Keilens Celebrate 4 Years

Has it really been four years since we watched the beautiful wedding of Michael Bates and Brandon Keilen? Happy anniversary, Keilens! For fun, we have included a video of the two newlyweds on their Montana honeymoon.

Michaela and Brandon Keilen

2019

Michaela Keilen and Brandon Keilen

2015

Photos courtesy of brandonandmichaela.com

Stewarts Start Life in ...

Carlin (Bates) Stewart and Evan Stewart

 

Following their May 25th wedding near Knoxville, Carlin and Evan Stewart departed for a romantic honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort called Majestic Mirage, located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The newlyweds just returned to Evan's hometown near Nashville and then hopped in the car and headed to their new home.

Where is home for these two? They have a house, which they were working on before the wedding, waiting for them in East Tennessee. We know you're probably wondering what happened to their plans to live in the Nashville area. Well, their plans changed, and they will now be living closer to Carlin's family. You can imagine how thrilled Kelly Bates is to have so many of her children nearby.

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

Photo courtesy of Carlin and Evan Stewart

Stewarts' Honeymoon

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart have been Mr. and Mrs. Stewart for four days! According to the newlyweds, they are honeymooning at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Below is a new photo from their trip. Don't they just look thrilled to be married?

Carlin (Bates) Stewart and Evan Stewart

Photo courtesy of Carlin and Evan Stewart

Fancy Coffee Drinks

Josie and Kelton Balka, honeymoon espresso class

Kelly Bates: "When I hear the kids talking and they go to order these coffees, me and Gil are clueless. I don't even know them all. There's latte and frappe, Frappuccino, and extra pumps of this, and a little bit of that."

Gil Bates: "What's a macchiato?"

Kelly: "No idea-er."

Are you familiar with all the different coffee drinks that are available at coffee shops these days? Gil and Kelly admit that they aren't. In this video, which is an extended scene from last night's episode (be sure to check out our recap), Josie and Kelton Balka kick off their honeymoon with an espresso class at Summit Coffee Co in Asheville, North Carolina. They also learn something interesting about the term "cappuccino." Anyone heard of the Capuchin monks?

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Tori and Bobby Drive the CA Coast

"You know, I have the best view though from here. I get to see you and the ocean!"
-Bobby Smith

After flying into San Francisco, Tori and Bobby Smith grab a car and go for a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. They are blown away by the beauty. As you await tomorrow's new episode of Bringing Up Bates, check out this promo video:

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Next Stop: Honeymoon!

"There's so many of y'all!"
-Tori (Bates) Smith

Only three days to go until the all-new episode featuring the Smiths' honeymoon and Josie Bates' courtship proposal airs on UP! Below is a preview video that will have 19 additional seconds added to it each day.

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

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Eye Love You Day

Tonight's episode of Bringing Up Bates is a rerun, but next Thursday and the Thursday after, UP has some exciting new content in store for viewers.

June 7th will bring Tori and Bobby Smith's honeymoon and the start of Josie Bates' courtship. And on June 14th, stay tuned for Kelly's eye surgery and the Bates' "growing old together" Valentine's Day celebration. (Click here for a sneak peek at their costumes.) Scroll down for a video preview of "Eye Love You Day" and written episode summaries.


Thursday, June 7
8pm: Tori's Winter Wonderland Wedding 
9pm: A Heavenly Honeymoon & A Courtship Countdown NEW!
After a picture-perfect wedding ceremony, Tori and Bobby head out for their honeymoon. Upon arriving in California, the newlyweds take a romantic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and set sail for a picturesque boat ride on Monterey Bay. But after Tori has a video chat with her Mom and Dad, will she feel homesick for Tennessee? Meanwhile, the courtship countdown is on! Now that Gil and Kelly Jo have granted Kelton permission to officially ask Josie to court, he begins to put his plan in motion. After taking Josie on a scenic tram ride and ice skating adventure in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, will Kelton finally take a leap of faith and ask her the “big question?” And later, Tori and Bobby continue their honeymoon adventures in Yosemite National Park.

Thursday, June 14
8pm: A Heavenly Honeymoon & A Courtship Countdown
9pm: Eye Love You Day NEW!
Tori and Bobby’s wedding might be behind them, but Kelly Jo isn’t slowing down! She’s finally getting eye surgery to correct her vision. But how will the Bates household hold up while she’s in recovery mode? Meanwhile, 'tis the season for love, as the family preps for this year’s “I Love You Day” festivities. Will the “growing old together” theme lead to some unexpected costumes? And will the single Bates boys finally secure a seat at the table for the couples’ dinner?

Smith Wedding Photos

We just can't get enough of this gorgeous couple! Tori and Bobby married on Saturday afternoon and embarked on their honeymoon after a beautiful reception and send-off. Are you looking forward to seeing the wedding on season seven of Bringing Up Bates?

Below are two previews of the couple's professional wedding photos. Visit the UP website to view more.

 Tori Bates and Bobby Smith

Tori and Bobby

Photos courtesy of UP/tarynyagerphotography.com

Recap: "Fly Fishin' Zip Linin' Honeymoon"

Bringing Up Bates "Fly Fishin' Zip Linin' Honeymoon"...

• After their wedding, Michaela and Brandon honeymoon in Flathead County, Montana.
• The newlyweds’ first activity is fly fishing on Flathead Lake. The Bates kids are not surprised to hear that Michaela ended up catching more fish than Brandon. “[Brandon] is not the fisher type,” says Carlin. “He’s more like the city, office desk, suit and tie kind of guy.”
• “Fishing was fun, but with her being at the back of the boat and me all the way in the front, I was ready for some time where we could actually be together,” says Brandon.
• The second activity is zip lining. (Michaela wears a dress and leggings under her harness.) The view is breathtaking!
• Michaela and Brandon also take a ride on the Alpine Slide, an attraction that allows you to ride down a plastic track in a sled.
• Back in Tennessee, Gil takes Addee, Ellie, and Callie on a date to Rickard Ridge BBQ in Caryville. “Watching Michaela get married and looking around at all the other girls who are quickly growing up, we decided to take a little date night, just for fun,” says Gil.
• According to Kelly, the week after Michael’s wedding was very emotional for the little girls, who miss their sister older very much. “Just spending time with Dad has a way of just making everything seem like it’s all okay,” says the mom of 19.
• Gil, who is supposed to be on a diet, orders sweet tea, but the girls confiscate it. They give it back and tell him he can only have one glass, but he accepts a refill while his daughters are in the bathroom.
• After having worked in the sheriff’s department reserves for a few years, Zach begins an 11-week training course at the Police Academy. The first part of the program forced him to be away from home for an extended period of time, but now he is able to commute each day.
• “I ain’t going to lie, I called home crying a couple times,” says Zach. “Every night,” shares Whitney.
• “I was going to sound tougher than that, but yah, I called home crying every night,” admits Zach. “I missed my wife.”
• Whitney says that the support she has received from her parents and Zach’s family has been a lifeline. She and Josie, who used to chaperone Zach and Whitney before they were married, prepare a meal for Zach.