Identical twin sisters, Briana and Brittany, tied the knot with identical twin brothers, Josh and Jeremy Salyers, resulting in a unique family dynamic
Their extraordinary story unfolds as they introduce their babies, who, despite being cousins, share a genetic bond akin to that of brothers.
The story delves into the intricacies of their relationships, shedding light on the fascinating concept of quaternary twins and the genetic similarities that bind them.
Briana and Brittany, both 35 years old, met Josh and Jeremy Salyers, 37, at the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio.
The couples formed an instant connection and decided to join their lives together.
In a joint ceremony held at the festival in 2018, their fairy tale weddings were captured on camera for TLC.
The twins welcomed their children into the world, and their babies, Jett and Jax, share a truly extraordinary bond
Born less than nine months apart, the cousins are genetically more akin to siblings due to their parents' identical DNA.
This unique situation, often referred to as quaternary twins, is a rare occurrence that has only been documented in 300 cases throughout history
According to Dr. Alexandra Burt from the Michigan State University Twin Registry, the genetic similarity between the Salyers twins is so strong that their children can be considered siblings rather than just cousins.
Dr. Burt explained that since the Salyers twins are virtually indistinguishable from each other genetically, their children would share as many genes with their aunt as they would with their mother.
This means that while they are cousins in terms of their relationship, their DNA closely resembles that of siblings.
In addition to their intertwined marriages, the families chose to live under the same roof in Virginia
They even run a wedding venue together, further cementing their close bond.
This arrangement allows them to fully embrace and understand the twin connection, ensuring they spend ample time together.
"It was something we all four wanted and when we got engaged, we all wanted it that way," Brittany said.
Although their living situation may raise eyebrows and invite criticism, the couples focus on the positive aspects of their unique arrangement and disregard negative commentary from skeptics.
Briana and Brittany are contemplating whether to pursue another pregnancy or not.
"We are debating if we should go for one more pregnancy each or not," Briana said. "We will make a decision pretty soon. The babies are still pretty young, we are trying to wait a little longer to see what to do."
