1 Day 'Til Bates Wedding #9

The big day is almost here! Katie Bates is set to marry Travis Clark tomorrow in Loudon, Tennessee. The ceremony and reception will take place at Castleton Farms, the same wedding venue where Carlin and Evan Stewart tied the knot. The bride and groom picked up their marriage license, and everyone is working busily to prepare. Stay tuned for more updates. 

 

Travis Clark and Katie Bates

Photo courtesy of @kgbates2000

Nathan Bates Marries Esther Keyes

Another Bates wedding is in the books! Nathan Bates and Esther Keyes became husband and wife this afternoon, during a beautiful ceremony in picturesque Pennsylvania. Gil and Kelly Bates haven't attended a wedding since Carlin married Evan in May 2019, and they haven't watched a son tie the knot since Zach married Whitney in December 2013. 

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Bates! No wedding photos have been released yet, but we will keep you in the loop.

Watch the FULL Bates/Stewart Wedding Ceremony

UPtv has requested that we pass on an exciting announcement to our readers.

This evening, the Bringing Up Bates episode featuring Carlin and Evan's wedding aired on TV. It was one hour long, but of course it didn't include the entire wedding ceremony--just bits and pieces, as well as footage from the rehearsal and reception. What if we told you that you can watch the ceremony in it's entirety, shot by multiple cameras, just as Carlin and Evan's wedding guests did?

For the first time ever, UPtv is making a full Bates wedding ceremony available to viewers, via its online streaming service, UP Faith and Family. If you aren't yet an UP Faith and Family subscriber, you can start your subscription with a 14-day free trial. Once you log in, the wedding ceremony will not be listed with the regular Bringing Up Bates episodes. It will be found in a series titled "You're Invited." Visit the UP Faith and  Family site to begin.

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Artwork courtesy of UPtv; photo courtesy of Aubree Belle Photography/UPtv

Trace's Special Friend

Trace Bates and Chaney

Carlin and Evan's wedding

 
The next Bates wedding just might be for a Bates son! Trace Bates has been spending time with a special friend named Chaney. No additional information has been released, but we will keep you updated, as we know that y'all love hearing about Bates relationships.

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy of Trace Bates

Carlin's Rehearsal

The 7th Bates wedding day is almost here! In less than 24 hours, Carlin Bates will be Mrs. Evan Stewart. Family and close friends gathered at the venue earlier today for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. After the festivities, there was decorating and music practicing to be done. The ceremony will take place outside, and the reception will be outside, as well, although there will be a covered area. The Knoxville weather was about 91 and sunny today, and tomorrow will be the same.

Carlin Bates, Evan Stewart, Kelton Balka, Josie Balka

Ellie Bates, Tori Smith, Whitney Bates, Erin Paine,
Carlin Bates, Kelly Bates, Michael Keilen, Addallee Bates

Silly ring bearers

Photo courtesy of Kelton and Josie Balka, Carlin Bates

Bates/Stewart Wedding in 3 Days

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

August 2018 (just weeks before their engagement)

Bates wedding #7 is just three days away! Carlin Bates (soon to be Carlin Stewart) and Evan Stewart have waited eight months for their big day, and it's almost here. The two will become husband and wife this Saturday. If you haven't seen their wedding party list, you can look back at our April 3rd post. Carlin will have her two business partners, Erin Paine and Whitney Bates, as her matrons of honor, while Evan's best man will be his brother, Ethan Stewart.

Carlin just graduated from college and has been very busy working for Bates Sisters Boutique and painting the house that she and Evan will live in (stay tuned for house pictures).

Photo courtesy of Carlin Bates

Carlin's Wedding Party

Carlin Bates' wedding is less than two months away, and she and Evan have shared the details of their wedding party.

Just like the past Bates weddings, it is shaping up to be a family affair. With twelve guys and twelve ladies, it looks like Carlin will get the award for the largest wedding party yet. So far, Erin had the smallest  (five couples), while Tori had the largest before Carlin (ten couples). Michael, Alyssa, Josie, and Zach each had between six and eight.

Carlin will have two matrons of honor (Erin and Whitney), ten bridesmaids (Michaela, Alyssa, Tori, Josie, Katie, Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth, and Evan's four sisters--Ashley, Kailyn, Maegan, and Brittany), and two junior bridesmaids (Addallee and Ellie). Callie will be a flower girl, as will Evan's two nieces.

