Duggarly love. Amid her husband's cheating scandal and subsequent stint in rehab, Anna Duggar made her first appearance since the controversy to attend her cousin-in-law Amy Duggar's wedding to Dillon King this past weekend. At the nuptials, the mom of four penned a short and simple message for the bride and groom in their version of a guestbook.
According to Entertainment Tonight, the newlyweds had "life-sized Jenga blocks" in place of the traditional book, and Anna scrawled a note for the loved-up pair. "So happy for you!" she reportedly wrote.
Meanwhile, Amy opened up to Us Weekly about her big day, and said she hoped it would be a happy distraction for her famous family amid Josh's scandal. "In the middle of chaos, I think this will be a really beautiful moment," the beaming bride reflected to Us last week.
Indeed, the nuptials held at Horton Farms in Bentonville, Ark., on Sunday, Sept. 6, were a special and memorable occasion for the Duggar family — including Anna and Josh's kids. "I'm not one to do things in the traditional way," Amy mused to Us, revealing that she opted for "ringing-of-the bells-girls" instead of flower girls. "All the younger cousins, plus [Josh and Anna's daughter] Mackynzie — all the younger girls are going to be ringing bells and saying the bride is coming," Amy dished to Us. "And then [for] our ceremonial, our pastor is doing a sermon on roller coasters."
That metaphor has been applicable especially to Anna and Josh, who welcomed their fourth child in July. The parents of Mackynzie, 5, Michael, 4, Marcus, 2, and Meredith, 2 months, have faced two colossal scandals in 2015 alone. "There’s highs and all kinds of different things that happen," Amy told Us of her marital sermon. "And yet, we are still faithful to each other and we still love each other, so it’s perfect… It’s Godly."
Of the reception, Amy said they had "bright lights and the dance floor and a cash bar" ready for the guests. "It's going to be a really fun time just to celebrate love," she told Us. "Everyone needs to celebrate love."
Love — and family. "Obviously, I want to protect my family right now during this time," Amy continued of her wedding. "I think it’s important that it is family and friends that love us and know us and that’s why it’s not open to the public. I just really think it’s a special time for all of us to be reunited. It’s been a rough couple of weeks, it really has. Last couple of months too so it’s just one of those things where I want them to know that it’s safe to come to my wedding and not be bombarded by media or fans, and just kind of respect that time with each other."
The one Duggar family member noticeably absent from Amy's wedding on Saturday was her cousin Josh, who is currently in a long-term treatment center at the Reformers Unanimous center in Rockford, Ill., following his cheating confession on Aug. 20. Amid the scandal, Anna Duggar has opted to remain with her husband and refused the help of one of her siblings, Daniel Keller, who claimed last month that he reached out to her.
"I have been thinking of her and sick to my stomach for her for last few days," Keller wrote on Jessa Duggar's Facebook page on Aug. 23. "I have told her I would pay for her to move out here w me and pay for her kidz. I don't think josh will see that this is a big deal and be truly broken till that happens. I bet my life on the fact that josh has not [come] to true brokenness yet."
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have both confirmed that Anna is also receiving counseling after Josh's actions. "We will be offering our love, care and devoted support to Anna and our grandchildren as she also receives counsel and help for her own heart and future," the TLC stars wrote on their family's blog last month. "During this time we continue to look to God—He is our rock and comfort. We ask for your continued prayers for our entire family."
