‘Sister Wives’: Did Kody Brown Reject Christine Brown Twice Before Marrying Her?

TV viewers had a front-row seat to the breakdown of yet another one of Kody Brown’s four marriages during the 15th season of Sister Wives. Brown family followers have watched Kody battle with his first wife, Meri Brown, for more than five years, but they were surprised when Christine Brown, Kody’s third wife, expressed her interest in leaving married life behind. As it turns out, things were never quite right in Christine and Kody’s marriage. He might have rebuffed her twice before he finally agreed to marry her in a “morose” ceremony.

How did Christine Brown and Kody Brown meet?

Christine and Kody met in 1990 when Kody and Meri Brown were working with a church youth group. Christine, then 18, was instantly interested in Kody, but they formed a friendship instead. She hung out with Kody and Meri for several years, but romance was never a part of the deal, at least not for Kody. 

In the family’s book, Becoming Sister Wives, Christine described hatching a plan with a friend of hers. According to Christine, she wanted her pal to marry Kody first so she could be his third wife. The plan never came to pass. She revealed her friend married another man instead. Christine continued to spend time with Meri and Kody, though. In fact, she spent so much time with the pair that she was heartbroken when they moved to a different state. They would eventually cross paths again, though.

Did Kody Brown turn down Christine Brown twice before marrying her?

Kody dashed Christine’s romantic dreams the first time when Kody and Meri informed her that he was courting a young woman that Christine was friendly with. At the time, the unnamed woman was underage, and the family was keeping the courtship under wraps until she turned 18. They even set a wedding date. It never happened. The week before the event, they called off the wedding. Meri let Christine know, renewing her hopes for a potential courtship.

Romancing Christine still wasn’t on Kody’s mind. Kody eventually married Janelle Brown. Janelle, who had previously been married to Meri’s brother, Adam Barber, met Kody at Meri’s family event. Kody and Janelle spoke of their initial meeting differently, but Kody made it clear that he was the one who pursued Janelle.

Finally, Kody considered Christine. She stated that she went on her first date with Kody in 1994. Janelle was their chaperone. Their engagement happened the same weekend. So, Did Kody turn down Christine twice before marrying her? Not exactly. He certainly passed over his third wife multiple times before finally agreeing to start a relationship, though.

The ‘Sister Wives’ stars eventually got together, but neither seems sure why

Christine and Kody have been married for more than 20 years. They have six children together, but the more of their marriage that Sister Wives features, the more fans can’t understand how or why they got together in the first place. The family’s book further calls into question their union.

Not only did Christine describe Kody as morose on their wedding day, but she noted that he didn’t appear to give their union much thought. He hadn’t planned a honeymoon, barely spoke to Christine during their first night as man and wife, and seemed to know very little about the woman he married.

So, why did they get together? It’s hard to say for certain. Christine was smitten with Kody, but the feeling appeared to be far from mutual. Some family followers strongly suspect that Kody had political aspirations when he finally settled on Christine as his third wife. Christine was born into the powerful Allred family and had connections to the LeBaron family through her mother. The Allred’s were leaders in the Apostolic United Brethren. The LeBaron family, according to the New York Times, are connected to a rival polygamist sect.