Should We invite them?

I'm a teacher and this seems wildly inappropriate. That is crossing a big professional boundary to invite kids to an event like that. Not to mention that it is obviously showing favoritism to some specific students.

I would also be super uncomfortable as another teacher at an event with my students there. I would feel like I couldn't drink or dance, and that I'd have to constantly watch my conversations and behavior. I know that I'm an adult and can do my own thing outside of school, but I would never want pictures of me drinking snapchatted to the entire school, and I would be constantly afraid of that.

I agree with PP. I think it would be an uncomfortable situation

Don't do it. Alcohol + students + you= possible loss of your teaching license.

Professionals need to know where to draw the line. These are students, not friends.

This seems like it has the potential to badly. What would their parents think? The other teachers there would definitely feel uncomfortable as well.

Can you do something else with these students to mark the occasion? I think it would be different if they were a bit older and in college. I saw a news story a while ago where an elementary teacher invited her whole class to the ceremony only. I would be interested to hear others opinions, but this could be a situation where you could have the students come to the ceremony and not the reception. I know that is always an ettiquite no no but this might be an exception.

No. No. No. No. No. So many ethical boundaries this crosses.

I'm surprised you're an experienced teacher asking this quite frankly.

Agree with previous posters—no. You’re their teachers first and foremost.

Depends. Will they have graduated by your wedding? (It's not letting me see your wedding date). If they'll be fully graduated and out of school, I really don't think it is a problem. We had teachers invite students out after they had graduated because technically, we weren't their students anymore.

Also a teacher saying nope.

I'm a pediatric specialist and I see have has similar thoughts for some of my very close patients, but it is a big no-no.

No no no and again.....No. Boundaries, people, boundaries!!! I am a teacher and this is a bad idea. Here is another HUGE flag: Your other guests will be teachers? How are they gonna let their hair down and have a good time with students sitting there? Think of your other guests. They will end up on FB, Instagram, Snapchat, etc and it WILL affect them professionally.

I am surprised you are asking this question as well. I don't tell my students my first name, let alone invite them anywhere near my personal life.

Edited to add: I would not invite former students after graduation, either.

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Me neither OG Gretchen. At work I am there for them 100%. After work....not so much. I would decline a wedding where students would be there as well.

Generally no it’s a bad idea and in many cases could be against board policy. If you are in the same building as them I definitely would not invite them.

I will admit I did have three students attend my wedding but in a completely different situation. I had them in middle school and they were seniors now out of district. I had taken them on college tours and trips with parental permission. These three were like my adopted daughters from middle school on and attended family functions, graduations, etc.

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Same here.

I would also probably leave a wedding I arrived at if there were students there unexpectedly.

I wouldn’t invite them. If they had already graduated maybe. But as guest id wouldn’t feel comfortable having students there if i worked in the same school

What everyone else said. I understand being close to students but it is very inappropriate and potentially against school policy to do this. I totally understand where you're coming from as I was a theatre kid in high school, so you spend hours and hours with your cast and with the teachers, to the point you may feel like good friends, but it's your responsibility to keep those boundaries in place while they are still students.

In the Spa Industry (as well as many other industries) we have something called transference and countertransference. This is where the relationship between the client and the therapist become more than professional by either the therapists or clients doing respectively. This can lead to inappropriate behavior, favoritism and can bring nothing but trouble.

In many ways this could be applied to your situation. I would definitely hold off on inviting students, especially if alcohol is at the event. What if your boss or coworkers found out? How would the parents react? I could see this leading to possible unemployment or with alcohol involved, even possibly a lawsuit. I may be overreacting but I would think twice before doing this

No my students keep asking if they can come to my wedding. I had a lot of them in 7th, 8th, and 10th grade, and they’re now in 11th. I understand the feeling but it’s not appropriate. You can celebrate with them at school afterwards. Wedding cupcakes?

I am not even telling my students - I will leave on Thursday as Miss So and So and return as Mrs. So and So the following Tuesday. My population would never pop in and find the event but I would not let any info leak just in case.

It is against board policy to be FB friends with a student in my school (unless you have a niece/nephew who is a student) let alone fraternize.

Just please....don't.

As a teacher I would strongly urge you not to do this. Alcohol+Students seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.