A Wedding to Remember: Love Finds a Way at AdventHealth Palm Coast

In a tender moment that brought tears to many eyes, a wedding took place in an unusual place: the chapel at AdventHealth Palm Coast. The bride, Ashlyn Massie, was determined to include a very special guest: her father, Benjamin Massie, of Palm Coast, a patient at the hospital.

Amid the hallways of the hospital, where daily life is often defined by procedures and routines, love took center stage. Driven by a shared desire to celebrate their union with the man who had always been there for Ashlyn, she and her fiancé, Steve, chose this unexpected venue to marry.

The wedding wasn’t planned in the traditional sense. What started as a simple act—Steve Stream booking a flight to join Ashlyn in visiting her family—quickly grew into a heartfelt celebration of love and resilience. Though Ashlyn visited her father monthly from Utah, she had no idea that Steve would surprise her by flying in as well.

When the family shared their plan with nurse Anna Grasso, the wheels were set in motion and the AdventHealth Palm Coast team rallied together to make this day as special as it could be.

“I immediately thought about how meaningful it would be for my patient to walk his daughter down the aisle,” Grasso said, reflecting on the moment she learned of the intended nuptials. “I knew our team would do anything in their power to help make it happen.”

Staff from nursing, clinical improvement, patient experience, administration, and chaplain services united to ensure every detail was taken care of, allowing the family to focus on what truly mattered: each other.

The ceremony began with a family friend serving as the officiant, sharing words that touched everyone present: “With God looking over us today, and it’s a beautiful day, we are all going to get through this as a family.”

During the ceremony, the couple shared a few words of love and comfort to each other, friends and family.

The couple exchanged rings, and the officiant offered a blessing that resonated deeply: “Love each other to the end of the world. Love your family. When you have babies, love them like you can’t love them anymore. Always keep in touch with your family. Love each other. You will have ups and downs, but you will get through it.”

With those words, the officiant declared, “You may kiss your bride,” and the newlywed couple sealed their vows with a kiss.

The father of the bride passed at home only days after the ceremony, making this moment even more meaningful.

“We go the extra mile for our patients every day,” Grasso reflected. “I feel truly lucky to have witnessed such a beautiful ceremony. I’ll remember it forever.”