Last November we learned the happy news that longtime couple Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey got themselves engaged to be wed. This weekend the couple issued a statement to People magazine announcing that the pair have gotten themselves married in secret … on a tropical island … somewhere. Naturally, because of all the secrecy, there are no photos (yet) from the ceremony so we’ll have to assume that it was a lovely affair. Read on for all the know deets about the La-Nessa nuptials.

Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey were married Friday evening in a tropical island ceremony in front of just 35 friends and family, their reps confirm exclusively to PEOPLE. “For us, this is just a stepping stone to do what we ultimately want and that’s to start a family together,” Minnillo tells PEOPLE. The pair, who became engaged in November, flew their wedding guests to the secret location as a surprise. “Nobody knew where they were going,” says Minnillo, 30. Adds Lachey, “Our wedding invitations were in the form of a plane ticket. We told them they were going away and the attire was ‘island chic.’ It was all very vague.” Minnillo, the new host of Wipeout, donned a two-piece Monique Lhuillier ensemble featuring an intricately embellished lace corset with rose and crystal detail, paired with a signature hand tufted skirt made of silk faille. The look was completed with a tailored bow belt at her waist and chapel length tulle veil. Lachey, 37, who hosts The Sing-Off, sported a Dolce & Gabanna suit. Their wedding will be televised on a TLC’s special called Nick & Vanessa’s Dream Wedding premiering on July 30 from 9-11pm ET/PT.

I kinda love how the couple kept pretty much every single detail about their wedding a secret from the public NOT because they wanted to ensure their privacy but because they wanted to maximize their ability to sell their special day as a TV special. Brilliant! You may recall, sadly, that Nick‘s ex-wife Jessica Simpson announced that she, too, had gotten engaged to fiancée Eric Johnson just about a week after La-Nessa made their announcement. No word on when Jess and Eric are planning to walk down the aisle but … if I had to guess, I’d say they’ll be married by next week … you know, just to keep up with the Joneses (or the newlywed Lacheys, as it were). In any event, let’s send our love and congrats to Vanessa and Nick on their new life together. I can’t *wait* to see the whole thing on TV in a couple of weeks.

[Source]