Feature

Scene Together

By Sarasota Scene |

By Jacqueline Miller

Paige Barrie Samson & David Lee Wyant Jr.

They first locked eyes as Pine View second graders, and being typical kids of the opposite sex, they paid little attention to one another for four more school years.

Then in sixth grade, David started going out with Paige’s best friend, Johanna. Paige approved so much of the pairing that she forced David to “propose” to Johanna with a rainbow-colored ring. She thought David was “really nice” and she told him so in his yearbook. As their high school years went on, they rarely saw one another. Paige was not one to attend parties. David was. After graduating Pine View, Paige went off to Emory University and David went to Wesleyan University and then to the University of Memphis for Law School.

So, just what did happen along the way that would unite these two teacher’s pets to eventually become man and wife?

They did see one another again in 2003 when a bunch of Pine View friends got together. Paige vaguely recalls that night. David remembers none of it. There’s a photo to remind them, but that’s about it. Their life apart continued. Years would pass.

Fast forward to 2015. Paige, who was VP of Entertainment Marketing at Ketchum, a global PR agency, was living in Los Angeles. She came home for the holidays and needed something to do. Her friend Emily told her that David, now a litigation attorney with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, was having a party. Despite years of non-communication, Paige texted David and got herself invited to the party. Paige says when she first saw David she thought “it all just felt natural and right.” David says when he first saw Paige he thought “she was extremely good-looking.” They had their first date the next day and became inseparable. Paige returned to work in LA knowing that a strong connection with David was forged. What followed was a lot of texting, talking, and FaceTiming.

Some health issues for David would bring the couple even closer. Paige spent a month in Boston by David’s side while he recovered. When they returned to Sarasota, David had Paige’s engagement ring designed. He proposed in his apartment as he played his favorite St. Paul and the Broken Bones song with their dog KC witnessing the happy occasion.

This creative couple had their engagement photos taken at Pine View to honor their history with the help of their second-grade teacher Mrs. Shea. For their Save the Date card, they hired makeup artist Hendickie Ewen to “age” them with latex faces. Barbara Banks created the perfect setting and photo to go along with their line: “Paige and David are going to grow old together…but first they are getting married!”

For their invitation, artist Michelle Guintu painted them in her signature style with hot pink circles on their cheeks. The painting was also an inspiration for their cake topper.

The magical wedding was held at Selby Gardens. The couple’s first dance was a combination of two songs – Taylor Dayne’s “I’ll Always Love You” and “Sugar Dyed” by St. Paul and The Broken Bones, the song David played after he proposed.

Paige and David honeymooned at the Four Seasons Resort in Hualalai, Hawaii and then to The Boulders in Scottsdale. What’s next for this beautiful couple? It’s the much-anticipated August arrival of their “honeymoon baby” boy!

Paige’s parents are Susan and Dr. Russell Samson. David is the son of Betsy Garner Wyant and David Lee Wyant.

Charles Gordon & Maria Fernanda Landínez

Born and raised in Tampa, Charles (Chuck) Samuel Squire Gordon’s family moved to Kentucky when he was 17. His family had deep roots in Kentucky’s Mercer County, which was named after his sixth great uncle, General Hugh Mercer, who was also a physician. He died in the Battle of Princeton in the county of Mercer in New Jersey during the American Revolution. The General’s wife, Isabella Gordon, was Chuck’s sixth great aunt. Their daughter, Ann Gordon Mercer, married Robert Patton, making Chuck a fifth cousin once removed to General George Smith Patton of World War II fame. His sixth great grandfather, John Gordon, also died in the last battle of the American Revolution, the battle of Blue Licks in Kentucky.

Chuck attended University of Louisville for both undergraduate studies and medical school and returned to Tampa for three years of General Surgery at USF/Tampa General/Moffitt. He decided to switch to Interventional Radiology, which required another five years of training at USF. In 2004, he joined Radiology Associates of Venice and Englewood after Venice Regional launched its open-heart surgery program. Years later, that’s where Chuck met the beautiful Maria.

He had just finished a bedside procedure in the Cardiovascular ICU when he looked over and saw as he put it, “the most beautiful woman in the world” drawing blood from a patient. According to Chuck, her beauty was one thing, but her focus, intensity and skill were equally as captivating.

When he heard Maria speak to the patients with “that accent,” he noticed the patient smiling at her, not fully understanding what Maria had said to her, but totally understanding her kindness. He knew then that she would be someone who would make him happy. So, while he knew of her, he wanted to know more, and found himself looking for her, wanting to be near her, and be there for her, unconditionally.

Their courtship of course led to their engagement, which Chuck handled in the most traditional, respectful and genuine way. He enlisted the help of Maria’s daughter, Valeria Ramirez, to ensure all went smoothly. He proposed on one knee, declaring his unwavering love and devotion, and assured Maria that he understood he was not only marrying her, but her three children as well. Her magnificent ring with three large diamonds represent each of her children.

Maria, who came here in 2006 from Bogota, Colombia, is currently studying alternative medicine and is about to start a physician assistant program.

The couple’s favorite color is red because of their belief in love and passion, and Maria’s love of red Colombian roses, which are reminiscent of her home country. So, with their wedding date close to Christmas, red was everywhere. They married at the Ca’ d’Zan in a beautiful ceremony and reception shared with their family and closest friends. For their honeymoon, they are planning a Mediterranean cruise in late spring.

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