From ‘is this a joke?’ to ‘I do!’: Single parents tie the knot thanks to teen best friends

Teen best friends with single parents ended up playing matchmaker, as their moms and dads fell in love and got married.

Brittany, known as @_ms.britt on TikTok, shared her story with PEOPLE.

She was a widowed mom of two when her son Tucker became best friends with Corbin.

“My kids’ father passed away in 2015, so he hasn’t been present in their life since they were 5 and 7 years old,” she shared.

She also said that she tried dating but found that none of the men she met stayed around for her kids.

At the same time, Jason was raising two children after separating from their mother.

“So my kids were kind of missing that father-figure role, and his kids were missing that mother-figure,” Brittany said.

Brittany mentions that Tucker and Corbin, her son and Jason’s son, are very much alike in appearance and behavior.

They were always together, prompting most of Brittany and Jason’s conversations to revolve around them.

One day, the boys were like, “Hey, you want to go talk to Mr. Jason?”

Brittany, busy as she was, joked that she’d only talk to him if he really needed her, and it turned out that Jason was thinking the same.

Initially, Brittany and Jason dismissed their kids’ matchmaking as a joke, but they later realized it was serious.

Jason’s son would praise his dad to Brittany, suggesting they’d make a good couple.

Brittany wonders if the kids wanted both parental figures’ attention and genuinely believed in their compatibility, perhaps a mix of both.

Brittany’s story continues as the boys’ older siblings get involved in the matchmaking.

With four kids between the single parents, the matchmaking began with the boys and expanded to include Jason’s oldest child.

During a town fair visit, Jason’s oldest child spent time with Brittany and urged her to consider dating his dad.

Later, Brittany’s oldest daughter echoed the sentiment, noting Jason’s affection for her mom. Everyone seemed invested in the budding romance.

Meanwhile, Jason’s house flooded in the fall, prompting his son to stay with Brittany and Corbin while repairs were underway.

When the house was nearly repaired, Brittany visited out of curiosity, and the boys showed her around, claiming rooms for Tucker.

Initially, Brittany dismissed the idea, but eventually, Tucker started spending more time there, turning the joke into their new reality.

The single parents started spending a lot of time together with their kids. They talked often and hung out almost every day.

They found comfort in each other’s company, discussing various topics beyond just their children.

Their bond grew stronger as they shared dating stories and supported each other through life’s challenges.

Jason took the first step by inviting Brittany out for margaritas and tacos, after which they became inseparable.

Despite their growing feelings, they were cautious not to jeopardize their kids’ friendship.

“There were lots of conversations about what would happen. I didn’t want to let another male influence into their life, and they feel abandoned if it doesn’t work,” she noted.

Initially, they considered keeping their dates secret from the boys, but they were quickly discovered.

Jason explains that it’s hard to hide when you’re dating someone who lives in the same house as the person the boys are hanging out with.

Brittany agrees, mentioning that when one of them had a date, the other would take care of the boys.

However, their attempts at secrecy failed when the boys saw their text messages and found out about their plans before they even left for dinner.

The boys’ excitement over their success made blending families easier.

Brittany explains that although there were some initial challenges because Corbin was used to just him and his dad, and her kids were used to her and them, they adjusted.

With more people involved, decisions required more agreement, but they managed family dinners, birthdays, and holidays together.

Despite these changes, it wasn’t difficult.

After dating for three months, the single parents felt ready to take the next step — marriage.

They had known each other for over a year, shared similar views on parenting, and felt they were practically the same.

They decided to get married without informing anyone except their immediate family.

The boys were ecstatic on the wedding day, behaving goofily and even planning a playful entrance.

Brittany allowed them to walk her down the aisle, recognizing their role in bringing her and Jason together.

Despite it being their wedding, the spotlight was on the boys, who were delighted by their part in the celebration.

“So even though it was our day, the spotlight was kind of on those two goofballs because they knew they did that, and they were so, so excited,” Brittany said.

Now, the children are content, enjoying both their time together and their individual space.

The boys now have their own lives but remain best friends. Despite making other friends, they still miss each other and reconnect.

The former single parents, now a couple, reflects on their significant progress in just a year and a half, which continues to amaze them.

“I think both of us just wonder, ‘Is this even real?’ Sometimes, I catch him looking at me, and I’m like, ‘What are you looking at?’ And he’s like, ‘I don’t know, it’s just weird to know that somebody loves me like you do.’ And I feel the same way. We’re both realizing this is how it’s supposed to be.”

You can follow Britanny on TikTok to see more of her interesting content.