Love (finally) conquers the friend zone

Newlyweds Ashley and Zach Colletti made a smooth transition from coworkers to besties to roomies. But when it came to taking the leap into love, they seemed to be the last to know.

“We would often get asked how long we’ve been dating,” Ashley said.

Zach chimed in: “And we’re like, ‘No, we’re coworkers. I don’t even think that’s allowed.’”

When they met in 2020, both were working as legislative aides for then-Sen. Jeff Brandes — and both were dating other people. But in the confines of a three-person office in the Capitol, the duo had plenty of opportunities to get to know each other in the friend zone.

“On Fridays, during committee weeks (and) in Session, Sen. Brandes and the other legislative aide would both go back to St. Pete. But because we both lived here, we would be the only two in the office,” he said. “So that’s when we started to get close. It would just be us and we would just hang out and talk for most of the day.”

Within a few months, Ashley would move back to St. Petersburg and “we just talked long distance for a long time.”

“We wouldn’t talk on the phone,” Zach clarified, “texting … and if we were in the same area we would hang out. For our generation, phone conversations outside of professional or talking to your parents, I think it’s kind of like lost.”

In the Summer of 2021, after Ashley’s move, the Senator suggested Zach make a one-month visit to St. Petersburg to get a better feel for the district. Zach needed to find a place to stay and Ashley was just moving into a place with an extra room … and their “platonic roommate” era began.

“Toward the end of that year, we did finally start dating and we’ve been together ever since,” she said.

Ultimately, Zach was able to permanently move to St. Petersburg. Ashley signed on as Campaign Manager for Sen. Nick DiCeglie’s run for the upper chamber and now serves as his Pinellas-based legislative aide.

Zach currently wears three hats in his career. He is Director of Operations for Enwright Rimes Consulting, overseeing the activities of the campaigns his firm is working with. He’s also active in the government affairs side of the business, and one of those clients is responsible for his second job title: Executive Director of Conservatives for Clean Energy in Florida. He was also recently named Political Director for the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee, organizing at the granular level.

“There are always things that I can take from one of my silos and apply them to another,” he said. “It all kind of informs each other, which is nice.”

When planning a traditional wedding became overwhelming, the couple eloped (sort of) last May to Pass-a-Grille Beach. It was one of their favorite walking spots “where we used to go as friends,” she said, “and we would just hang out,” he said, “before we realized we were actually dating,” she said. (They have an uncanny ability to complete each other’s sentences.) Only parents and grandparents attended the beachside vows, but the group decamped to Shadrack’s dive bar (no judgment, that’s what Zach calls it) for pizza and drinks with additional friends and family.

They had a mini-honeymoon in Savannah, Georgia. “We’re planning our big one for after this upcoming campaign season,” Ashley said, although they’re not quite sure of the specifics. “We’re between like tropical, do nothing and rot on the beach and have everyone bring food and drinks to us,” he said. On the other end of the continuum, plans for Iceland or a 100-mile hike through Britain while staying at historic pubs were mentioned.

This year, they’ll be spending Valentine’s Day in Tallahassee and plan to keep up with their annual tradition: heart-shaped pizzas cooked at home combined with some sweet treats, red wine and a movie, followed by a walk on the Lafayette Heritage Trail with their rescue dog, an accident-prone foxhound named Rummy.

Cooking together, hiking and nature-based activities are their favorite way to spend their free time, as well as eating out — especially brunch. Their favorite brunch haunts include Table 23, Uptown Café and Madison Social. “So, anywhere with a mimosa,” Ashley quipped.

On a more serious note, the couple shares an appreciation for the foibles of each other’s work life.

“It would be very difficult, I feel like, if we both weren’t in this because it’s hard to explain to someone, ‘Yeah, I do have to go out for drinks for three hours after work every night,’” Zach said. “That’s part of my job, actually.”

“It’s a unique industry to work in, so it’s nice to have someone who understands,” Ashley continued. “Every day at 4 o’clock I tell him, ‘I’m planning to be home for dinner, but TBD if my boss has an event I have to go to.’ It’s ever-changing and it’s very inconsistent.”