Last night on an emotional Counting On Season 6 Episode 5, Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell geared up to marry each other.
Spoiler alert: They got the job done.
Even if you don’t watch Counting On online, you’re likely aware that Joe and Kendra wed last fall, and are now expecting a baby.
Things move quickly in this family.
Monday’s season finale marked a fun behind-the-scenes look at how it all unfolded, though, and there were even a few surprises.
“I am feeling really excited and kind of looking forward to seeing how everything’s going to play out in the rehearsal,” Kendra said.
At the rehearsal dinner, plenty of crying took place; Kendra’s little sister made the 19-year-old bride-to-be tear up hard during her speech.
Unmentioned during this episode was the little-known-fact that Joseph bumped out Jedidiah, who had his eye on Ms. Caldwell first.
Check out the link, it’s good. Just saying. Anyway …
Joe’s sister, Joy-Anna Duggar, then took the mic for her speech, saying, “First of all, I want to say, Joe, I’m so thankful for you.”
“You really did change my life. Just through my teen years, I was having a hard time taking my parents faith as my own.”
“You really befriended me as an older brother.”
Joy-Anna admitting the Duggars’ religion is too strict? Talk about burying the lead, TLC! Joy then told Kendra she loves her, too. Aww.
“The night before my wedding, I was excited,” Joe later said. “I was hoping I could just go to sleep. That makes the night go much faster.”
Hashtag facts.
The day of the wedding, Caldwell said she felt “amazing” but was “nervous” for her first kiss. Those urges were getting so strong.
“I didn’t have the urge to kiss him for a long time, but once the wedding got closer, I kept thinking, ‘I can’t wait to kiss you,’” Kendra said.
Joe said the feeling was mutual: “I love everything about Kendra,” he gushed. “I don’t know if there’s anything I don’t love.” Aww.
Kendra’s minister dad, Paul, was moved by the wedding day as well. “We raise our kids for this moment but it’s still surreal,” he said.
“It happens sooner than you think.”
Of course, the most emotional moment was when the bride walked down the aisle. Joe cried, even though he said he doesn’t.
“I lost it. I’m not a crier,” Joe said.
“No one sees me cry ever.”
Kendra added, “As I was making my way down the aisle, I realized he was bawling. I was totally shocked. It was such a sweet moment.”
“It started making me emotional.”
Then it was time for the kiss.
Not just any kiss. The first kiss of their LIVES, the one that signifies the end of side hugs and courtship rules and everything else.
And it was worth it.
“When I kissed Kendra, it was everything I ever hoped for and more,” Joe explained. “It was the most amazing thing ever,” she added.
Win-win then.
Of course, this is just the beginning. When Counting On returns this summer, we’ll see their honeymoon – and her pregnancy!
