Nicole Koulias & Paul Eckley

Our Story

Paul and I met at a party in August of 2003. I was 16, and he was 15…but the night we met he was “17”. From the first moment I saw him I knew there was something different about him. I guess it was the whole love-at-first-sight thing. I just KNEW something was there, just by looking at him. Then, he smiled…and the rest was history. I gave him my number (although he’ll argue that point), and texted him the next day. We started talking, and over the course of a few days we became “boyfriend and girlfriend”. We were inseparable. Fast forward to our four months together, it is Christmas Eve and we are at the Tarpon Springs Bayou for the lambathes (the memorial candles lined all around the bayou). As our families were leaving, Paul pulled me to the side by the benches in the middle of the Bayou. He pulled a little ring out of his pocket, and said to me, “I know we are too young to get married right now, and we haven’t been together for that long…but I promise you that one day I am going to marry you.” Fast forward to our 5 year anniversary, Paul and I decided to get some good Greek food to-go and go sit in the park by the Bayou. Paul suggested a walk, and we conveniently ended up in the middle of the bayou by those same benches as 5 years prior. Paul proposed in the same place he promised to ask me to marry him, and I of course said yes.
Our story might be cute or sweet…but the important part of our story is what God has brought us through. We’ve been through our ups and downs throughout the years…but we would have never made it through those years as the strong couple we are today if it weren’t for the love, guidance, and grace of our Lord and Savior. And an even more important part of our story is the story that has yet to be written….