At Chelsea and Andy Pinnington's wedding in Cyprus, best man Jack Belsten and Chelsea's maid of honour Chloe Holman - her identical twin - were falling in love. It was May 2024 and Chloe hadn't been seriously involved with anyone since her three year relationship ended at university.
But, staying in Cyprus for a few more days, she says: "I thought Jack was good-looking and really fancied him. We started gravitating towards each other, spending breakfasts together and ended up having a holiday romance."
On the day they flew home, Chloe bought matching bracelets for herself and Jack, 30, an electrical engineer. She says: "We had this slightly awkward hug goodbye. Then, back in the UK, we arranged a proper date before becoming official."
Infertility Struggles
Meanwhile, Chelsea, a private client tax assistant manager, had been trying for a baby with Andy, 31, who works in utilities, since he proposed in 2021. But after 12 months of negative tests, they stopped to focus on wedding plans.
Trying again after tying the knot, Chelsea says: "I was spending hundreds on ovulation sticks and pregnancy tests, but we faced the same disappointment each month. It completely consumed us." In January 2025, hospital tests confirmed Andy's low sperm count as the cause.
"Only 1% were considered healthy. When we were told it was unlikely we'd conceive naturally, I was devastated," Chelsea says. Referred to an NHS specialist with a potential three-year wait for IVF, they considered private options.
Unexpected Pregnancy
In March 2025, Chloe developed a water infection and saw her doctor. When asked about her last period, she realized she was late. A pregnancy test from a 24-hour ASDA showed she was pregnant, despite taking precautions with Jack.
She told Jack at a cafe during lunch: "He's a man of few words and simply replied, 'right, okay'." Three days later, she asked if she'd be doing it alone, and he reassured her.
When Chloe told Chelsea during a car trip to a hen do, Chelsea grinned and said, "You're not." Then Chelsea revealed she was also pregnant, having tested positive exactly one week earlier. They showed each other photos of their positive tests and realized both babies were the size of poppy seeds.
Conceiving Naturally
Chelsea had conceived naturally despite the odds. She tested positive in New York on Andy's 30th birthday, after organizing a surprise billboard message in Times Square. She told him in Central Park: "He'd always said he wanted to be a dad by 30 - and that day was his 30th birthday."
The twins, both expecting boys, had due dates one day apart, later adjusted to November 17 and 24. Chloe's pregnancy was straightforward, but Chelsea had a heart-shaped womb, requiring extra scans.
Birth and Bond
Both were induced at Arrowe Park Hospital on the same day, in adjacent rooms. On November 26, Chloe had a C-section at 6am, giving birth to Frankie (8lb 3oz). Chelsea required an episiotomy and delivered Luca (7lb) naturally 12 hours later.
"I'm the eldest twin by 12 minutes, but Frankie is older than Luca by 12 hours," Chelsea says. The sisters swapped babies the next morning.
Now living three minutes apart in Ellesmere Port, they share maternity leave, going for breakfasts, walks, and swimming. Their husbands have grown closer too. "We shared everything growing up and now our sons share a birthday - as well as a close bond, they just don't know it yet," Chelsea says.
