By Tiffany Allison
One of the last places one would expect to hold
a wedding ceremony is a school, but Nick Naoum and fiance
Lisa Triplett decided that Watauga High School would be
the perfect place for their big day on Feb. 15 at 11:30
a.m.
Lisa Triplett and Nick
Naoum share a special moment last Valentine’s
Day. Photo
submitted |
This is the first wedding service held in Watauga High
School, and with the new building under construction, it
may be the last. The couple stumbled upon the idea when
they approached their pastor, Richard Miller. Miller is
the leader of Shepherd’s Heart, a local church group
that meets in Watauga High School’s auditorium for
every Sunday.
Naoum explained the wedding will be mixed into the service,
which is about love and commitment and what better way to
show love and commitment?
“I think it’s kind of unique,” Naoum said.
“We are the first people to get married at the school
and it’s also Valentine’s Day weekend.”
Naoum and Triplett have been together for more than three
years and decided that it was time to legally bind the connection
they already have in their hearts. Triplett and Naoum first
met at the Scottish Inn where Triplett worked for housekeeping
and Naoum was a guest at the time. Time passed and the two
parted ways, until one day Naoum passed by Big Lots and
saw Triplett sitting outside on a toy horse.
“We want to buy that horse and put it in the basement
for memory’s sake,” Triplett said.
The couple has kept that playful mentality throughout their
relationship. They are avid movie buffs and always enjoy
the lighter side of life by playing dice, horse shoes and
pool. They also share a love for stray animals. Naoum originally
wanted to have a “Bob the Builder” wedding on
a construction site complete with cranes and construction
hats, but decided it would be more personal to have the
members of his church present.
“The church put this together for us,” he said.
“Someone in the community donated money for our wedding
license.”
Naoum and Triplett gratefully accepted the gesture and the
space given by Shepherd’s Heart. Naoum’s sister,
Judy Hamlin, purchased their wedding bands as a wedding
present. Triplett said everything has just fallen together.
The wedding is a surprise to most members of the church
and will be worked into a skit during the service.
“The church is like a family,” he said. “The
whole family loves each other.”
Although Naoum is in his 40s, this will be his first marriage,
adding another unique addition to this particular wedding.
“I was on my own for a long time, and I thought there
was no one out there, but God has put us together and is
keeping us together,” he said. “She understands
me.”
The two have conquered many of the same trials within their
separate lives, which have brought them closer together.
They said the main thing that keeps them going is the understanding
that they will always have each other.
Many married couples often warn young lovers to avoid working
together because it ruins the relationship, but with Naoum
and Triplett that is not the case. The couple has built
more than 28 fireplaces together throughout Watauga County.
“We work good together,” he said.
With Valentine’s Day falling on the same weekend, the
two could not pass up this opportunity to show the entire
county their love for each other.
“In our hearts, we both already feel married,”
he said. “But it’s time to make it official.”
|
Get Firefox