Children 'get married' at Leeds primary school's mock wedding ceremony

Nursery and reception pupils from Drighlington Primary School take part in a mock wedding at St Paul's Church, with Bride Kelissi Lister-Kemp and groom Blake Green taking the staring roles. Picture Tony Johnson.

A Leeds school has taught its early years children a life lesson by staging a mock wedding.

Nursery and reception pupils at Drighlington Primary School took part in the ceremony at St Paul's Church yesterday - complete with 'bride and groom', best man and bridesmaids.

The event was set up to provide an opportunity for staff and the church's Vicar, Reverend Paul Walker, to talk to the youngsters about marriage and partnerships.

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Reverend Paul Walker with nursery and reception pupils at Drighlington Primary School taking part in a mock wedding at St Paul's Church, with pupils taking on the roles of bride, groom, best man, ushers and bridesmaids. Picture Tony Johnson.

Early years leader Helen Christie said that it came about after the children had heard her speak to teaching assistant Raphael Fox about the latter's upcoming wedding.

Mrs Christie said: "The children are interested but not all their parents are married, so we celebrate all sorts of different partnerships, but we thought it would be really nice to go to a church to show them what it's all about."

Blake Green and Kelissi Lister-Kemp, both aged five, took the place of the bride and groom, while Samuel Ford served as best man.