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

Messages for Carlin and Evan

Bobby Smith, Kade Smith, Tori Smith

"Carlin Stewart, oh ya, that's really going to be hard. But I'm all for it, Carlin Stewart, okay. On my phone she'll still be Carlin Bates, though."
-Gil Bates

The Bates family has some sweet things to say about Carlin, Evan, and the couple's wedding day. Gil gets emotional when he talks about his little girl. And Tori (Bates) Smith has the biggest smile on her face when she shares her thoughts on the wedding and how much she loves her sister.

The videos from Gil and Kelly and the Smiths are below, and you can watch videos from Lawson Bates, Josie and Kelton Balka, Michael and Brandon Keilen, and Kate Bates on the UPtv website.

Photo/videos courtesy of UPtv

Bridesmaids, Dances, and More!

We have more wedding photos to share! Aren't they just spectacular? Carlin and Evan Stewart had a huge wedding party, made up mostly of family. Below are a few photos, and more can be found on the UPtv website.

Carlin and her bridesmaids

 Carlin and Gil Bates, daddy-daughter dance

 Carlin and Evan Stewart

First dance as husband and wife

Carlin and Evan Stewart

Photos courtesy of Aubree Belle Photography, UPtv

Bates/Stewart Wedding Photos

Happy Sunday morning! We know you are all very eager to see photos of Carlin and Evan Stewart's beautiful wedding, and we finally have some to share. Us Weekly has just released an exclusive article with a handful of wedding photos, including one of Carlin with her best friend, Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth.

You'll also see beautiful snapshots of the daddy-daughter dance that Carlin and Gil shared and the romantic first dance that Carlin and Evan shared.

Photo courtesy of Carlin Stewart

Bates/Stewart Wedding Attended by 500

Gil Bates and Carlin Bates at the rehearsal

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart's picture-perfect wedding at Castleton Farms in Loudon, Tennessee, is now over, and they are officially husband and wife! It was sweltering hot, but the event was attended by approximately 500 guests. Us Weekly made the exclusive announcement, although no pictures have been released.

The Foto Sisters (do you remember the giveaway we just ran on our Duggar blog?) provided music. The processional songs were "Be Thou My Vision," "Canon in D," and "Lavenders Blue." During the ceremony, Carlin and Evan sang a duet, and they exited to a song with a title that describes how the bride and groom desire to live their life ("We Will Serve the Lord").

Photo courtesy of Carlin Stewart
 

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

Websters Celebrate 5 Years

Wishing Alyssa and John Webster a blessed five-year wedding anniversary celebration! In honor of their anniversary, the couple is currently in Knoxville for Carlin's wedding...without their kiddos. Today is also the 55th wedding anniversary of Papa Bill and Mama Jane (Gil's parents).

Alyssa and John Webster

John and Alyssa (Bates) Webster (pregnant with Allie)

John Webster, Alyssa Webster, Allie Jane Webster

John Webster, Alyssa Webster, Allie Webster, Lexi Mae Webster

Alyssa Webster, John Webster, Zoey Joy Webster, Allie Webster, Lexi Webster

Alyssa and John Webster

Photos courtesy of John and Alyssa Webster

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

Bobby's Future in Ministry

Since we shared the news that Bobby Smith is now working with Kelton Balka in Kelton's uncle's plumbing business, readers have asked if Bobby plans to continue in ministry, as his degree from Pensacola Christian College was in Bible and youth ministry, and he worked at a church near Nashville before he and Tori returned to East Tennessee this spring. In response to fans' questions, here is a direct quote from Kelly Bates:

It’s ironic how similar their [Tori and Bobby's] paths are to the one God led Gil and I on. Gil started as a youth pastor when we first got married. After the first year and a half or so, he resigned and worked a secular job for quite sometime. He never stopped being highly involved in church ministry all the while, but God really used that time to prepare us and grow us. Now Gil is a full time pastor (doing tree work on the side to provide for the family). God grew us a lot during the whole transitioning, but ministry was always part of Gil’s whole life, no matter if he was selling Nabisco cookies or working on a tree. I think he preached more sermons in those settings than he does now lol! So I’m sure God will use this time to prepare Bobby for whatever his future holds.

Kelly also said the following:

Gil has always felt that it is wise for someone in the minstry to also have a skill they can use as well. Some small country churches have really small budgets, so having a skill enables pastors and missionaries to be self-supporting.

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com 

Bates #13 Turns 16

The Bates family has three birthdays in May, but this one is especially "sweet" because someone is turning16. Happy birthday, Warden!

Warden Bates

 

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com, UPtv

Smith Update

Since returning to the Knoxville area this spring, Bobby Smith has joined Kelton at The Plumbing Authority, a business that was started by Kelton's family. Kelton is a certified plumber and has worked full-time at The Plumbing Authority since his college graduation. The business has multiple employees and a new warehouse.

Bobby Smith and Kelton Balka

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Carlin's College Grad Party

It feels like just yesterday that we were sharing news of Carlin Bates' high school graduation party, and now she's graduating college! She earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies, with an emphasis in music, religion, and sociology, from Liberty University. She began her post-secondary studies at Crown College and then transferred to the Liberty online program.

