adorable, I believe that most others would find it to be somewhat strange. To tell you the truth, I believe that if he had contacted me, I would have responded with something else along the lines of, “Hey, dude, kind of get lost… I’m not really interested.”
Additionally, she continues by saying, “But I don’t know, something about it really hit me.” And I thought to myself, “He is so kind.” It is true that he has been there, and I wonder how I could have failed to recognize it and come to the conclusion that he is wonderful, and that I do love him, and that I need to be ready to be open and to accept that.
There were “two, three letters back and forth before we started texting again, and just kind of on a basic friendship level there,” according to Jana, who also mentions that it “took a few of those moments” for her to recognize that Stephen was the one for her. Jana also mentions that the original letter led to the beginning of the relationship.
“After that, things moved forward quite rapidly just due to the fact that we were like, ‘Okay, OK. We do not dislike one another at all. She continues by saying, “Let’s just move on.”
Ahead of the couple’s wedding, which was attended by 500 guests and featured Jessa Duggar Seewald as the bride’s maid of honor, as well as her sister-in-law, Abbie Duggar, and her sisters Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johannah Duggar, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, and Jordyn Duggar as bridesmaids, Jana expressed to PEOPLE that she was beyond excited for her big day.
“I think it is one of those things that all girls envision someday,” adds the young woman. It was as if I was thinking, ‘Okay, it’s never going to happen.’ On the other hand, it is beginning to make sense now. Existence is beginning to take hold of me. And at that moment, I’m thinking to myself, “Wow, this is something that I’ve dreamed of.” everything is fantastic to see everything unfolding, and it is somewhat difficult to believe that it is happening. It’s like a fantasy that came true.
