Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard made an extra secure marriage covenant to make divorce even harder

Most couples would settle for exchanging their vows at the altar as proof that they're in it for the long haul.

But Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard went for the "braces and belt" approach to marriage to make it even more difficult to divorce.

Their wedding airs on a two-hour special of 19 Kids and Counting on TLC tonight at 8pm ET.

And the Duggars revealed on their family blog that the show will feature the special Covenant Marriage that Jill and Derick chose to enter into.

Apparently it is an option offered to couples in Arkansas, Arizona and Louisiana which ties them into having to seek counselling prior to marriage and in the event of experiencing marital problems after saying "I do".

The covenant marriage also requires that couples go through a longer period of separation before a divorce will be granted.

Derick's mum Cathy told People.com it was "so special" to be a signatory on their covenant marriage certificate.

"But it wouldn't matter if they chose that type of marriage certificate or not, those two would still have a covenant marriage," she added.

Jill's dad, Jim Bob, revealed to People.com that he and wife Michelle had been praying for their daughter's marriage for 23 years.

"As Jill and I were out in the hallway waiting to come in, I thought about how Michelle and I got married 30 years ago," he said.

"I couldn't hold back the tears thinking I was giving away my daughter. It was an exciting time, but it was also a time of a lot of emotion."

The special broadcast comes just days before Jill's younger sister, Jessa, walks down the aisle to her fiancé Ben Seewald at the First Baptist Church, Bentonville, Arkansas, on Saturday.

Jessa and Ben became engaged on August 14 - their 11-month anniversary – making it the second wedding this year for the Duggar family.

Like her big sis, Jessa has also made the decision with Ben to hold off on their first kiss until their wedding day on Saturday.

News
AI could become a ‘very dangerous master’, warns John Lennox
AI could become a ‘very dangerous master’, warns John Lennox

Apologist and Oxford mathematician John Lennox warned Christians that artificial intelligence could contribute to a generation becoming increasingly disconnected from Scripture and cautioned that technology meant to serve humanity can become a “very dangerous master.”

Catholic baptisms fall sharply across Ireland as births decline and secularisation grows
Catholic baptisms fall sharply across Ireland as births decline and secularisation grows

The number of Catholic baptisms taking place across the whole island of Ireland has fallen by almost 30% over the past decade, with declining birth rates and the growth of religious non-affiliation identified as the main reasons.

Against backdrop of conflict and tough working conditions, seafarer happiness falls
Against backdrop of conflict and tough working conditions, seafarer happiness falls

Seafarer wellbeing has declined for the second consecutive quarter as heavy workloads, restricted shore leave and concerns over pay increasingly weigh on crews, according to new research from The Mission to Seafarers.

When Eastern Europe appeared to be going Protestant
When Eastern Europe appeared to be going Protestant

The crucial question is: why did so much of the early Protestant advance subsequently disappear?