Some details of how Neil Young and Daryl Hannah managed to keep their wedding secret emerged following reports that the ceremony and celebration took place on Aug. 24.

The couple was married on Young’s boat before a reception was held near San Luis Obispo, Calif., a four-hour drive from Los Angeles, in order to make it difficult for paparazzi to get there.

Page Six reports that 100 guests, including Stephen Stills and Joni Mitchell, were provided with a list of local hotels. “Please note the hotels do not have information about the event, so please only contact them to book a room (and do not mention anything about this event)," they were told. "Everyone will be asked to leave their phones and cameras at the hotel.”

The date of the wedding had been chosen to be as close as possible to a full moon; Young sang his 1992 song “Harvest Moon” to Hannah. Guests were each presented with a locket containing photos of the bride and groom.

Young and Hannah’s relationship became public in 2014, after he filed for divorce from Pegi, his wife of 36 years. The move drew criticism from some people, including onetime bandmate David Crosby, who branded Hannah a “purely poisonous predator.” He later apologized for the remark.

In an interview earlier this year, Young talked about the publicity surrounding the couple’s relationship. “It doesn’t matter," he said. "We don’t give a shit. We don’t care, because they don’t know what they’re talking about. And if they do know what they’re talking about, we still don’t care, but we’re happy for them. It doesn’t matter. What matters is us, not the press. ... Love is like a fart – if you have to force it, it’s probably shit.”

 

 

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