Evan's best man will be his brother, Ethan. His eleven groomsmen will be Zach, Chad, Lawson, Trace, Bobby, John, Kelton, Nathan, and Brandon, as well as his brothers-in-law, Ben and Daniel. Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah will be ushers, along with Justin Duggar. Jeb and Judson will be ring bearers.

The officiants will be Gil and the pastor from Evan's church in Springfield, Tennessee (Dr. Frank Gagliano).

To get a peek at Carlin and Evan's registry, check out their wedding website. 

Stunning photo courtesy of tarynyagerphotography.com

Erin 'Volun-Tells' Chad

Producer: "Chad, have you been informed on what part you're playing in Carlin's wedding?"

Erin Paine (laughing): "I was saving that for right now."

Do you remember Zach Bates using the term "volun-told" on a past episode of Bringing Up Bates? Well, being "volun-told" for a task seems to be common in the Bates family. In this clip, Erin "volun-tells" Chad that he is going to build a stage for Carlin's wedding. And Chad looks thrilled, doesn't he?

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Missing His Mom

"When I saw my father walking up to the front by himself, that was the first time that [the emotions] really hit me, and I was struggling a lot with that. Bobby knew exactly what was going on, and he pulled me over and started praying with me right there."
-Kelton Balka

Have you heard the big news? Josie and Kelton Balka are expecting! But before we start focusing on their preparations for parenthood, we first must watch their wedding episode. It airs tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT, in honor of Valentine's Day.

Scroll down for photos and another episode preview. As usual for Bates weddings, you'll likely need a stash of tissues as you watch tonight. As many of you know, Kelton's mother passed away when he was thirteen, and as you'll see in the scene below, the wedding was an especially emotional time without her there.

Picking up the backdrop for the ceremony
 

Whitney Bates paints Brooklyn Paine's nails

Kelton gets ready with his groomsmen
 

Flower girls and ring bearers
 

Gil Bates and Josie Bates (now Josie Balka)

Photos/video courtesy of UPtv

Postpone the Wedding?

Postpone the wedding? Is that really necessary? Josie Bates and Kelton Balka are ready to tie the knot, but when a bunch of their guests are delayed arriving at the venue, they must make a difficult decision. The Bates-Balka wedding episode airs tomorrow at 9pm ET/8pm CT. The best part is that it's a full hour long! What better show to watch on Valentine's Day than a romantic wedding?

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Dancing at a Bates Wedding?

Carlin Bates and Gil Bates

 

This week on Bringing Up Bates, Carlin and Evan shared a dance together right before Evan popped the question. The couple is looking forward to sharing their first dance as a married couple at their May 25th wedding. Gil and Carlin will also do a father-daughter dance to the song "I Loved Her First."

What song do you think the bride and groom should dance to?


If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Bates Season 8 Sizzle Reel

Zach and Whitney Bates' vow renewal, Carlin Bates' engagement, Josie Bates' wedding, and plenty of other big (and small) achievements, events, and everyday activities...season eight of Bringing Up Bates promises to be entertaining, touching, and a whole lot of fun! Check out this upbeat promo from UPtv. New episodes start January 3rd, 2019.

Photos/video courtesy of UPtv

Bates Celebrate Meema's 80th

Kelly Bates and Meema

 

This weekend, the Bates gathered with family and friends to celebrate Meema's 80th birthday. Meema is Kelly's mother and has been featured on Bringing Up Bates multiple times, including for her wedding in 2017.

Kelly Callaham Bates grew up with three older siblings (Kim and Kay, who have arranged flowers and baked cakes for the Bates weddings, and Chip, who passed away at age 53). Kelly's parents divorced when she was in third grade, and when she grew up, her mom became lonely and adopted two additional daughters, Beth and Beka. Meema's birthday party was hosted by Gwen, a woman who has been on the show and is like a sister to Kelly, Kim, and Kay. 

Meema and Isaiah Bates

John Webster, Alyssa Webster, Trace Bates

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, Trace Bates

Carlin's Wedding Date Announced

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

Carlin and Evan have nailed down a wedding date! The two will become husband and wife on May 25th, 2019, which also happens to be one day after Alyssa and John Webster's five-year anniversary.

