Q and U Wedding

Oddly, we had a really nice Valentine's Day. Something about having kids actually makes it so much better. No romantic pressure. Just cheesy, goofball fun. Our kids treat it like Christmas and go absolutely nuts opening their cards. And the candy! Oh, the candy this year! We have been sheltered at a hippie preschool the past couple of years. I had NO idea the volume of candy (and homemade cookies, for which I am quite grateful) that we would find upon opening the kids' Valentine boxes from school. (Oh, and that was weird for me too. I always remember ripping into the bag/box of Valentines in class, but the kids' boxes and bags were all sent home sealed.) It's a lot of candy.

But that aside, the highlight of the day was going to Ree's class. (Having a valid excuse to skip work and hang out with my children is never bad either.) They did not have a simple Valentine party. In fact there was no "party". Instead, we attended the wedding of the letters Q and U. Because those two letters always go together when you are reading, they decided to finally get hitched.

It was a formal affair. The invited guests were all required to wait in the lobby of the school until it was time to be seated. Then we were escorted back to the classroom. The boys in the class were ushers, all dressed in shirts and ties, some with vests and jackets, and the guests waited patiently while the ushers seated everyone. The last to be seated where the families of the bride and groom who, of course, got to sit in the first row.

The ushers then processed in, followed by the girls in the class who were serving as bridesmaids. (Rumor has it there was some good-natured "fighting" among the girls over which bridesmaid would wear the fanciest dress.) Some of the boys had boutonnieres, and all of the girls carried bouquets.

Then it was time for the bride and groom to enter. The groom came in first, looking awfully nervous. Then everyone stood as the bride, dressed in a full length white dress and veil with her hair in an updo, processed in.

The teacher, dressed in a black robe, officiated, and Q and U exchanged vows and rings.

The ushers then escorted the bridesmaids out.

 Then it was time for the reception which began with Q and U cutting the wedding cake together.

And really, is there a better way to spend Valentine's Day than at a wedding?