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EXCLUSIVE: Jessa Duggar & Ben Seewald Dish on Marriage & Family Plans

Jessaben

19 Kids and Counting‘s Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald were courting for just 11 months before he popped the question on Aug. 14. Now, as the conservative Christian couple escalate their intimacy from side hugging to hand holding, they prepare for their Nov. 1 nuptials, and spoke with Star about their upcoming marriage, life in the spotlight and their plans for starting a family of their own.

How are the wedding plans going?

Jessa: Great. We’re expecting a pretty decent-size crowd, maybe 1,000 guests or a little more.

Ben: We are so looking forward to it.

Are you nervous about getting intimate on your wedding night?

Jessa: We’re super excited. Marriage is a wonderful thing!

Ben: It’s a great gift from God. We’ve been waiting and waiting, and now we’ll get to enjoy that gift.

Any worries about spending time alone?

Jessa: We always have chaperones, but they don’t sit in on all our conversations. We have private talks, and I’m sure it’s going to be awesome.

Do you plan on having kids soon?

Jessa: We’re both open to children and looking forward to starting a family of our own. We also really want to adopt.

Ben: We’ve got a lot of different idea about what we’re going to do, but adopting is definitely one of them.

Do you see the Kardashians as bad influences?

Jessa: I don’t know whats going on with the Kardashians. It’s important for every person to realize that they have a lot of influence — it doesn’t matter who you are, you can be a positive or negative example. We should all strive to be the best example we can be.

Ben: If someone follows Jesus, they’re a good example, and if they stray from him, according to my standards, it’s less than a good example. I can’t speak about the Kardashians, because I don’t know them or what’s in their hearts.

What are your plans once your married?

Ben: Right now, I’m doing my property maintenance for Jessa’s dad. My goal is to get involved in ministry, maybe as a missionary or more of a pastoral role on the front lines doing speaking engagements.

Jessa: We’ll live around here, but in the next couple of years we may move to another state or somewhere else. Wherever God leads.

19 Kids & Counting airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on TLC.

PICK UP THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF STAR, ON NEWSSTANDS NOW, FOR MORE FROM THE HAPPY COUPLE!

MORE LINKS

Check Out Jessa Duggar & Ben Seewald’s Wedding Registry!

Michelle Duggar Gets Nostalgic About Daughters’ Leaving Home

Jessa Duggar Shares Engagement Photo…But Hides Her Ring!?

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