Newlywed Jana Duggar never thought she would get married.

The Counting On star, 34 — who moved out of her parent’s home in July — admitted to feeling ‘disheartened’ about not tying the knot earlier in life, making her question if she had ‘a problem.’

Her confession comes after she tied the knot with bible studies leader, Stephen Wissmann, 31, in Prairie Grove, Arkansas with over 500 guests bearing witness on Thursday, August 15.

Hours before walking down the aisle, Jana recalled fearing that she’d never find ‘the one’ during an interview with PEOPLE.

‘I think as I got older, it definitely came on more and more and it felt like, “Okay, this isn’t happening. Let me figure out something else, maybe I’m supposed to be doing something else,”‘ she recounted of her love life prior to meeting Stephen.

Newlywed Jana Duggar never thought she would get married

Her confession comes after she tied the knot with bible studies leader, Stephen Wissmann, 31, in Prairie Grove, Arkansas with over 500 guests bearing witness on Thursday, August 15

Jana explained that if marriage wasn’t in the cards for her, she would find fulfillment by continuing her education by enrolling in nursing school.

‘That’s been another interest of mine. And I was like, “You know what? Maybe this is more of the calling that I would be doing, and let me just pour myself into something,”‘ she adds.

And although she dated around, a man never stuck. ‘I’m just like, “What is it? Is it me? Do I have a problem?”‘ she questioned.

Things started looking up after her second semester of nursing school when she found her way back to Stephen after having dated briefly in 2011.

‘I had been a slower mover on it, but just over time, his character, his coming back, still loving me no matter what,’ she shared.

‘I know we have a big crazy family and still kind of putting up with a lot of things. I’m like, my goodness, there are not too many people that do that.

‘He must really, genuinely care about me,’ she said to the outlet.

Hours before walking down the aisle, Jana recalled fearing that she’d never find ‘the one’ during an interview with PEOPLE; Jana and mother Michelle seen in 2024

‘I know I’ve prayed for this for years and years and yeah, definitely been like, “What’s the matter? Why can’t I just…” All of my siblings, most of them have been married in their early 20s,’ Jana shared of her family and feelings; Duggar family women seen in 2023

Explaining that the path to marriage ‘looks different for everyone,’ she added that she had been praying for a fairytale wedding ‘for years.’

‘I know I’ve prayed for this for years and years and yeah, definitely been like, “What’s the matter? Why can’t I just…” All of my siblings, most of them have been married in their early 20s,’ Jana shared of her family and feelings.

Although dating and life before her husband was ‘disheartening at times,’ she realizes that the journey taught her peace and maturity through her faith.

‘I’ve been able to connect with so many of my other siblings, or friends, or do things that a lot of married people have not been able to do as they’ve gotten married young,’ she said.

‘I’ve tried to look at the positive, yet you long for that person, that someone that you can spend life with.

‘It has been hard, but it has been good and God’s taught me a lot through it all,’ she admitted.

Although dating and life before her husband was ‘disheartening at times,’ she realizes that the journey taught her peace and maturity through her faith; Sisters Jessa, Jinger, Jill, and Jana seen in 2014

She is happier than ever with Stephen, who she was engaged to for three years; Stephen and mother Gloria seen in 2021

And she is happier than ever with Stephen, who she was engaged to for three years.

Gushing over him she shared, ‘I think just his continuing to be there, no matter what, through ups and downs. He’s been a good friend over the years and has not pressured me in a lot of ways.’

As for their plans after becoming man and wife, Jana confirmed that she will move to Nebraska to live with Stephen who finds work in the irrigation system install business.