'Duck Dynasty' John Luke Robertson and Fiancee Plan June Wedding, Address Criticism For 'Marrying Too Young'

By Shawn Schuster
John Luke and Mary Kate
John Luke and Mary Kate

On October 11 of last year, "Duck Dynasty" star John Luke Robertson celebrated his 19th birthday, but he also proposed to his 18-year-old girlfriend, Mary Kate McEcharn. Luckily for him, she said yes, and the two are now enjoying the engaged life as the upcoming June wedding date draws closer.

"I looked up to find him on one knee, holding the ring out, and he said 'Mary Kate McEacharn, will you marry me?' Despite my shock, I managed to say yes...and then say it again about twenty more times to get my point across!" McEcharn describes John Luke's proposal using a ring that he had custom made just for her.

While some are saying that the two teens may be too young to marry, John Luke's parents -- Korie and Willie Robertson -- were 18 and 19 when they wed in 1992. "I know my parents married young as well, and they have always been examples of what 'could be' to me," John Luke said in an interview with E! Online. "Fast-forward 22 years and they are more in love than ever, and I hope Mary Kate and I are the same way in the years to come. God has truly blessed us."

"As far as negative people go, we decided a long time ago we weren't going to listen to them," Robertson said of his critics. "As far as being married goes, everyone has said something about us getting married too young and I think pretty much all of them are unmarried."

"The people that matter to us, support us," McEacharn added.

"With God as our leader, we know that we can make it," she wrote on her own blog. "A lasting marriage doesn't depend on your age, it depends on your love for God and your love for each other, and your willingness to make it work. I honestly could not be more excited to spend the rest of my life with John Luke Robertson."

But John Luke's fame from Duck Dynasty certainly concerned Mary Kate when the couple first started dating. "It's definitely been interesting," McEacharn said to Fox News. "I guess through our dating life, I was seeing how it was for him and seeing what all of that was about. I didn't realize how much things would change though when we did get engaged. It has been very interesting, but good, all that's happening."

While an exact date has yet to be announced, the engaged couple have said that they're currently planning on "sometime in June."

John Luke is currently in South Carolina for the Activate Tour, which is described as a "high-energy event featuring your favorite Christian personalities and artists who empower the next generation through sharing stories." Other Christian stars on the bill include Kolby Koloff, Ryan Wesley Smith, Carson Case, Molly Kate Kestner, Luke Lezon, Coley, and The George Twins.

John Luke also hinted on Sunday through his Twitter that he plans to attend Easter services at New Spring church in South Carolina, so he certainly has a busy schedule set for a while.

Stay tuned for the couple to make the official announcement soon as June quickly approaches.

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