Mix-ups and resemblances are not uncommon occurrences. However, at Felicia Harding’s recent wedding on Vancouver Island, guests were frequently mistaking the bride for her friend Brittany Delaney. Despite the bride donning a white dress, distinguishing between the two petite women with brown curly hair, bangs, and broad smiles proved challenging. The confusion extended beyond the guests, with Delaney recalling instances where Harding’s husband mistook her for the bride multiple times.
Harding mentioned, “I had many friends tell me afterward that they knew she was present, and they obviously recognized that I was in a wedding gown. But on several occasions, they simply mistook me for Felicia.”
This mix-up has become a familiar experience for the two women, forming the basis of their initial encounter. Delaney, who operates Confections Cake Company in St. Albert, and Harding, a musician based in Victoria, met six years ago when Delaney’s former art teacher attended one of Harding’s concerts. The teacher then tagged them both in a social media post highlighting their uncanny resemblance, leading to Delaney reaching out to Harding.
Harding expressed, “When I saw photos of Brittany, I was taken aback because she truly resembles me. That’s how our friendship began.”
Bonding over their twin-like features, the women conversed online for five years before finally meeting in person when Harding visited Edmonton. Delaney’s mother and son, Atlas, picked up Harding from West Edmonton Mall and brought her to Delaney’s business in St. Albert. Delaney’s mother, intrigued by their likeness, asked Harding to pick up Atlas from the car, leading to a surprising reaction from the toddler upon seeing his mother inside the bakery.
Apart from physical similarities, the duo shares West Coast roots, both having grown up on Vancouver Island, albeit three hours apart. They discovered even more similarities, such as entrepreneurship, similar voices, and mannerisms. Their connection grew so strong that Delaney baked Harding’s wedding cake and personally delivered it to the island for the celebration.
Despite taking a DNA test that confirmed they are not related, the friends remain curious about their genetic connection and plan to explore further by obtaining DNA from relatives on their father’s side. For now, their friendship transcends shared genetics, with their striking resemblance continuing to surprise them.
Delaney expressed, “You often feel like you’re looking at yourself. My son still mistakes videos and images of Harding online for me.” Meanwhile, Harding admitted to still being taken aback when seeing photos of Delaney, highlighting the enduring impact of their friendship on their perception of their uncanny similarity.