Some of the Bates gathered for a graduation party today. In just nine days, they will again gather to celebrate Carlin when she ties the knot with Evan Stewart. Congratulations, Carlin!

Kelly Bates and Carlin Bates

 

The Bates family at Carlin's college graduation party

Photos courtesy of Carlin Bates, chadanderin.com

Allie Jane's Haircut

Allie Webster just got an adorable haircut. Perfect timing, as the summer weather is starting to roll in in Florida. She had six inches taken off.

Allie Jane Webster

May 2019

For reference, below is a "before" photo taken in March.

Gil Bates and Allie Jane Webster

March 2019

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

Photos courtesy of Alyssa and John Webster, thebatesfamily.com

Carson Turns 4

Happy 4th birthday to Carson Paine!

Carson Paine, Brooklyn Paine, Evelry Paine

March 2019

 

Erin Paine, Brooklyn Paine, Carson Paine

September 2017

Carson Paine

Praying for healing for Brooklyn, July 2017

Chad Paine and Carson Paine 

October 2015

Photos courtesy of chadanderin.com, thebatesfamily.com

Bates Boys Take Disney

Lawson and Trace are down in Florida enjoying Disney World with friends. Some of them also stopped by to see Alyssa and John Webster, who live near Orlando. Have you ever visited Disney?

Lawson Bates, Trace Bates, and friends

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

Photo courtesy of Trace Bates

Your Feedback for UPtv

The folks at UPtv would like your feedback! In an aim to please viewers, the network is eager to hear what type of online content you enjoy most. Go ahead and submit a comment in response to the following question, and we will send your thoughts to UPtv.

What kind of Bates family / Bringing Up Bates content would you like to see more of?

1. Scenes from the episodes

2. Extended scenes (related to the episodes but not shown in the episodes)

3. Weekly “check-in” videos (where the family shares updates / what is new in their world)

4. Fun features (i.e. the family playing games, telling jokes, sharing stories, etc.)

5. Other (do you have any additional content ideas?)



Photo courtesy of UPtv

Bradley and Kaci's Reveal

Zach Bates, Whitney Bates, Kaci Bates, Bradley Bates

A short while ago, we shared the link to a PEOPLE article featuring some very exciting news. Zack and Whitney Bates are expecting! And siblings Bradley and Kaci are beyond thrilled. Watch the two of them make the announcement in the video below.

As far as a return date for season eight, there is no news to share yet. But from May 30 through June 20, UPtv will air special Bates baby birth episodes. These episodes will include endearing footage and storylines from the Bates couples’ pregnancy journeys. Additional photos and quotes can be found on the UPtv website.

Kaci Lynn Bates and Bradley Gilvin Bates

Photos courtesy of UPtv, Chad Paine, Zach and Whitney Bates

Bates Baby News

Bradley and Kaci have some big news to share. Their parents are expecting another baby! He or she will be the 11th Bates grandchild and is due in November 2019, just after Bradley's fifth birthday. Zach and Whitney Bates suffered a miscarriage last summer, but they say that Bradley and Kaci have been praying for another sibling ever since, and God has answered that prayer. PEOPLE Magazine has the exclusive story, as well as announcement photos.

Photo courtesy of Zach and Whitney Bates

Spring Strawberries

It's the first week of May, which means that strawberry season is kicking off across Tennessee. Do you like strawberries? Do you enjoy picking them straight from the bush, or would you rather buy them from a grocery store or farmer's market?

Brooklyn Paine and Carson Paine

(with Everly Paine asleep in the background)

Photo courtesy of chadanderin.com

Favorite Bates Segments

As we wait for new episodes of Bringing Up Bates to return, we thought we would ask what your favorite all-time segments of the show have been? Perhaps you really enjoyed Michael's wedding, or Carson's birth, or Kelly's surprise 50th birthday celebration. UPtv has aired a ton of Bates footage over the past four years, and we thought it would be fun for you to think back to your favorites.

The idea for this discussion question comes from one of our readers. If you need to look back at our recaps, you can find those on our Watch Full Episodes page.

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Smiley Baby Kade

Kade Smith is coming up on a big milestone. He will be six months old in a week! In case you haven't heard, Tori, Bobby, and Kade are back in East Tennessee. Stay tuned for details on their plans for the future.

Michaela and Brandon Keilen have moved most of their belongings to East Tennessee and will be leaving Chicago later this month so Michael can begin nursing school.

Smiley Kade Smith

Photo courtesy of Tori and Bobby Smith

Bates #3 Turns 28

Wishing Erin Paine a very happy 28th birthday!

Erin Bates Paine and Everly Paine

 

Erin and Chad Paine

 

Erin Paine

Photos courtesy of chadanderin.com, UPtv

2nd Batch of Dresses

Whitney Bates models The Chloe

Two weeks ago, we announced that three of the Bates sisters had started an online boutique. Their first shipment of dresses sold out within a few days. But the good news is that they just restocked, as well as added new dresses. The majority of their gowns are either stripes or floral patterns. Visit the website to see what they have to offer!

Photo courtesy of Bates Sisters Boutique, Taryn Yager Photography