Jana Duggar’s Wedding: Why Jill Wasn’t a Bridesmaid
Jana Duggar’s recent wedding to Stephen Wissmann in Arkansas was a beautiful celebration, but one notable absence from her wedding party was her sister Jill Duggar Dillard. When a fan questioned Jill about it on Instagram, she admitted she wasn’t sure why she wasn’t included.
“I don’t know, but it should always be the bride’s decision,” Jill wrote.
Although Jill wasn’t a bridesmaid, other sisters, including Jessa Duggar Seewald as maid of honor, and Abbie Duggar, Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johannah Duggar, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, and Jordyn Duggar, were all part of the wedding party.
Jill and Jana have had a close relationship in the past, with Jana serving as a bridesmaid in Jill’s 2014 wedding to Derick Dillard. However, Jill has been open about her strained relationship with her parents, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, and her 18 siblings.
“There’s been some distancing there,” Jill explained. “We’re not on the best terms with some of my family. We’ve had some disagreements and stuff, but we’re working towards healing, definitely, and restoration.”
In a recent podcast appearance, Jill further explained that while she can still “get together” and “have a great time” with her family, there are moments that are “still hard.”
Jana has not spoken about her sister’s absence from her bridesmaid line-up, but she did open up about her “classic” and “elegant” wedding in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, which took place in front of 500 guests.
“I think it is one of those things that all girls envision someday,” Jana told the outlet. “For me, it felt like, ‘Okay, it’s never coming.’ But now it’s starting to sink in. Reality is starting to set in. And I’m like, ‘Wow, this truly is something that I’ve dreamed of.’ And just to see it coming about is incredible and kind of hard to believe. It’s a dream come true.”