![Kinsey French and her wedding party.](http://web.archive.org./web/20190421013710im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/w/7/0/f/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.grw6x5.png/1475718446567.jpg)
Make sure you have tissues handy before you read this beautiful story.
When it came to planning her wedding to fiancé Josh, special education teacher Kinsey French, of Louisville, Kentucky, knew it wouldn't be the perfect day without her students by her side.
And in a moving gesture, Ms French didn't just invite her class as wedding guests – she asked them to be her flower girls and ring bearers, too.
Ms French teaches at Christian Academy Province School, designed for children with Down syndrome. The children are part of mainstream classes for 95 per cent of the day, also receiving speech and occupational therapy.
"They were like family to me," Ms French said of her students. "They were my first class and they've been my only class and so I knew I couldn't have a special day without them."
And so on June 3, when Ms French married her partner – both are alumni of Christian Academy – six of her students were there to help her celebrate.
Dressed in pretty gowns, floral headdresses, braces and bow ties, the children looked adorable walking down the aisle.
"Yes, they have Down syndrome," Ms French said of her class, "but they're also children. They're children first."
Speaking to WLKY news, the class shared their memories of the wedding. And for most of them, the highlight was the dancing – and the food!
"It was so exciting," Ms French says. "It was really special for Josh and myself just to have them a part of the day, and have them come with us and celebrate with us."