If there's one thing the Duggars know how to do, it's put on a fabulous wedding. Many of the more recent nuptials (such as Claire Spivey and Justin Duggar's big day) deserve a spread in a magazine because they're that breathtaking! Seriously, anyone who is in the middle of planning his or her special day might want to take a few notes. The decorations, attire, food, and photos are pretty much to die for. And we've got all the amazing photographic proof anyone could need.
This conservative family may not party a whole lot, but when it comes to tying the knot, they definitely know what they are doing — probably because they've had plenty of practice! Getting to see the details from another Duggar wedding is like looking at a thoughtfully curated Pinterest board of lovely wedding inspo.
Here are some Duggar-inspired wedding ideas that make us want to say "I do" for our own marriage ceremony (and reception). Some ideas are trendy, and others just might inspire an "aha" moment. Either way, it can't hurt to consider some of these ideas for a future wedding.
Generational Gift
Aww!!
In case we missed it on Counting On, Michelle Duggar revealed she incorporates pieces of her wedding dress into her daughters' gowns — which is extra cool, because the dress Michelle wore was actually her mother-in-law's gown. "So now the tradition has been that we've [Michelle Duggar and her mother] given a snippet of Grandma's and my dress to our girls for them to use in their wedding," Michelle said in the clip.
So sweet.
Monogram the Backdrop
Seriously, people, how amazing is Jinger and Jeremy's monogrammed wall of flowers for their wedding? Spectacular doesn't even begin to describe this personal touch that only reiterates the beauty of Jeremy and Jinger's special day.
Blushing Bride
Jessa Duggar looked so amazing on her wedding day in this blush gown from Allure Bridals. Complete with intricate beading and satin, Jess's wedding dress was so striking, it completely stole the show.
Amazing Lace
Wow … just … wow.
This photo of Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo's wedding gown is truly breathtaking. Not only does it show off the detail of her gown, but it also shows the beauty of a cathedral train wedding dress and how alluring lace looks.
Love at First Sight
Not every couple waits until the wedding ceremony for the "big reveal." In fact, many lovers are capturing the moment the groom sees the bride — like Amy Duggar and Dillon King did — before the ceremony, which makes for an amazing and intimate moment before they head down the aisle.
'Naked' Cake
Jinger and Jeremy's wedding cake looked sooo amazing! Adorned with berries and fresh blooms, this "naked" cake is one of the best — and possibly yummiest — we've seen. We can totally see people following suit on their own special day, especially those who aren't into a ton of icing or fondant.
Berry Blooms
Speaking of berries and blooms, can we talk about how gorgeous Jinger's wedding bouquet looked? Ah-may-ZING!
Whoever designed this floral arrangement gets an A+, as Jinger's bouquet is both elegant and earthy.
Custom Cake Toppers
Jumping back to wedding cakes for a minute, let's talk about toppers. Most soon-to-be married couples will opt to crown their wedding cake with some sort of decoration — be it their monogram, flowers, or something fun that represents them as a unit. Jeremy and Jinger took the latter route with these wooden wedding cake toppers that are too cute for words.
Social Hashtag
In a world full of selfies and instantaneous sharing on social media, it certainly makes sense for couples to create their own hashtag, like #DillandDuggs, the cute hashtag Amy Duggar and Dillon King used for their special day. (Isn't it darling?)
Hashtags also work well for couples to search social media for photos of their wedding they might not have seen otherwise.
Unconventional Shot
Not every wedding photo has to be one of a couple kissing, standing with their family, or staring off into the distance in some romantic way.
It is totally possible to have fun with wedding photos, as evidenced by this cute pic of Jessa and Ben on their day.
Unique Wedding Accessories
Josie and Michael Duggar look sooo adorable walking in Jinger and Jeremy's wedding. Aside from being captivated by their cuteness, we love the flower girl and ring boy accessories they're donning — as they take a turn from the expected.
Riding Off Into the Sunset
All newlyweds deserve to ride off into the sunset after their wedding. Some will choose a car, whereas others will want to take a different approach — such as a horse and carriage.
Jessa and Ben definitely get props for this idea, especially because it's so different from what her siblings have done.
Ice Cream Bar!
One thing many guests rave about at weddings is the fun do-it-yourself bars where they get to make things. Not only does something such as an ice cream bar, for example, reduce the need for a staff to serve the food, but it's also an affordable — and easy — way to feed guests in a fun and casual manner. (We realize this pastime has changed during the pandemic.)
