Bidbury Junior School pupils share teacher's wedding day via Zoom
After having to cut her wedding numbers to just 24 due to coronavirus restrictions a teacher was delighted to see dozens of virtual guests – her pupils.
Bidbury Junior School assistant headteacher Emily Burns, 31, was originally due to marry in April but the venue cancelled due to lockdown.
The school has experienced the perils of the pandemic first-hand after headteacher, Caroline Mason, was admitted to hospital with the virus and Emily had to take over the running of the school.
Year 6 and keyworker children were able to share the experience by dressing for the occasion, watching the event live on Zoom and even having their own bubble party.
Emily – formerly better known in school as Miss West – said: ‘It was terrible having to postpone and emotional to know the children were all watching - particularly after the impact on the school and how it had affected them first-hand.
‘I was able to watch back the recording and it was fantastic seeing the smiles on their faces. They even sang their own version of Bruno Mars’ Marry You.’
Headteacher Caroline added: ‘I was in hospital for five days. The school had to close and everyone went into self-isolation. Emily was then left with everything to do.
‘It was fantastic to see children arrive to school on Thursday dressed in their wedding outfits and it was a really enjoyable day in which they even shared cake.’
After watching the wedding, which took place at Farbridge wedding venue in Chichester, Year 6 pupil Freya Tracey said: ‘I loved dressing up. I felt like I was really there. Mrs Burns’ dress was beautiful and I liked celebrating after by eating cakes.’
Classmate Tegan Lemon added: ‘Watching it live was great as we could watch it happening. Not a lot of children get to see their teacher get married. I loved how the school was decorated’.
While the day was not quite as Emily originally planned – even having to get her temperature checked before walking down the aisle – she said the day for herself and husband, Graham Burns, ‘was perfect’.
The wedding video posted on the school’s Facebook page has so far attracted more than 6,000 views.