Wall of secrecy surrounds Bec and Lleyton's wedding

A limousine carrying Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt arrives at the Sydney Opera House ahead of his wedding to Bec Cartwright yesterday. Picture / Reuters

SYDNEY - They may live their lives in the public eye, but soap star Bec Cartwright and tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt yesterday managed to keep their wedding very private.

Married at the iconic Sydney Opera House, the young couple shared their happy moment with around 180 close friends and family, but almost no-one else.

There were, reportedly, smiles, tears, kisses and applause, and friends later described the nuptials as short, sweet and beautiful.

But the wall of secrecy erected around Australia's celebrity wedding of the year meant media coverage of the event was restricted to distant aerial shots from helicopters and furtive, ground-level glimpses.

Guests signed confidentiality agreements and were told to leave mobile phones and cameras at home.

Most Australians will now have to wait for the glossy mags to see what Bec and Lleyton were wearing, or hear how they pledged their love to each other.

However guests later described the doubles partnership of the world tennis number two and the pregnant soapie star, who became engaged after only six weeks together, as simple and elegant.

"It was simple, to the point and it really touched the heart," said Cartwright's former Home and Away co-star Lynne McGranger.

Hewitt's grandfather Max said the wedding was "terrific", while his wife Dawn said it was "a very happy day" for the family.

Dawn Hewitt added: "It was very emotional (ceremony) but I'm happy to say I didn't (cry)."

Cartwright "looked wonderful" added Home and Away co-star Ray Meagher. "And he (Hewitt) looked pretty good, too."

Cartwright, 21, wore a long white Alex Perry-designed gown.

Bridesmaids Ada Nicodemou, Kate Ritchie, Victoria Supple and Cartwright's friend Charmaine wore off-the-shoulder "sunset" rose, yellow and white floor-length dresses.

"The girls (bridesmaids) all looked like frangipanis with frangipani colours and Bec looked so pretty and so girlie," said McGranger.

"There was no attempt to make her look like a supermodel."

Hewitt, 24, opted for a traditional wedding suit with an ivory tie.

His groomsmen, coach Roger Rasheed, friend Hayden Eckermann and new brother-in-law Shaun Cartwright, wore suits with pink ties to match the bridesmaids.

The civil ceremony took less than an hour, presided over by Port Adelaide football club chaplain Pastor Brandon Chaplin.

"I believe they did (write their own vows)," McGranger said.

Media helicopters overhead gave grainy glimpses of the ceremony through Opera House windows, revealing flowers, chairs draped in white, and a large gold harp.

The ceremony over, the couple embraced to applause, TV footage suggested.

While Hewitt earlier left his Palm Beach mansion in a white limousine, Cartwright was at Sydney's InterContinental Hotel, where guests gathered for pre-wedding drinks.

Both arrived at the Opera House out of sight of the paparazzi, Cartwright ducking down in the back seat of her car.

Security guards helped keep hundreds of fans and media at bay, at one stage physically pulling away one eager press photographer.

More visible were the guests, including figures from the world of TV and sport.

With so many tennis stars around, including Hewitt's mentors Tony Roche and John Newcombe, sporting comparisons were inevitable.

Asked how Hewitt would handle the wedding, former tennis star Mark Woodforde said: "Just like he does on the tennis court - shows his heart."

"After what he's been through, he can handle most things, but this is a completely different ball game," added Roche, the former Davis Cup coach.

After the wedding, guests boarded a boat and enjoyed a sunset cruise around the harbour while the newlyweds and bridal party posed for photos on the roof of the InterContinental.

All then crossed the harbour to Sydney's picturesque Taronga Zoo, for a reception and performance by John Farnham, who earlier rehearsed songs including True Love, Simple Life and You're The Voice.

Again, security guards and police kept the curious at bay.

Earlier, a large wedding cake was delivered to the zoo, with three people needed to carry the five-layer construction.

Cartwright and Hewitt are expecting their first child in November.

But their honeymoon plans, like today's wedding, are shrouded in secrecy.

- AAP