Alexandra Stamps and Mason MacDowell, educators from Wichita, Kansas, at McLean Elementary School, have chosen a unique way to celebrate their union. Stamps is a fifth-grade teacher, while MacDowell instructs third-graders. Upon their engagement, the duo was eager to make their wedding memorable for their pupils. Thus, they invited all their students to take on the roles of junior bridesmaids and groomsmen during their nuptials.
The moment Stamps shared the news with her fifth graders and captured their jubilant reactions on video for TikTok, it was clear how thrilled they were, leaping and shouting in delight. Stamps expressed that, given the difficulties faced over the previous year, she was motivated to create a joyous occasion for the kids to eagerly anticipate.
On the wedding day, the children eagerly formed a line and closed their eyes in anticipation of their first glimpse at the bride and groom in their finery. Their joy was palpable upon seeing the couple. It was evident they were thrilled to play a part in such a special occasion in their teacher’s life.
Dressed to the nines, the children mirrored a traditional wedding party, albeit on a smaller scale. They shared in the joy, posing for photographs with the bride and groom, and later even joined in the dance at the reception. For some, it likely marked their inaugural wedding experience, filled with immense joy and laughter. The decision by the teachers to involve their students in their special day was a gesture of incredible kindness.
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video 🙂
In 2020 and 2021, Stamps faced the challenge of teaching her students remotely, recognizing the negative impact prolonged isolation was having on them. She spoke: “I wanted to give them something to look forward to this summer, since this past school year was really difficult with COVID.” The anticipation and joy were evident on the faces of the children, both when they received their invitations and on the wedding day itself.
The community in Wichita came together in a remarkable way to ensure the students and teachers could enjoy a memorable day. Local businesses stepped in, offering their services to ensure the girls could have their hair done for the wedding, and wear dresses generously provided by Madeline Gardner from Morilee. The boys matched the occasion’s elegance, donning white shirts, white ties, and black trousers, their attire adding to the day’s formal and stylish ambiance.
The students visibly enjoyed every moment of the wedding, delightfully dancing and singing to their hearts’ content. Stamps reflected on this, sharing, “The best part was just their genuine smiles. I know they’re all excited to be here, so it’s just really sweet and it means a lot to me.” As we extend our best wishes to the newlyweds for a blissful and enduring marriage, we also applaud them for including their students in such a meaningful celebration.