Sundial Beach Resort & Spa

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour on the Sundial Terrace

Reception in the Sundial Ballroom

Our Wedding

Laken and Victor’s love story began in the most modern of ways—online. After weeks of chatting, they finally decided to meet in person for a date at a cozy dive bar in South Miami called Irish Times. The place was known for its painted walls, covered in quotes from famous writers, and the vibe felt just right for two souls to meet. But Laken, ever cautious, brought along her best friend, Nicole, who discreetly hid in a booth nearby to keep an eye on things. The date started off perfectly. The conversation flowed easily, and Laken felt an immediate connection with Victor. They laughed, shared stories, and soaked in the quirky atmosphere of the bar. Nicole stayed out of sight, texting Laken updates on her observations, but mostly enjoying her meal and the drama-free outing. That is, until disaster struck—Nicole realized she had left her wallet at home. Panicked, she texted Laken to come to the bathroom and give her money so she could quietly settle her bill. Laken, however, decided to take a bold approach. “Just come up to the bar and I’ll tell him what’s happening,” she replied. “If he gets mad about it, then he’s not the one.” Nervously, Nicole approached the couple’s table, and Laken quickly explained the situation to Victor. Far from being annoyed, Victor burst out laughing. “I’m glad to know there’s someone out there just as paranoid as me,” he said with a grin. Without hesitation, he paid for both Laken and Nicole’s dinners and, to top it all off, invited them to a movie afterward. From that night on, Laken and Victor were inseparable. What could have been an awkward moment turned into a perfect memory—one that showcased Victor’s kindness, humor, and ability to take life’s quirks in stride. As the painted walls of Irish Times bore witness, a love story truly began to unfold, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Story of Us looks a lot like lifelong happiness, now….Next Chapter ❤️

Our Story

Photos

Mary Kate Heineman

Nicole Brunken

Jacob Smith

Deisy Bringas

Ely Rodriguez

Diana Coto

Carolina Fleites

Juan Carlos Fleites

Amrit Rupnarine

Carlos Lahitte

Daniel Coto

Alex Ocasio

Inti Bogari

Mark Oleson

Wedding Party

Where can I stay?

We have reserved a couple of hotel blocks at The Hampton Inn &amp; Suites, Sundial Resort &amp; Spa, and The Driftwood Inn.  For the Hampton Inn &amp; Suites, use this link: https://group.hamptoninn.com/7uio9w For Sundial Resort &amp; Spa, call the reservation line at 866.565.5093 and mention the Darst/Fleites Wedding. For a garden view studio room, daily rates start at $ 351.20. For a garden view one bedroom with balcony, daily rates start at $383.20. These rates include breakfast but do not include the resort fee of $59 per day and the tax. For The Driftwood Inn, please call (239) 395 - 8874 and let them know you are part of the Darst-Fleites wedding. They will give you pricing over the phone.

When should I RSVP?

Please RSVP by August 30th, 2026, to be considered for a seat at our wedding. If your plans change and you are unable to attend after RSVPing, please notify the bride by October 5, 2026.

Can I bring my kids/plus one?

While we would love to say, the more, the merrier, weddings are costly. Unfortunately, if your child or plus one was not explicitly invited, we cannot accommodate them. Please do not bring someone who wasn't listed on your invitation or Save the Date. We would love to celebrate with all your loved ones at another time.

What about transportation to and from my hotel? (If I am not staying at Sundial)

If you booked a hotel near our venue, we're excited for you to see all Sanibel has to offer! Please use the island taxi service or Uber to travel back and forth from your hotel to our venue.

Can I take photos during the ceremony?

Please refrain from taking pictures or videos during the ceremony. We will have a professional photographer and videographer to document the ceremony in the highest definition possible. We would love for you to take photos and videos during the reception! Also, please make sure to let the bridal party exit the ceremony space before you make your way to the reception area.

What should I wear?

We want you to be comfortable! The ceremony and cocktail hour will both take place outdoors. It will probably be anywhere from 67 to 78 degrees outside in Sanibel during this time of year. You should wear something resort casual, and maybe bring a light jacket or sweater in case you get cold. I don't recommend wearing heels since the ceremony will be on the beach, but you might be fine with flats or wedges.

Where should I park?

There is plenty of parking at the resort, you are welcome to park anywhere that is not reserved for a room.

How will I get to the Ceremony and Reception?

The ceremony will take place on Turtle Beach at Sundial Resort &amp; Spa. The cocktail hour will take place upstairs at Sundial Resort &amp; Spa on the Sundial Terrace, which has a gorgeous beach view! Lastly, the reception will take place at Sundial Resort &amp; Spa inside the Sundial Ballroom, which is also on the second floor.

Will there be an open bar or a cash bar?

Open bar baybee! Drink to your heart's content! But also, please drink responsibly.

I have dietary restrictions, will they be accommodated by the catering staff?

Yes! When you receive your RSVP card, please indicate your dietary restriction and select the dinner choice that best fits your needs.

I have a wheelchair, how do I get to the ceremony/reception?

There is an elevator that can take you to the ground floor for the ceremony and up to the second floor of the building where the reception will be held. If you require a wheelchair, please let us know on your RSVP card, and we will ensure the hotel is made aware and can accommodate you.

Q + A

This hotel is 10 miles away from our venue, very reasonably priced, but it is over the causeway which is a $6 toll to get onto the island.

Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Myers Beach/Sanibel Gateway

Garden View Studio - $351.20 per day Garden View One-Bedroom with Balcony - $383.20 per day *Breakfast is included Call the resort and tell them you are with the Darst-Fleites Wedding

Sundial Resort & Spa

Call the inn and let them know you are part of the Darst-Fleites wedding. They should be able to give you pricing over the phone.

The Driftwood Inn

Travel

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium

Sanibel Historical Museum and Village

Sanibel Lighthouse

Sanibel Beach

Things to Do

Registry

Guide to Wedding-Appropriate Casual Attire

What to Wear to a Backyard Wedding

How to Level-Up Casual Wedding Attire

We want you to be comfortable! The ceremony and cocktail hour will both take place outdoors. It will probably be anywhere from 67 to 78 degrees outside in Sanibel during this time of year. There will also be little bugs called “no-see-um’s” or “biting midges” that are very aggressive this time of year. We will likely have bug spray at the wedding, but you may want to spray yourself with bug spray and sunscreen before the ceremony. You should wear something resort casual, and maybe bring a light jacket or sweater in case you get cold. I don't recommend wearing heels since the ceremony will be on the beach, but you might be fine with flats or wedges.

Laken & Victor

Laken & Victor

L&V

Wedding Day

4:30 PM–5:00 PM

Ceremony

5:00 PM–6:00 PM

Cocktail Hour on the Sundial Terrace

6:00 PM–10:00 PM

Reception in the Sundial Ballroom