Hawke's Bay All Black Israel Dagg married long-time girlfriend Daisy Aitken under tight security at Mana Lodge south of Hastings yesterday.
Security was so tight that most of the guests knew nothing of the venue and their destination when they boarded a fleet of buses just after 2pm at the rugby star's old school, Lindisfarne College, in Hastings.
Amid speculation the buses would head to the Cape Kidnappers golf resort or Ms Aitken's old School, Woodford House, in Hastings, the fleet carrying more than 150 guests headed south to the lodge at Poukawa, operated by Lady Deborah Holmes and developed by late husband and broadcaster Sir Paul Holmes.
A security officer patrolled the security gate and warned a Hawke's Bay Day Today photographer parked nearby that any attempt to access the lodge would be trespass.
Among the many kept in suspense was Dagg's grandfather and Napier Pirates life member Pat Dagg who said earlier guests were told to gather at the school to be taken to a secret location.