Marriage or Mortgage: Everything To Know About Denise & Nicholas

The reality show Marriage or Mortgage may appear to be depressing at first glance, as the concept of watching couples choose between a wedding and a downpayment isn’t exactly uplifting. However, the emotional stories that each couple brings to the show do raise spirits. Cindy and Karla’s LGBTQ+ community-minded wedding celebration was moving, and every couple featured has good reasons to want a house and a big, special day that celebrates their love. Denise and Nicholas are no different.

Nicholas, a full-time firefighter and personal trainer, and Denise, a former pro cheerleader who now works from home as a recruiter, had an incredibly dramatic engagement. At a hockey game, in front of 17,000 screaming fans, Nicholas surprised his cheerleader girlfriend by getting down on one knee. The whole thing was broadcast on the Jumbotron, and the proposal was definitely over the top. This is why Marriage or Mortgage viewers had no trouble seeing how difficult it would be for Denise and Nicholas to choose between spending $25k on a big, dramatic wedding or using that money for a house.

Soon enough, the plot of Marriage or Mortgage, which was filmed in Nashville, thickens. Nicholas has joint custody of the six-year-old daughter he shares with his ex, and he and Denise are eager to have more children. They are especially interested in adopting a child. Therefore, it is extremely important to them to provide Nicholas’ daughter and their future children with a warm, safe home. The two-bedroom apartment they are living in is filled to the brim with their things, to the point that it’s hard to find room to turn around.

While they had excellent reasons to want a house, Denise and Nicholas’ dream of having a glamorous wedding inspired by Elvis and Graceland wasn’t out of the running. A wedding was important to Nicholas. His parents divorced when he was young, and the experience left him craving a stable family unit. A wedding to signal the beginning of that close-knit family would mean a lot to him. Nicholas eloped when he married his now-ex. Since he is in love and ready to marry again, he wants the chance to have a real wedding. In short, Nicholas wants to be a “bridezilla.”

In the end, the wedding planner extraordinaire Sarah Miller offered the couple their dream wedding, complete with 50% off their alcohol tab. She also offered them discounted vintage furniture rentals to create a true Graceland vibe, plus a free veil for Denise. Despite all those incredible perks, Nichole Holmes won the day. Her offer included some nice perks as well, such as a $12,000 appliance allowance that would make it easier for Nicholas to cook Denise’s late father’s recipes. In the end, their decision was about putting their money into a home they could grow their family in.

After moving into their wonderful new home, Denise and Nicholas eloped. They married in a small ceremony on a rainy day. They felt like their wedding day was perfect. Today, they are still happily marching along together, facing challenges as a team. It seems like this Marriage or Mortgage couple is a true success.

Marriage or Mortgage is now streaming on Netflix