Although planning a wedding can be difficult, Alexandra Stamps, a fifth-grade teacher, and her fiancé, Mason McDowell, saw the process as a chance to honor the significant influence they had on their students’ lives. The teachers at Wichita, Kansas’ Science and Technology Elementary School felt a special connection with their young kids, so they chose to ask their students to be their bridesmaids and groomsmen in order to strengthen that tie.
After over a year of blossoming love, Alexandra and Mason were excited to share their important day with their students. They had an unmatched passion for both teaching and the children they guided, and they saw their students as more than just their students—rather, as their greatest supporters and essential members of their life.
Alexandra posted the touching moment on TikTok after making the unusual decision public. She was shown in the video standing in front of her children in her classroom, excitement in the air. “I’m going to ask my students to be part of my wedding,” she said with a warm smile.
The enthusiasm in the audience increased as Alexandra went on, saying, “Okay, so I have a really important question to ask you guys.” “Khloe, Mary, Reagan, Angelina, Esmeralda, Lucy, Lily, Bella, Harley,” she paused, “will you guys be my junior bridesmaids in my wedding?” and proceeded to call out the names of her soon-to-be bridesmaids. “Yes!” the girls exclaimed together, their eyes beaming with happiness.
Alexandra then called out the names of the junior groomsmen, asking, “Will you guys be my junior groomsmen? Bryland, Max, Eric, Emilio, Kayden, Will, Conner, Jessie, Jose, and Sebastian?” The guys immediately replied, “Yes!” with great enthusiasm.
Several students’ eyes filled with happy tears. Their affection and passion affected Alexandra. She went on to say, “We spend over forty hours a week with them, and we both really love our students so much,” elaborating on the significance of their unusual decision. “I just want to share this unique aspect of my life with them. They should be up there with me because I’m so pleased of the hard work they’ve put in this year, the fact that they not only survived the epidemic but flourished in it, and the fact that I’ve watched them develop as individuals.”
To make sure that everyone was at ease with this unique feature in the wedding, Alexandra made sure to obtain the parents’ consent before deciding on their roles. After the proposal, she gave the males bright sunglasses and the girls false pearl necklaces to make it even more special for the kids. With their hearts overflowing with anticipation for the impending nuptials, the pupils received rainbow-striped lollipops in exchange.
Ultimately, Alexandra and Mason’s unorthodox choice to enlist their cherished students as junior groomsmen and bridesmaids added even more significance to their wedding day. It was evidence of the deep influence educators can have on the lives of their pupils as well as the lovely ways in which the most important moments in life may be shared with the people who mean most.
