The four to seven-year-olds in the infant class at Baldersby St James Primary School worked for two weeks on preparations for the service which was held at St James' Church in the village and led by its new vicar, the Rev Robin Davill.

Teacher Lorna Mallett said: "It arose out of the interest of the children themselves. One of the boys in the class had been a page boy and one of the girls had been a bridesmaid at real weddings and so there was a lot of chat among the children about weddings.

"I said to them maybe we should hold our own wedding and they all went 'Yeahhh!'."

tasks

The class was split into groups who had to work on various tasks so the big day would go ahead without a hitch.

Their responsibilities included preparing invitations to parents and the school's junior class, arranging the flowers, designing and making a cardboard car to transport the bride, catering, photography, and arrangements for the reception and disco after the service.

On the day, the church – which is located across the road from the school – was packed with fellow pupils and parents to see bride Imogen Scales 'wed' groom Alex Glegg.

learning skills

Mrs Mallett said: "Rev Davill agreed to do the wedding for us and I'd like to express our thanks for making it so real for us. I also think it was his first 'wedding' at the church!"

She said she was very pleased with how the day went and the skills it had taught the children.

"They really loved it. I asked them what things they had learned from the activity and we had everything from 'I learned to crack an egg' and 'I can use an internet search engine' to 'I can learn to listen to other people's ideas' and 'I have learned to be a good leader'," said Mrs Mallett.