A match made in school

Sean and Claire with her class

On the last Friday of the summer term in 2011, Sean McCarthy from Harrow organised a surprise proposal for Claire Carroll by getting down on one knee in front of her Year 6 class at Blessed Dominic Catholic Primary School in Grahame Park, North West London.

Eighteen months later - Claire is Deputy Head teacher of Blessed Dominic - and the children who witnessed the proposal, got to see Claire and Sean tie the knot at St Sebastian and St Pancras Catholic Church in Kingsbury Green, on 25 May 2013, officiated by Fr David Williamson.

The children of the school were delighted to be asked to be part of the wedding ceremony and a wedding choir was organised by the Head Teacher, Geraldine Pears, and accompanied by the harpist, Gina Mackey.

Claire's mother Mary, said: "When Sean walked into the classroom that day, Claire had no idea what he was going to do. The children just cheered and screamed with excitement. They all cheered again at the wedding."

The Carrolls, who live in Kingsbury Green west London, have four children - two sons and two daughters. Claire is the youngest, and the last one to get married. Mary said: "Claire and Sean make a lovely couple. They take their faith seriously and are very involved in church activities. Every year Claire fundraises and takes a group to Lourdes. My husband Joe and I are very happy for them."

Claire said: "It really was a magical day and having the children from school being able to share it with us and participate made it even more special for both of us.

When Sean proposed, the kids were in shock as to what was happening as was I, I think it sunk in with them quicker than it did me. They went crazy, jumping up and down and the other members of staff let party poppers off. The party started there and then!

For many of the children it was the first wedding that they had been to and they were ecstatic to have been a part of it "