Alicia started working at the Winter Park Emergency Department as a graduate nurse in 2013 right out of nursing school. Dustin was also working at WPED as a paramedic while applying to jobs with the fire departments. One day during her orientation, a coworker came up to her asking if she had a noticed a tall, handsome, tan paramedic who was well hydrated working in the back hallway of the ED. Alicia laughed and informed him that she had not! Over the next year, a friendship blossomed, as they became coworkers who would hang out in group settings for social events and trivia nights. At work, Alicia would often asked Dustin to help her with many tasks-which he could never say no too (no matter how bad the task)! Dustin was known in the department for being great at starting IVs on patients with difficult veins- he was the go to guy for that. After hearing this gossip-Alicia put that reputation to the test. From that day forward, Dustin could not get an IV on any of Alicia’s patients to save his life when she was in the room! Overtime, Dustin would try and charm Alicia with his jokes, sarcasm, and OCD organizational skills at work-which Alicia does not have. After about a year of working together and developing a close bond, Dustin finally mustered up the courage to ask Alicia to go with him to the Winter Park ED Christmas Party at one of the doctor’s houses. The night was one for the books, starting with cocktails at Fiddler’s Green while Dustin dressed as an overly large elf in an ugly Christmas sweater. The night ended up downtown at Stagger Inn where Dustin stole his first kiss. A few weeks later, Dustin got the call that he had gotten the job with Lake County Fire Rescue. Although they were sad that this was the end to a great chapter of working together, another more exciting chapter was just beginning!

September of last year we traveled to California for a wedding Alicia was going to be in in Benicia, CA. After the wedding we traveled to Healdsburg CA to spend time with the bride and groom in northern wine country. If you know Alicia, then you know wine country is basically a sanctuary! Sunday morning the plan was to drive to Sonoma and go wine tasting with Jill and Rob. We drove to Kunde Winery in Sonoma for a 12pm wine tour. As soon as we arrived we immediately starting tasting the whites…Dustin needed a lot of white wine! We took a tour of their wine cellar and then gathered together to drive up to the top of the vineyard to taste the red wines. When we arrived at the top of the vineyard, Dustin distracted Alicia and convinced her to use the restroom that was down a little path a little ways. Meanwhile, Jill had been carrying the ring in her purse the whole time! While Alicia was away, Dustin informed everyone of the plan and proceeded to take shots of the red wine that our tour guide was pouring for him! When Alicia arrived back at the tasting area, Dustin was trying to play it cool and take a picture down in the vineyard. Alicia at the time had no interest in taking pictures when wine tasting was in progress…actually she was upset that she missed tasting the first red! Luckily, Jill came to the rescue and convinced her best friend that everyone wanted a picture down in the vineyard. As they proceeded down to the vineyard, Dustin squeezed Alicia’s hand and pulled her in close. Everything was a blur but sweet sentimental words were exchanged along with lots of tears and affection! Everyone up on the wine tasting deck was cheering and taking pictures! Afterwards everyone celebrated together and continued the wine tour- tasting all the different kind of grapes on the vine! Dustin rented an AirB&B on a vineyard and the rest of the night was spent celebrating and sharing the special news! This was truly one of the most special and perfect moments!