Nicky Lopez, Chicago White Sox player, tied the knot in a secret wedding in California (Exclusive)

The wedding of Major League Baseball star Nicholas "Nicky" Lopez and his longtime sweetheart Sydney Lamberti was a real hit! The 28-year-old Chicago White Sox home run hitter and Lamberti were married Friday in an outdoor ceremony at the five-acre Chateau Dumont estate in Rancho Mirage, California. Only 26 guests attended the event.

"We wanted to be surrounded by our closest friends and family for the three-day celebration, so we rented an estate with enough rooms so they could all stay with us," Lopez says of the intimate preference. "Spending the entire weekend with those close to our hearts gave the wedding a very special atmosphere. "

They also chose the picturesque wedding venue because of its stunning''s natural beauty, including palm trees and views of the San Jacinto Mountains. "We wanted it to be a garden party in the middle of a meadow, with lots of colors (from Brit Floral) organically woven around the different spaces," Lamberti adds.

In lieu of a first look, the newlyweds decided to recite personal vows to each other before the ceremony, exchanging written tributes. They also included their family in the wedding program. The groom's older brother acted as a waiter while the bride's father and mother walked her down the aisle to Lana Del Rey's song "Video Games." The bride's sister and the groom's brother also did special readings.

The romantic duet song "The Prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli was performed by a three-piece string ensemble during the ceremony. Overall, the couple''says the ceremony had a "very organic and relaxed" atmosphere, exactly what they wanted.

The ceremony flowed into a reception that featured a three-course farm-to-table dinner created by Flavor Chef chefs and served family-style. The menu included an organic green salad, Dijon-style chicken, braised short rib, citrus risotto and braised broccoli. Later in the evening, guests were treated to hors d'oeuvres, including pizza in individual boxes honoring the newlyweds, and smores served by the fireplace.

The reception featured two bars, one self-serve and one featuring a variety of cocktails with fresh fruit and floral centerpieces by Mixology by Melissa.

To make guests feel at home, Lopez and Lamberti put welcome bags in each room with slippers, snacks and a customized newspaper containing information about the entire weekend's festivities. They also placed disposable cameras throughout the grounds to capture the moments.

The day after the wedding, the newlyweds hosted a pullover that lasted until late afternoon. Lunch was catered by Chipotle Restaurant and dinner was an informal barbecue.

Lopez said it was the perfect ending to a memorable weekend. "The wedding was absolutely magical and everything we wanted," he said.

The couple met in 2014,''being students at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time, Lamberti's friend was dating a guy on the baseball team, so she asked Lamberti to find a date on the team for double dates. She immediately chose Lopez from a list of players.

Lamberti sent Lopez a message on Twitter, and they later met at a Fraternity party. They chatted sporadically for the first year before they began officially dating in April 2015. Lopez proposed to Lamberti in August 2021 at Milton Lee Olive Park in Chicago.

Now that they're married, they're looking forward to the next chapter, which they say will involve "a lot of baseball, finding a home and in the coming years, starting a family." They are also planning a second,''s larger wedding in Chicago in January, which means honeymoon plans will have to be put on hold until next year. "We've decided we're going to go on our honeymoon to Greece in 2024," Lopez says. "It also gives us something to look forward to next year after two weddings. "