Some happy news to offset the recent announcement that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have split: Longtime lovebirds Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey officially tied the knot Friday evening (July 15) on a tropical island in front of 35 friends and family.
"For us, this is just a stepping stone to do what we ultimately want and that's to start a family together," Minnillo told People magazine.
Despite that planning-ahead state of mind, the couple, who began dating in 2006 and became engaged last November, decided to do the opposite with regard to exchanging vows; they didn't tell their guests that they were being whisked away to a wedding ceremony.
"Nobody knew where they were going," Minnillo told the mag.
"Our wedding invitations were in the form of a plane ticket," Lachey added. "We told them they were going away and the attire was 'island chic.' It was all very vague."
For those who didn't score a fancy invite, you can still be a part of the newlyweds' special day. Lachey and Minnillo's destination wedding will be televised on a TLC special called "Nick & Vanessa's Dream Wedding," premiering July 30 at 9 p.m. ET.
Although the couple split briefly in 2009, they've maintained a very healthy relationship ever since. The key to keeping things interesting, according to Minillo, are their twice-daily showers together.
"It's not a sexual thing and it's not a romantic thing," she told People. "It just becomes an intimate thing. ... I've had some of my most intimate conversations with him in the shower."
It was the first marriage for Minnillo; Lachey was previously married to Jessica Simpson.