Jana Duggar Reveals When She Got Back Together With Stephen Wissmann After Brief Romance
Nearly a year after tying the knot, Counting On’s Jana Duggar revealed when she and her now-husband, Stephen Wissmann, reconnected following their initial romance rumors back in 2020.
“A year ago, I was sitting in my house finishing up some last-minute assignments while Stephen was doing some office work,” Jana, 35, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, May 7, in a tribute dedicated to her husband. In the photo, the former reality star looked cozy on the couch with her laptop on her lap as she leaned in close to Stephen, 31, for an adorable selfie.
“We had reconnected and started talking again, not long before this,” the 19 Kids and Counting alum gushed. “Oh, how much can change in a year! It has been wonderful sharing life with you, Stephen Wissmann! I look forward to many more years together!”
Stephen, the brother of Jana’s sister-in-law Hannah Duggar (née Wissmann), was first romantically linked to his future wife in December 2020, when she appeared in Christmas photos shared on the Wissmann family blog. Two months later, the two were spotted together once again at Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Market. They also spent July 4th together in 2021, according to The Sun.
“The Wissmanns were there performing. Jana was seen walking around the event with Stephen,” The Sun reported at the time. However, split rumors ignited two months later after Stephen was spotted square dancing at a party without the former TLC star.
More than four years later, In Touch confirmed Jana and Stephen’s relationship when the pair applied for a marriage license on August 14, 2024. The couple exchanged vows only one later at The Grand at Willow Springs, about 30 minutes from her family’s compound in Tontitown, Arkansas. The ceremony was attended by 500 people, including their extended families and friends. Jana’s sister Jessa Seewald (née Duggar) was the maid of honor, while sisters Joy-Anna Forsyth (née Duggar), Johannah Duggar, Jinger Vuolo (née Duggar), Jordyn Duggar and sister-in-law Abbie Duggar were bridesmaids.
Jana later revealed that she and Stephen were “on and off” in their romance until early 2024.
“I think I’ve just been so guarded and just trying to protect and not really hurt again,” she said, explaining that her now-husband asked her out again via a handwritten letter. “I think people would probably seem like it’s very weird, but I thought it was so sweet. Honestly, I think if he would’ve texted me, I would’ve been more like, ‘Hey, dude, kind of get lost … I’m not really interested.’”
The former TLC personality continued, “But I don’t know, something about it really hit me. And I was like, he’s so sweet. He really has been there, and how had I not noticed it and realized he is great, and I do love him, and I need to be willing to open up and to allow that?”
Jana explained they exchanged “two, three letters back and forth” before “they started texting again, and just kind of on a basic friendship level there.”
