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Nikki & James: Tie the Knot

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Although Nikki and James Ball met on the free dating website Plenty of Fish, it seems the were the only two fish in the sea for each other.

Nikki and James began dating in October 2012 and were quickly smitten. But James returned to San Diego to complete his U. S. Marine Corps service, and the two spent many hours on the phone, writing letters and sending packages. When he returned to Colorado that December, their relationship quickly grew and flourished.

Nikki and James are both very close to their families, and he planned his proposal with that in mind. “James surprised me on my 29th birthday, September 20, 2013, by showing up to a family lunch with his parents,” Nikki relates. “My mother, my oldest brother, Andy, and James’ parents watched as he got on one knee at P.F. Chang’s. I immediately said ‘Yes!’”

The blissful couple tied the knot on August 31, 2014, in an outdoor ceremony on a beautiful sunny day. Amy Dixon served as Maid of Honor and bridesmaids were Brena Cordova, Cassie Montgomery, Kathy Lopez, Brooke Spitz, Jennifer Hathaway, Merry Hathaway and Jessica Holzwart. Serving as Best Man was James’ cousin Aaron Sarabia; groomsmen were Matt Goble, Jesse Lopez, Charles Robinson, David Dixon, Jacky Tran and Rob Bendt. Ushers were Rob Adams, Oliver Mendoza and brothers Kollyn and Connor Brown; the precious flower girls were Jean Esch and Karina Sarabia. Preston and Zachary Hathaway served the bride and groom as Ring Security, carefully guarding their precious cargo.

“Our wedding was filled with so many personal details that were important to us,” Nikki reveals. “I had a special locket on my bouquet with a picture of my daddy, who had been gone for three years. My older brothers Mike and Andy, as well as my mother, gave me away. We did a butterfly release in memory of my late father and James’ late friend Billy; my mother and Billy’s wife, Sarah, helped us present the butterflies. We did a traditional lasso ceremony with James’ mother and father; it’s a tradition that his grandparents from Mexico have passed down. My dad’s best friend Pastor Jim married us. My sisters were bridesmaids and all four of my nephews were Ring Security and/or ushers.

“The most special thing about our wedding is that I married my best friend. It was a beautiful day filled with love and special memories for James and me, surrounded by the most important people in our lives.”

Nikki and James enjoyed a week in Orlando, Florida, exploring theme parks and relaxing at the pool. “We loved the Harry Potter adventure in Universal Studios and had a blast in Epcot. Our favorite day was when we went to Downtown Disney to explore and got stuck at an Irish Pub during a rain storm,” James notes. HLM