It’s not uncommon for the best of friendships to turn into something more. Libby Burkhardt and David Rosenfeld had known each other for more than eight years before they started dating. “We met when I was in eighth grade and he was in seventh,” Libby says. “We were in the musical Snoopy! together.” They became fast friends and remained close throughout high school and college. “I went to Mizzou, and I like to say he followed me,” Libby jokes. “We ended up once again running with the same crowd. Everyone had always said we should date, and the more we spent time together, the more I realized it was true. Near the end of my senior year, I just said, we have to do this!”
Libby moved back to St. Louis after graduation while David finished school and worked with Teach for America in New York. “David and my whole family were in town for July 4, so we planned to have pictures taken at the Botanical Garden one night—or so I thought,” she recalls. “I arrived a little early, and my nephews had attended a camp there that week, so they were giving my sister and me a ‘tour.’” One of the boys led her to the Ottoman Garden, where Libby was let in through the gates to find a bouquet of roses and a note on a bench. “David had coordinated everything,” she says. “I read this romantic four-page letter talking about our journey together and why he loved me.”
When she finished, David appeared from his hiding spot and proposed. They walked out to both of their families, who were waiting to share in the good news. “His family had organized a dinner at Sqwires afterward,” Libby says. “It was incredible.”
The Sept. 10, 2016, wedding will be big, she notes, and she plans on using ideas from her Pinterest board and stack of wedding magazines to plan a traditional St. Louis wedding that evokes “soft, vintage glamour.”
Libby works in fundraising and alumni relations at the University of Missouri, and David is a third-year medical student there.
resources
ceremony | St. Louis Country Club
reception | St. Louis Country Club
photographer | Carretto Photography
florist | Belli Fiori
cake | The Cakery
wedding party
maid of honor | Katy Wolff
bridesmaids | Britt Sabbah, Andrea Rosenfeld, Natalie Shedd, Carolyn Hubert, Alex Karol, Theresa Elbert, MacKenzie Stirmlinger, Katherine Vicari, Blair Whitney, Shelby Rothman
best man | Adam Rosenfeld
groomsmen | Reid Burkhardt, Mark Levitt, Lenny Goldman, Barry Goldenberg, Joe Palmiotto, Lee Zucker, Brad Minkow, Joel McAllister, Kevin Daniel, Jason Kootman
flower girl | Vivienne Wolff
ring bearer | Tate Wolff
bride’s parents | Dan & Connie Burkhardt of Frontenac, Dan & Cindy Taylor of Chesterfield
groom’s parents | Richard & Shelley Rosenfeld of Chesterfield
