Weddings

There are 13 married Bates couples including Gil and Kelly Bates. They were married in 1987. The most recent wedding took place in 2023.

## Gil & Kelly Bates

William Gilvin "Gil" Bates married Kelly Jo Callaham on December 19, 1987. Not much is known about their wedding or their honeymoon.

## Erin & Chad Paine

Erin Elise Bates married Charles Stephen "Chad" Paine III on November 2, 2013, in Tennessee. Erin's bridesmaids were her sisters Alyssa and Carlin and family friends Rebecca Forman and Abigail Unruh, with sister Tori serving as the maid of honor. Although Erin also asked her older sister, Michaela, to be in the wedding, Michaela declined because she didn't want to stand up in front of such a large crowd. Erin's sister, Callie, served as the flower girl. Chad's groomsmen were his brothers Thomas, Nathan, and Josiah and Erin's brother Zach. His ring bearer was his brother, Johnny.

For the first few nights of their honeymoon, they stayed a cabin called "Moonlight and Roses" in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Then they flew to Shannon, Ireland, where they stayed at the Oak Wood Arms Hotel for a night. They spent the rest of their honeymoon in a rented house on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland.

## Zach & Whitney Bates

Zachary Gilvin "Zach" Bates married Whitney Eileen Perkins on December 14, 2013, at 1:00pm at First Baptist Church in Lake City, Tennessee, with a reception at the Main Event in Clinton, Tennessee. Zach's brother Lawson wrote a song for the couple that was sang at the wedding. Among Whitney's bridesmaids were future sisters-in-law Alyssa, Josie and Katie. Zach's groomsmen were his brothers Lawson, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah and his friend John-David Duggar.

For their honeymoon, they went to Hawai'i.

On June 14, 2018, Whitney and Zach had a vow renewal ceremony at The Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farms. This ceremony allowed Whitney's biological parents to attend after they weren't invited to her wedding.

## Alyssa & John Webster

Alyssa Joy Bates married John Elliott Webster on May 24, 2014, at Salem Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The wedding was officiated by Alyssa's father Gil Bates. Her maid of honor was her new sister-in-law, Victoria. Her bridesmaids were Tori, Michaela, Erin, Whitney, Andrea Warren, Liz Miller, and Bethany Chavez. Her flower girls were her sisters, Addallee and Ellie. John's best man was his brother, Jordan. The groomsmen were his brothers Brent and David, nephew Jonathan, future brother-in-law Nathan, brother-in-law Joe Miller, and friend Lewis Albright. His ring bearers were his nephew Grant and his future brother-in-law Judson.

For their honeymoon, they went to California and Nevada.

## Michaela & Brandon Keilen

Michaela Christian Keilen married Brandon Timothy Keilen on August 15, 2015, at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Michaela's bridesmaids were her sisters Alyssa and Tori, future sisters-in-law Angela, Rebecca, and Christy, and close friend Jana Duggar, with both her mother Kelly and her sister Erin serving as matrons of honor. Brandon had six groomsmen, including some of Michaela's brothers.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to Montana and Wyoming.

## Tori & Bobby Smith

Tori Layne Bates married Robert Ellis "Bobby" Smith III on December 16, 2017, at Calvary Baptist Church in Knoxville Tennessee. The wedding was officiated by Tori's father, Gil Bates. Her brother Lawson wrote a song titled "One Plus One" for the wedding. Tori's matron of honor was her sister Erin and her maid of honor was her sister Carlin. Her bridesmaids included her sisters Michaela, Alyssa, Josie and Katie, her sister-in-law Whitney, and her friends Devonna Killin, Kailyn Stewart, and Abigail Paine. Tori's brothers Zach, Lawson, and Trace were among the groomsmen.

The couple spent two days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, before flying out to California for their honeymoon.

## Josie & Kelton Balka

Josie Kellyn Bates married Kelton Edward Balka on October 5, 2018, outdoors at Cove Lake State Park in Caryville, Tennessee. The wedding was officiated by Josie's father Gil Bates. Her sister Alyssa was the matron of honor, and her bridesmaids were her sisters Katie and Carlin, sister-in-law Whitney, future sister-in-law Ariana, and friend Makayla Landrum. Her flower girls were her nieces Allie and Brooklyn and her future sister-in-law Kierstin Balka. Kelton's best man was his best friend and future brother-in-law Bobby, and his groomsmen were his brother Grant, future brother-in-law Trace Bates, and friends John Whitney and Jayman Yant.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to The Bahamas.

## Carlin & Evan Stewart

Carlin Brianne Bates married Evan Patrick Stewart on May 25, 2019, at Castleton Farms in Loudon, Tennessee. The wedding was officiated by Frank Gagliano and Carlin's father Gil Bates. Carlin had two matrons of honor, her sister Erin and sister-in-law Whitney. Her bridesmaids were her sisters Michaela, Alyssa, Tori, Josie, and Katie, future sisters-in-law Ashley Sparkman, Brittany Randolph, and Maegan Stewart and Kailyn Stewart, and friend Joy-Anna Forsyth. Her sisters Addallee and Ellie were junior bridesmaids, and her sister Callie and future nieces Braelyn and Bella were flower girls. Evan's best man was his brother Ethan. His groomsmen were his brothers-in-law, Daniel and Ben, and future brothers-in-law Zach, Lawson, Nathan, Trace, Brandon Keilen, Chad Paine, John Webster, Bobby Smith, and Kelton Balka. His ring bearers were his future brother-in-law Judson and family friend Marlin Nafziger.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to Charleston, South Carolina and The Dominican Republic.

