Jill Dillard: What is A Covenant Marriage?

Jill Dillard (formerly Jill Duggar) married Derick Dillard in what is called a covenant marriage. Not everyone is familiar with what that term means. During a recent interview with People magazine, Ji...
Jill Dillard: What is A Covenant Marriage?
Written by Kimberly Ripley
  • Jill Dillard (formerly Jill Duggar) married Derick Dillard in what is called a covenant marriage. Not everyone is familiar with what that term means. During a recent interview with People magazine, Jill’s new mother-in-law said she was the one who signed their covenant marriage certificate.

    “I signed their covenant marriage certificate,” Derick’s mom, Cathy, said. “It was so special. But it wouldn’t matter if they chose that type of marriage certificate or not, those two would still have a covenant marriage.”

    It seems that in the state of Arkansas, where Jill Duggar became Jill Dillard, the covenant marriage law allows for couples to agree ahead of their wedding that they will seek counseling before a divorce could ever be granted. Divorces are more limited with covenant marriages, and a lengthy separation must take place before a divorce can even be considered.

    Derick and Jill Dillard’s wedding will air on 19 Kids and Counting this week–on Tuesday evening at 8 P.M. on TLC. All of the show’s fans will be able to see Jill Duggar walk down the aisle and Jill Dillard at their wedding reception afterward.

    Jim Bob Duggar will no doubt become a bit sentimental if he watches the wedding take place again.

    “This is a time we have prayed for for 23 years,” he told People at the wedding. “As Jill and I were out in the hallway waiting to come in, I thought about how Michelle and I got married 30 years ago. I couldn’t hold back the tears thinking I was giving away my daughter. It was an exciting time, but it was also a time of a lot of emotion.”

    Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar will soon marry off yet another of their daughters. Jessa Duggar is engaged to Ben Seewald and the two plan to tie the knot on November 1st. Derick and Jill Dillard had about 1000 guests at their wedding, and it sounds like Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald may have that many attending their wedding, too.

    Do you think Jessa and Ben will enter in to a covenant marriage the way Jill and Derick did?

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