So far, all six of the Bates couples have been engaged between three and four months before getting married. When Carlin and Evan tie the knot, they will have been engaged for eight months. They started courting in August 2017 after meeting at a women's conference at Evan's church one year earlier.

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photos courtesy of Carlin Bates

Carlin's Wedding Date

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart were engaged two months ago at Portland Head Lighthouse in Maine. But when will Bates wedding No. 7 take place? As of a week ago, Carlin and Evan had not nailed down a venue, so while they do have a tentative date in mind, they are not sharing it quite yet. But they are thinking spring.

So far, the only spring wedding has been Alyssa and John Webster's (May 24th, 2014). Stay tuned for more information!

Photo courtesy of Carlin Bates

Bates at the Duggar-Burnett Wedding

Five years ago, John-David Duggar was a groomsman in Zach and Whitney Bates' wedding, so when John married Abbie Burnett last Saturday, it only made sense that Zach would be part of the wedding party. Below is a snapshot that Zach and Whitney took with the bride and groom. For more Duggar-Burnett wedding details, visit our Duggar blog.

Abbie (Burnett) Duggar, John-David Duggar, Zach Bates, Whitney Bates

Photo courtesy of Zach and Whitney Bates

Getting Ready for the Wedding

It's wedding day for Josie Bates and Kelton Balka! Below of is a photo of maid of honor Alyssa and bridesmaid Whitney getting ready with their daughters. What do you think of their matching robes? For a complete listing of the wedding party, visit our post from September 18th.

Whitney Bates, Kaci Bates, Alyssa Webster, Allie Webster

Photo courtesy of Zach and Whitney Bates

17 Days!

With Josie and Kelton's wedding just around the corner, Gil and Kelly Bates are scrambling to prepare for their sixth child to walk down the aisle. The big event will take place on October 5th in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Josie and Kelton will each have six people standing up with them on their wedding day. Alyssa Webster is the maid of honor, and the bridesmaids are Katie Bates, Whitney Bates, Carlin Bates, Kelton's sister Ariana, and one other. Bobby Smith is the best man, and the groomsmen are Evan Stewart, Trace Bates, Kelton's brother Grant, and two others.

Josie Bates and Kelton Balka

Utah proposal trip

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Josie and Kelton's Love Story

Josie Bates and Kelton Balka are counting down the days until their October 5th wedding. Kelton has also just written out their love story and posted it to their wedding website.
Did you know that Josie and Kelton met in summer 2014, during a piano recital at which both Josie and Kelton's sister were performing? But it wasn't until summer 2015 that they had their first extended conversation and exchanged phone numbers.

After they spent time getting to know each other for a few months, Kelton left for college (Pensacola Christian, where he was Bobby Smith's roommate). As was shared on a recent episode of Bringing Up Bates, Josie then put the relationship on hold after her parents expressed that they believed she was too young. Kelton shares his reaction on the wedding website:

I was crushed. I had never met a girl like Josie, and I couldn't understand what God was doing or why Josie had ended what was just beginning. 

 

But during that year, wise words from his father gave Kelton a renewed purpose, and he focused his attention on his relationship with the Lord, his studies, and working out. During fall break 2016, Kelton was invited to the Bates' beach rental to celebrate with Tori and Bobby, who had just entered a courtship, and the rest of the family (do you remember that episode?). From that day, Josie and Kelton's friendship was rekindled, mostly via long distance, but they did not consider themselves a couple until around the time of Kelton's graduation (with a finance degree) in May 2017. 

From there, you know the rest of the story. Josie and Kelton entered an official courtship in January 2018 and were engaged on June 19th during a trip out West.

Photo courtesy of Josie Bates

Tori: 'It’s just not me to be perfect'

“The whole wedding, I was just honestly trying to make everything so perfect and do everything so perfect. It’s just not me to be perfect.”
-Tori (Bates) Smith

Did you have a chance to watch the Bates wedding special? If you did, you probably noticed a hiccup during Tori and Bobby's vows. After stumbling over the words "lawful wedded husband," Tori starts laughing uncontrollably. UP captured the moment in the video below.

Photo/video courtesy of UP