'19 Kids and Counting's Joy-Anna Duggar, Austin Forsyth Wedding Date Rescheduled from October to May

By Trisha Cerdena
Joy-Anna Duggar is finally exchanging wedding vows with fiance, Austin Forsyth, this summer. A post in an Arkansas newspaper has revealed the "Counting On" star's plans for a supposedly secret wedding, revealing that she and Austin have filed for marriage license.  Photo: TLC / Counting On

“Counting On” star Joy-Anna Duggar and her fiancé, Austin Forsyth, has reportedly opted for a change in wedding schedule. While the couple initially planned to exchange wedding vows on October 28, they reportedly placed their big day on a much earlier date- this weekend.

According to the Daily Mail, the 19-year-old reality TV star will tie the knot with her 22-year-old beau on May 20, Saturday, despite their initial plans to have a seven-month engagement. The couple was engaged in March 2017. An insider pointed out that Joy-Anna and Austin’s wedding will be carried out nearby the Duggars’ residence in Arkansas, where majority of the Duggar family lives.

The random change in Joy-Anna Duggar’s wedding to Austin has caused quite a discussion among fans, including the possible reasons behind the switch. The Duggar family is widely known for following conservative rules. Parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar only allow dates if there are chaperones; dating is not necessarily termed as “dating” but as “courtship.” They only allow certain forms of physical affection, including side hugs; therefore, other expressions of physical contact such as first kisses are expected on the family members’ wedding day.

"That's all I know right now except I hope Joy gets up the nerve to run before then and live the life God gave her, not the one arranged for her by her fruitcake dad,” the insider added.

Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth have known each other for 15 years and made the official announcement of their courting in November 2016.

"We just got engaged!" Joy-Anna told Us Weekly. "I’m so excited to be engaged to my best friend — Austin made it so romantic, it’s amazing."

Austin said he has been overwhelmed with emotion since they had begun courting. The groom-to-be also said he is looking forward to remarkable changes in their relationship as he and fiancé Joy-Anna begin their engagement phase. "I'm so excited to be engaged, because that means the next step is marriage, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for us!” he said.

Merely weeks after Joy-Anna’s sister, Jinger Duggar, got married to former pro soccer player Jeremy Vuolo, the family’s TLC spinoff series “Counting On” revealed that Joy-Anna had been spending a lot of time with her good friend, Austin. The pair went on to admit to having a special relationship as the “Counting On: Jinger Wedding” episode was aired.

Before the “Counting On” season 2 finale was aired, Austin explained that he picked out a spot within a peaceful, forested area when he and Joy-Anna Duggar decided to enter into courtship. Acknowledging it as a special location, Austin said it was an area where he often prayed and spent time with the Lord.

In an episode on “Counting On” season 2, the spotlight was on Austin when he asked Joy-Anna’s father, Jim Bob, for permission to begin courtship. He shared to the Duggar patriarch how much he admired Joy-Anna’s character and her dedication to fulfilling obligations to the Lord.

"She's such a diligent worker. She gets all the younger siblings working. She's a good delegator — and, of course, her beauty,” Austin said. In response to these statements, Jim Bob said Austin is a “good guy and that he would be honored if his daughter’s longtime friend would start courting her already.”

The “Counting On” season 3 premiere has been set on June 12, 2017.

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