## Nathan & Esther Bates

Kenneth Nathaniel Bates married Esther Joy Keyes on October 22, 2021, at The Star Barn in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. The wedding was officiated by Dean Miller. Esther's maid of honor was her sister Elizabeth. Her bridesmaids were her sister Emily, her sisters-in-law Madison and Gracie, her cousin Amber Zwolinski, and her friend Tiffany Espensen. The flower girls were Nathan's nieces Kaci, Brooklyn, and Lexi. Nathan's best man was his father Gil. His groomsmen were his brothers Lawson and Trace and his friends John-David Duggar, Elias Gollapalli, and Andrew Patton. The ring bearers were Nathan's nephews Bradley, Carson, and Kade and Esther's nephew Gabriel. The ushers were Nathan's brothers Zach and Jackson and Esther's brother Andrew. The pianists were Nathan's sister Erin and Esther's brothers Eric and Matthew. The violinist was Nathan's sister Tori. Nathan's brother Lawson wrote a song for the wedding. Esther and Nathan sang a song together at the wedding. Nathan and his groomsmen sky-dived into the ceremony, while Esther arrived in a horse drawn carriage. Her dress was designed by Renee Miller of Renee's Bridal in Kentucky.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to Gatorland in Orlando, Florida and the Bahamas.

## Katie & Travis Clark

Katie Grace Bates married Travis James Clark on December 3, 2021, at Castleton Farms in Loudon, Tennessee. The wedding had around 400 guests. Katie's matron of honor was her sister Josie. Her bridesmaids were her sisters Alyssa, Carlin, and Addallee, her sister-in-law Whitney, Travis's sister Kayla, and her friend Caitlin Kaetzer. The flower girls was Katie's nieces Willow and Layla and their dog Remi. Travis's best man was his brother Michael. His groomsmen were his brother-in-law Cameron, his cousin Jeffrey Walsemann, his cousin-in-law Jeffrey Weaver, Katie's brother-in-law Evan, and his friends Aaron Scully and Gavin Ziegler. Her dress was designed by Renee Miller of Renee's Bridal in Kentucky.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

## Lawson & Tiffany Bates

William Lawson Bates married Tiffany Lian Espensen on May 12, 2022, on the California Spirit yacht setting sail from Coronado Bridge, San Diego, California. The wedding had around 200 guests. The wedding was officiated by Lawson's father Gil Bates and Tiffany's pastor Jim Garlow. Tiffany's matron of honor was her mother Robin Espensen. Her bridesmaids were Lawson's sister Ellie, Lawson's sister-in-law Esther, her cousin Mia Martin, and her friend Chelle Andreoli. The flower girls were Lawson's nieces Kaci and Khloé. Lawson's best man was his brother Nathan. His groomsmen were his brothers Trace, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah, and his friend Jonas Thatcher. The ring bearers were Lawson's nephews Bradley and Carson. The ushers were Lawson's brothers Zach and Judson and Tiffany's brother Erik. The pianist was Lawson's brother-in-law Bobby. Lawson wrote a song for the wedding. Her dress was designed by Renee Miller of Renee's Bridal in Kentucky.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to Mykonos, Greece.

## Trace & Lydia Bates

Trace Whitfield Bates married Lydia Johanna Romeike on October 1, 2022, at Colley Hill Farm in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The wedding had around 350 guests. The couple shared their first kiss at the altar. The wedding was officiated by Trace's father Gil Bates and Lydia's pastor Dean Haun. Lydia's matron of honor was her sister-in-law Hannah and her maid of honor was her sister Damaris. Her bridesmaids were Trace's sisters Josie, Addallee, and Ellie and her friends Emily Dollar and Chloe Graham. The flower girls were Trace's nieces Willow and Khloé and Lydia's family friend Lydia Nafziger. Trace's best men were his brothers Jackson and Warden. His groomsmen were his brother Isaiah, Lydia's brothers Joshua and Christian, and his friends Logan Smith and Jonas Thatcher. The ring bearers were Trace's brother Jeb, Trace's nephew Bradley, and Lydia's family friend Weston Nafziger. Her dress was designed by Renee Miller of Renee's Bridal.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to Hawai’i.

## Jackson & Emerson Bates

Jackson Ezekiel Bates married Emerson Hope Wells on October 14, 2023, at the Bramble Tree Estates in Sorrento, Florida. The couple shared their first kiss at the altar. The wedding was officiated by Jackson's father Gil Bates and Emerson's brother-in-law Jono Contestable. Emerson's matron of honor was her sister Makenzie. Her bridesmaids were Jackson's sisters Addallee, Ellie, and Callie, her sister-in-law Morgan Page, and her friends Savannah Richard and Hannah South. The flower girls were Jackson's nieces Lexi, Khloé, and Layla. Jackson's best man was his brother Warden. His groomsmen were his brothers Zach, Trace, and Isaiah, and his friends Jason Duggar and Nathanael Wissmann. The ring bearers were Jackson's nephew Kade and Emerson's nephew Judah Wells.

It is unknown where the couple went for their honeymoon.