(Picture: Cory and Jackie Wedding Photographers/SWNS)

Well, this is lovely.

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25-year-old Marielle Slager Keller has been teaching for a few years, and she absolutely loves it.

So it only made sense to get her class involved in her wedding.

She could have just invited the students along to watch her tie the knot, but instead Marielle wanted to show them how important they truly are – by giving them the job of walking her down the aisle.


20 of Marielle’s students led her down the aisle to say her vows to her now-husband, medical student Mike.

The girls held a garland and wore matching white dresses, while the boys dressed up in white shirts and smart trousers. One of the students was even trusted with the rings.

(Picture: Cory and Jackie Wedding Photographers/SWNS)

They did a great job – even if a few of the kids shielded their eyes when Marielle and Mike kissed.



‘It was magical,’ said Marielle. ‘Having the children there was really special.

‘Everyone was crying when I came down the aisle but it wasn’t because of me, it was because all the kids were there.

‘“Before the day I talked to the class about my wedding and they said, “Are you guys gonna kiss?”

(Picture: Cory and Jackie Wedding Photographers/SWNS)

‘A few shielded their eyes at that moment, but it all went to plan. The girls managed not to drop the flowers and the boys walked down the aisle perfectly.

‘Teaching is my passion and I couldn’t have imagined it without them. They’re a part of who I am.’

As soon as Mike proposed, Marielle knew she’d have to have her class involved in the ceremony.

He popped the big question using a children’s book he had made, that told the story of their relationship. When she turned the final page, he was down on one knee.

Marielle invited the children and their parents to the wedding with handwritten invites addressed individually and placed in their school letterboxes, and even got them involved in helping her to plan the day and pick out her dress.

(Picture: Cory and Jackie Wedding Photographers/SWNS)

After the ceremony was over and done with, there was a special cupcake reception for the kids, while grownups headed to a private party.

‘Marielle is an amazing teacher,’ said Brooke Starnes, a mother of one of the girls in Marielle’s class. ‘She has created a community of all the families and is really changing the lives of the kids.

‘The wedding really was just the icing on the cake. Annie had the most magnificent experience.

(Picture: Cory and Jackie Wedding Photographers/SWNS)

‘She went into the church knowing that it was quite a special thing to be invited to a teacher’s wedding and even more so to be a part of the wedding party.

‘It was the event of the summer for the entire class.’

Oh, and don’t worry – Mike was happy the kids were there, too. Even if he wasn’t sure at first.

(Picture: Cory and Jackie Wedding Photographers/SWNS)

Marielle said: ‘After the day Mike said to me, “I didn’t tell you this before but I thought it was a crazy idea inviting 20 six year olds to the ceremony.”



‘But he said they were perfect. It was a risk but it paid off. When you spend eight hours a day with a group of people every day it feels like you live with them, so they had to be there.

‘They are very deep thinkers and they are so kind. We have a great relationship – I feel like I’ve got 22 kids.’

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