Nicole was still attending the University of Florida in Gainesville, while Anthony had recently graduated from UF and enrolled in Florida State Fire School to start his training as a firefighter in Ocala. Nicole began working as a bartender at the local student bar where Anthony had just finished a three-year stint. Anthony dropped by the bar one evening to say hello to old friends, when he first met Nicole. Neither of them thought much of it. After graduating from Florida State Fire School and accepting a position at Gainesville Fire and Rescue, Anthony chose to return to bartending on the side. The two became co-workers. They spent many late nights at work singing and dancing to “Sweet Caroline.” He went low, she went high. There were fist pumps. They harmonized by accident. That’s pretty much when they thought, “Okay. You’re kind of cool.”

The summer of 2021 was slow at work, giving them plenty of downtime to talk. One day, they discovered they both shared a love for fishing. The next weekend, Anthony took Nicole freshwater fishing in Ocala and they discussed their summer plans. This led to Anthony inviting Nicole to join him for "mini season" that July in Key Biscayne. For those wondering "What is mini season?" — Mini season is a two-day event in Florida that allows recreational divers to catch lobsters before the regular lobster season begins. Anthony described mini season as "the best time of the year" and "better than Christmas morning." He was right. They went lobstering that July. They dove in the crystal clear water. They hit their limit on lobster. They high-fived a lot. That’s pretty much when they thought, “Okay. I really like you.” One month later, Anthony asked Nicole to be his girlfriend at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.

For their two-year anniversary, Anthony planned a romantic getaway for Nicole near Fort Lauderdale Beach, booking a hotel through a third-party app—because nothing says "reliable" like a website with zero reviews. He was rushing at checkout. We've all been there. Let’s just say the hotel room had a rather eerie feel when they arrived—like something you'd expect to see in a horror movie, with creaky floors, flickering lights, and a general vibe of “This is where people disappear." The couple decided to stick it out for the two-night stay, spending most of their time out and about to avoid the room. They lived through it, but Anthony felt bad for bringing them there. Determined to make it up to her, he planned a "re-do" anniversary, while using the opportunity to secretly design the perfect proposal. After weeks of brainstorming, he chose the Florida Keys, a special place for the couple, and planned to propose at Hawks Cay Resort. Anthony crafted a heartfelt love letter, hidden in a bottle tied to a dock, asking Nicole to marry him. Her "yes" was followed by a champagne toast. The surprises continued as they walked to dinner, only to find friends and family waiting for them with a beautiful engagement party. The night was spent celebrating their future together.

The couple have been working towards building their first home together on 2 acres of land in Fort Myers, FL. They're looking forward to moving into their house in 2026 and starting a family together down the line. See some pictures of the property below!