Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to selecting bridesmaids and groomsmen. However, one woman found a unique and heartwarming solution to this dilemma.
Alexandra Stamps, a fifth-grade teacher at Science and Technology Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas, didn’t hesitate to invite her students to be part of her bridal party on her wedding day. In July, after nearly a year of dating, she tied the knot with her fiancé, Mason McDowell, who is a third-grade teacher. Mason shared Alexandra’s sentiment and wanted his students to play a special role in their wedding as well.
@alexandrastamps This was such a sweet & touching moment — several of us cried! 🤍 #teachersoftiktok #engagement #bridalparty #5thgradesquad
♬ Can’t Help Falling In Love (From Crazy Rich Asians) [Single Version] – Kina Grannis
Not only did the couple extend wedding invitations to their students, but they went a step further and asked them to take on the roles of bridesmaids and groomsmen.
“I love them, and they are an integral part of my life. I want them to stand by my side because they’re my most enthusiastic supporters,” Alexandra shared with the Wichita Eagle.
The heartwarming moment when Alexandra made this request was captured and shared on TikTok, where it swiftly went viral, garnering over 19 million views. In the video, Alexandra starts by saying, “I’m about to invite my students to be a part of my wedding.”
The footage then transitions to her classroom as she addresses her students, saying, “Alright, I have a very important question for you all.” She proceeds to name the girls: “Khloe, Mary, Reagan, Angelina, Esmeralda, Lucy, Lily, Bella, Harley” and asks, “Will you be my junior bridesmaids in my wedding?” The girls respond with an enthusiastic “Yes!”
She then addresses the boys: “Bryland, Max, Eric, Emilio, Kayden, Will, Conner, Jessie, Jose, and Sebastian,” and asks, “Will you be my junior groomsmen?” The boys respond in kind with an enthusiastic “Yes!”
Alexandra noted that their students were overjoyed and around six or seven of them even shed tears of happiness.
“We spend more than forty hours a week with them, and we both genuinely care for our students,” explained Alexandra, highlighting the reason behind their decision to involve the students in the wedding. “I thought it would be wonderful to include them in the celebration rather than just having them as spectators. I want to share this special part of my life with them because I’m immensely proud of their hard work throughout the year, and the fact that they not only endured the pandemic but thrived in it. Watching them grow as individuals this school year, they truly deserve to stand by my side.”
Before including the students in the wedding, Alexandra consulted with their parents to ensure their approval. She also gifted the girls faux pearl necklaces and the boys colorful sunglasses as tokens of appreciation. Following her proposal to the students, they were treated to rainbow-striped lollipops to celebrate the special moment.
This truly is a heartwarming way to pay tribute to her students, and one can only imagine the overwhelming joy this group of young students must have felt.
Let’s all join in celebrating the kindness and thoughtfulness of this teaching couple and extend our warmest wishes for a lifetime filled with happiness by sharing their remarkable story.