Jewel Weds her Cowboy, Ty Murray

August 7, 2008 was a very special day for singer, Jewel. She and her boyfriend of 10 years, rodeo champion Ty Murray were married in a private ceremony in the Bahamas at The Cove Atlantis. The surprise wedding came on the heels of Jewel stating just last year that the two were not in a hurry to get married. They never announced an engagement, opting, instead, to just elope.

Jewel wore a traditional wedding gown by Monique Lhuiller for the ceremony, and Ty got married in his favorite blue jeans, a white shirt, and his cowboy hat. Jewel’s rep said “The couple is very happy and look forward to enjoying their honeymoon.”
Just a few days before the surprise wedding, Jewel attended a charity event in Nashville where she stated that marriage is something that needs to be taken seriously. She went on to say, ”We don't know if there's a point – we've lapped our friends who've gotten married and divorced. We probably would if we had kids – we're just not sure we want them yet. But we've had something really special already."

There were only 2 people in attendance. Jason Freese, Jewel’s former keyboard player, married them. When the couple found out he had been ordained online, they asked him to officiate. Jason’s wife, Amy, also served as a witness.

The sunset ceremony began with Jewel meeting Ty on the sand to the strains of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” playing from their private cabana. They recited their handwritten vows to each other.

As part of her vows to her new husband, Jewel promised to “try to make our lives the best piece of art I’ve ever done.”
Ty had proposed to Jewel on her birthday, May 23, and they both decided that eloping was the way they wanted to do it. Ty was quoted as saying” we feel that’s what marriage is – just me and her.” Following the ceremony, the pair called their families to let them in on the happy news. The resort had a surprise fireworks display as well. Ty said, “It felt like we were the only ones in the world.”

Jewel stated that being able to pull off the ceremony in secret just made it all the more “magical” to them. Friends or family were not let in on the secret, and they even managed to elude the paparazzi.

Now that they have tied the knot, the big question is whether or not there will be children on the near horizon for the newlyweds. It seems that this is very possible as both Jewel and Ty have said that they are ready to start a family. If Ty is to be believed, it is something they are already working on.

Following the honeymoon, Jewel, 34, and Ty, 38, will return home to their 2,200 acre Stephenville, Texas ranch they share. Last year, Ty hosted CMT’s Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull-Riding Challenge, and is currently seen in Jewel’s new video for her country single, “I Do.”