Indoor Wedding Tent
Who the heck says we need to have an outdoor wedding in order to enjoy a tent? Take a page from Jill and Derick, as the couple had a beautiful indoor tent for their special occasion.
Against the Matching Grain
Don't ever let anyone say that bridesmaids' dresses need to match, because they don't. In fact, choosing different dresses — or options that show off a variety of different colors — can really make the day all the more unique. And may please the bridesmaids as well.
Love the colors, Jinger!
Natural Backdrop
This photo of Jessa and Ben is nothing short of amazing. It's so breathtaking and beautiful and lovely and gives us all the feels — and more! If ever there was a reminder to use nature as a backdrop, this is definitely it.
Soft & Simple
One of the things we love most about Amy and Dillon's wedding is how soft and effortless everything looked. As great as it is to have tons of details and color, sometimes, less can really be more. And it puts all the focus on Amy's wedding dress, which was absolutely breathtaking.
Splash of Color
But, should anyone want to throw in some color, consider an accent (or two, or a few). Take Jessa and Ben's wedding, for example: The way these two incorporated the bridesmaids' pink into the men's attire (aren't those bow ties a dream?) is a sweet touch, and it coordinates so well in the photos.
Personalized Favors
A fun way to make any wedding day extra special is to give guests something that's a symbol of the newlyweds' love. For example, because Jinger loves coffee, she and Jeremy decided to bestow loved ones with coffee favors with cute "The perfect blend" tags for an adorable touch.
Candid Family Photo
Say cheese!
Weddings often go by so quickly that it's hard to stop and just soak it all in. As the photographer checks off the list of shots that are most important, be sure to include one with the whole family that's fun to create a truly memorable moment (and a photo that will be loved forever).
Loving Inspiration
A wedding is the perfect time for couples to express their love for one another, both in front of guests as they exchange vows, and through decor. Jinger and Jeremy definitely used their special day to reiterate how much they mean to one another, as these inspirational messages that reflect their faith are pretty great.
Don't Say No to Sleeves
Though Joy was open about struggling to find the perfect wedding dress on Counting On, the one she ended up with is gorgeous. It inspired us not to count out sleeves when it comes to picking out the perfect gown. After all, these lace long sleeves are so pretty (whether or not the bride subscribes to the Duggar dress code) and perfect for a winter or fall wedding.
Go For a Wild Bouquet
There was a lot to love about Josiah's wedding to Lauren Swanson, but what really stuck out to us was her bouquet. Instead of more traditional wedding flowers, Lauren went with something a bit more natural and wild — even a little boho. It's such a pretty arrangement, especially with Lauren's more low-key dress.
Princess for a Day
There's never been a Duggar bride who looked more like a princess on her big day than Kendra did when she married Joseph. Between the dress and its huge skirt and her veil, she looked gorgeous and reminded us that sometimes, looking like a princess can pull the whole wedding vibe together!
Bursting With Flowers
Flowers are a big expense at any wedding, but Claire went all out when she and Justin tied the knot in February! Her entire reception venue was fully decked out in floral arrangements, from the fireplace to the table settings, and it looked incredible. Need to save money? Fake flowers can look just as pretty.
Take Behind-the-Scenes Photos
After the wedding, Claire's mom Hilary Spivey uploaded all kinds of behind-the-scenes photos from the big day. We know these more casual moments will be treasured by the bride and groom forever, so why not make it a point to capture the whole day and not just the ceremony and reception?
Candles Everywhere
One of the most striking things about Kendra and Joe's wedding was the backdrop at their ceremony. All of these candles made for some gorgeous pics, and it added a new level of romance to the whole day. For those who aren't that into flowers, consider candles instead!
Go on Location
When John David and Abbie tied the knot, they made sure to have fun with it, including their personality in their photography. Flying has always been John's thing, so we weren't surprised at all when their wedding photos included a landing strip as the backdrop.
Hire a Videographer
Though Duggar weddings are usually filmed by TLC for Counting On, Claire and Justin took it to the next level by hiring a professional wedding videographer to capture all the sweet moments of their day. The results? An absolutely beautiful video. Investing some money in a videographer might not be a bad idea.
Give Out Useful Favors
Wedding favors typically get left behind, so if it's on the list of priorities, make it something useful! Justin and Claire gave out tiny succulents with tags that said "Let love grow." This plant is super cute and easy to take care of, and would definitely brighten up guests' homes.
