Chicago White Sox Player Nicky Lopez Is Married! Inside the Intimate California Wedding Ceremony (Exclusive)

The Chicago White Sox shortstop and his longtime love Sydney Lamberty married said "I do" during a three-day celebration at a private California estate

MLB star Nicholas "Nicky" Lopez and longtime love Sydney Lamberty's wedding was a home run!

The Chicago White Sox shortstop, 28, and Lamberty tied the knot on Friday in an outdoor ceremony at Chateau Dumont, a five-acre private estate in Rancho Mirage, California, attended by just 26 guests.

"We wanted to be surrounded by our closest friends and family for a three-day celebration so we rented [the] estate with enough rooms for them all to stay with us," Lopez tells PEOPLE of the intimate setup. "Spending an entire weekend with the ones who are dear to our hearts gave the wedding a really special feel."

They also chose the picturesque venue for its stunning natural scenery, including palm trees and sweeping views of the San Jacinto Mountains. "We wanted it to feel like a garden party in the middle of a meadow, with lots of flowers [from Brit Floral] organically woven around the various spaces," Lamberty adds.  The Olive Bungalow captured video of the three-day affair.

The bride wore a Katherine Tash long-sleeved gown with a single off-the-shoulder design. She says she'd had her eye on the classic style long before she officially started dress shopping. "I had it saved on Pinterest," she notes.

In lieu of a first look, the couple — who worked with Amorette Events to plan their nuptials — opted for a private vow reading before the ceremony, exchanging handwritten tributes to each other. They also made it a priority to include their family in the program. The groom's oldest brother officiated, while the bride's father and mother walked her down the aisle to Lana Del Rey's "Video Games." The bride's sister and the groom's brother also did special readings.

A three-piece string quarter performed the romantic Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli duet "The Prayer." Overall, the couple says, the ceremony had a "very organic and chill" vibe, which is exactly what they were aiming for.

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The wedding flowed into a reception featuring a farm-to-table, three-course meal created by Flavor Chef and served family-style. The menu featured organic green salad, pan-roasted Dijon chicken, braised short rib, citrus risotto and sautéed broccolini. Later into the evening, guests were treated to some late-night snacks including pizza served in custom boxes in honor of the newlyweds and s'mores enjoyed around the fireplace.

The couple chose a single-tier strawberry champagne wedding cake, and also offered a tempting assortment of mini desserts.

The reception featured two bars, one offering a self-serve setup and the other tended by Mixology by Melissa, who crafted creative cocktails with fresh fruit and floral garnishes. In an adorable detail, the bride and groom collected handwritten notes from their relationship over the years and turned them into cocktail napkins.

To make their guests feel at home, Lopez and Lamberty left welcome goodie bags in each of their rooms, containing slippers, snacks and a custom newspaper detailing the itinerary for the weekend-long celebration. They also placed disposable cameras around the property for capturing moments.

The day after the wedding, the newlyweds hosted a pool party that stretched into the evening hours. Chipotle was served for lunch, followed by a casual barbecue for dinner.

It was the perfect ending to a memorable weekend, Lopez says. "The wedding was absolutely magical and everything we could have ever wanted," he notes.

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The pair first met back in 2014 while students at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time, Lamberty's friend happened to be dating a guy on the baseball team. Wanting Lamberty to be able to join her on double dates, she encouraged her to find someone on the team who she might be interested in. After scoping out the roster, she immediately singled out Lopez.

Lamberty sent Lopez a DM on Twitter and they later met up at a fraternity party. They talked on and off that first year before they began officially dating in April 2015. Lopez proposed to Lamberty in August 2021 at Milton Lee Olive Park in Chicago.

Lopez describes his new wife as a "loyal" partner who always has his back. "Sydney is someone who is incredibly loyal, someone I can trust and someone I can lean on. She is the glue to our relationship," he tells PEOPLE.

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Lamberty adores Lopez's generous, nurturing nature. "I love and admire Nicky’s heart. He cares so much for everyone around him and would do anything for anyone. His love for others is so pure and so kind," she says.

Now that the pair are married, they are looking forward to the next chapter, which they say will include "a lot of baseball, house hunting and, in the next few years, starting a family."

They are also planning a second, larger wedding in Chicago in January, which means their honeymoon plans will have to wait a while. "We decided we will go on our honeymoon in 2024 in Greece," Lopez says. "This also gives us something to look forward to next year after the two weddings."

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