Justin Duggar Clears Up The Drama Over His Wedding Registry
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Were they "counting on" a big haul? Even faithful fans of the Duggar family were raising their eyebrows at the thought that Justin Duggar might be getting greedy about wedding gifts.
The 19 Kids and Counting star and his girlfriend, Claire Spivey, announced their engagement via Us Weekly in November: "There is nothing comparable to finding the one you were meant to spend your life with," they said. "We know we have found that in each other." Some folks were concerned that the young couple might be rushing into a commitment — Justin is 18, and Claire is just a year older — but parents Jim Bob and Michelle say that once their children reach adulthood, it's up to them to decide when to wed (via In Touch Weekly). Since then, the couple's Instagram accounts have been filled with signs that they're together for better (taking a family snowboarding trip) or worse (Claire helped nurse Justin through the removal of his wisdom teeth).
But Justin and Claire recently found themselves the center of backlash once again when the US edition of The Sun claimed to have gotten a peek at their wedding registry. The lengthy Amazon list — which cited an April 16 wedding date — included such pricey items as electronics (Apple AirPods, a Kindle), workout gear (a $140 adjustable dumbbell), some kitchen gear (a $100 ice cream maker) and a $500 coffee table. The tab claimed they also were asking for gift cards to chain restaurants such as Chik-fil-A, Olive Garden, and Outback Steakhouse.
The real registry has just one unusual item
Word must have gotten around fast, because Justin posted a reply on his Insta feed five days later. "Quick update on a rumor going around. The current wedding registry that has a few articles written on it is FALSE," he wrote. We are so sorry, and do not want to see anyone's money dishonestly used. Link to our real registry coming soon in bios. Not posting to receive gifts, but just wanting to clarify!"
Sure enough, both Duggar's and Spivey's bios now include a link to an Amazon wedding registry. There are no tech items or gift cards on the 108-item list; instead, there's the typical selection of kitchen and bath items such as sheets, small appliances, and a Pioneer Woman mixing bowl set. Yes, there are a couple of higher-end gifts, such as a Cuisinart propane grill and an HP printer, but nothing you wouldn't find on most registries. Well, make that one thing. In the middle of the list is a $300 rifle gun safe.
Although a couple of followers found the whole idea odd ("You're asking for stuff from strangers?"), others pointed out that it was a convenient way for the couple to get the word out to their large extended family. Indeed, about two-thirds of the gifts have already been spoken for.
The tabloid did appear to get one thing right: It seems "Justin D" and "Claire S" will be marrying on April 16.