At Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School in New York, students and staff found a creative way to celebrate love: by throwing their principal a surprise wedding.
Principal Brianna Lanoye was completely caught off guard on October 3, when what she thought was just another school function turned into a heartwarming ceremony. “It meant everything to me,” Lanoye said, recalling the special day that brought hundreds of students together and even welcomed a former student flying in just for the occasion.
Lanoye, a founding principal, had dreamed of a wedding involving her entire school community but figured it would be nearly impossible. “However, my assistant principal didn’t think that was impossible,” she said. Courtney Champlin, Lanoye’s assistant, quietly orchestrated the whole event, coordinating with current and former students and staff to make it happen.
The celebration featured a student-led wedding procession, with two representatives from each grade level, pre-K through fourth grade, walking Lanoye down the aisle to her fiancé, Zach. “Just having him there as well, as a part of our school community, it was really beautiful, and I couldn’t believe that he was part of it as well,” Lanoye said.
The ceremony also included speeches from former students, who shared their reflections on love in front of the wedding party. “I firmly believe there’s no better truth than our student’s words. So to hear them share their reflections was, yeah, really powerful,” Lanoye said. “They did such a good job. And we always want to elevate student voices. So it was really cool to hear them.”
Lanoye and Zach later celebrated their planned wedding on October 12, which coincidentally also took place on school grounds, keeping the magic of their school community close.
“It was really beautiful, and I couldn’t believe that he was part of it as well,” Lanoye said.
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