A union of Q and U

The average age of people getting married in the United States was early 30s, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but last week's wedding at Plains School might throw a wrinkle in their statistics.

Six-year-old Malia Hart (as the letter Q) and 5-year-old Finley Williams (as the letter U) were "married" in the classroom by their kindergarten teacher last Thursday. Classmate Emma Colwell served as the ring bearer and Frances LeClair was the ceremony's flower girl, placing pink flower petals at the wedding venue. However, it wasn't a typical wedding - in fact, it wasn't a real wedding at all.

"I would like to take this time to thank everyone for coming to the wedding of Q and U," said teacher Dani Crowe, who officiated the five-minute ceremony. "It will be a 'quiet' ceremony. We will try to move 'quickly' through the vows and get to the dessert, so there will be no 'quarreling.' Please save any 'questions' until we 'quit' or end the ceremony," said Crowe.

It was an alphabet lesson for the letters "Q" and "U," which Crowe said are almost always paired together in words. "Do you, Mr. U take Q to be your partner and form words, like quail, quack, and quarterback? Do you promise to quickly give quartz, quarters, and never make her queasy? If so, please say, I do," said Crowe, who continued with six more references to words starting with the letters Qu. "Boys and girls of kindergarten and first grade, do you promise to always follow the letter Q with a U? If so, please say, we do."

"It's a cute way for them to remember that Q and U always go together," Crowe, who held a wedding ceremony for the same reason two years ago with Clara Larsen and Levi Franks as bride and groom and Q and U. Learning the alphabet is a starting point for grade school and with Q and U nearly always together, Crowe put on a special event as a memorable educational tool.

"This wedding is a fun and memorable way for the students to always follow Q with a U," added Crowe. The groomsmen included Brody Grimm, Haydon McCrea, Dennis Hayes, and Teddy Schwall. The bridesmaids included Ember Paquet, Emberlin Sheehan, Trinity Burch, and Josie Frankhauser. Each child in the wedding party had a letter attached to the front of their clothes and the classroom was decorated, complete with a wedding arch adornment.

The ceremony was attended by the second grade class of Cindy Gumm, Michelle Greer's kindergarten class, and the first grade classes of Kylie Ishler and Denise Montgomery, along with a few parents. "Here Comes the Bride" was played as the wedding party moved into position. All the kids got a donut and a glow stick before heading to the elementary gymnasium for the reception, where Crowe led the kids in the "Macarena," the "Chicken Dance" and the "Hokey Pokey."

Crowe has been a kindergarten teacher at Plains for six years and said she has loved it, but she and her family are moving to Cody, Wyo., at the end of the school year. "I have loved this amazing little community and I will truly miss teaching in such a great school district."