Scene Together: Couples on Their Wedding Day

By Wendy Lyons Sunshine
April 2021

Faith Anne Burke + Ethan Douglas Stoltzfus
Married February 6, 2021

For their first date, in 2019, Sarasota natives Faith Anne Burke and Ethan Douglas Stoltzfus went bird-watching at Celery Fields. A year and a half later, the couple returned to the same bird-watching gazebo and this time Ethan proposed.

“It was just the two of us and truly a special moment,” says Faith.

The wedding needed to be smaller than they hoped and venue plans were changed because of COVID, but the event itself was joyful. “We had a ceremony and outdoor reception at our church with family and close friends,” says Faith. 

The pair added their own unique twist to the special day by serving breakfast for dinner and departing amid colorful smoke bombs. They honeymooned in Springfield, Tennessee, at a gorgeous getaway called Kelly’s Jubilee Treehouse Mansion. 

A private nanny, Faith is the daughter of James and Kelly Burke. The groom works for an international shipping company and is the son of Todd and Myrna Stoltzfus.

VENDORS | Photographer: Curtis Anderson • Videographer: Kwazulu Creative Company • Dress: David’s Bridal • Cake: Cake I Make by Jenna

Kelly Denski + Andrew Waite
Married January 8, 2021

In December 2019, inside a tunnel of sparkling Christmas lights in St. Petersburg, Florida, Andrew Waite surprised Kelly Denski by taking her hand, getting down on one knee, and proposing. 

“It was beautiful,” says Kelly. 

The couple had met years earlier through siblings and expected to have a large wedding that included family, bridesmaids, and grooms. Then came COVID-19. 

“We both loved the idea of having family around, but it became such an anxiety with the threat of COVID. We wanted to remain as safe as possible with this virus, so we decided to have our vow ceremony in the mountains of Colorado and later have a get-together.”

The pair flew to Denver with two layers of masks, face shields, and as much hand sanitizer as allowed on the plane. Then they headed to a cabin in Evergreen, Colorado. 

That evening, Kelly assembled a bouquet of flowers from the local grocery store. The next morning, she awoke to find deer in the front yard and a light snow falling. After FaceTiming with family and friends, the pair drove out to Sapphire Point.

“When I bought my wedding dress, I still had the idea that we were going to get married in the springtime,” says Kelly. “My dress was not ideal for the 3 feet of snow and icy mountain terrain!”

With an assist from the photographer, layers of skin-toned thermals, and hidden handwarmers amid the 20 degree weather, Kelly still managed to surprise Andrew by appearing in her wedding dress against a gorgeous backdrop of snowy Evergreens. 

“I will forever remember this moment, walking up to him when it finally clicked that this moment was finally here after the long year,” says Kelly. “It was one of the most jaw dropping moments of beauty, being between two large mountains and a vast frozen lake.”

Andrew, son of Cheryl Magnus and Jimmy Waite, attended Manatee Technical College and works as a certified auto technician. Kelly, daughter of Beth and Randy Denski, attended Ringling College of Art and Design and now works there as an Admissions Counselor and liaison for their Entertainment Design program.

“Our wedding adventure was such a fun day. I would relive it over and over if I could!” says Kelly.

VENDORS | Photographer: Sarah Cabanas • Dress: Truly Forever Bridal