Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed had "a lot" of loved ones missing from their recent wedding because they disguised the event as a barbecue.

The Vampire Diaries hunk proposed to Nikki in January (15) after just six months of dating, and they surprised fans once again in April (15) when they tied the knot in secret in Topanga, California.

The nuptials were so secret, only the couple's parents were made aware of its real plans for the outdoor gathering - so many didn't make the effort to attend.

"It was truly the most magical day I've ever known," Ian gushes on The Talk. "But we told everyone, because we didn't want anyone to know, that it was a barbecue... It was a chic barbecue...

"A lot of people didn't come because they thought, 'Ah, you know what? We'll see them again.' But it was the only way for us to not kinda let it out (to the media)."

The newlyweds celebrated their first month as husband and wife in May (15) by sharing video footage from their wedding with fans online, and Ian insists he is still in awe at the beauty of their big day.

"It's the things that you see in films or you read in literature or you see on stages and hear in songs," he says. "There are times in your life that are literally so beautiful that to take it all in is just nearly impossible."

The actors jetted off to Mexico and Brazil for their honeymoon and shared snaps on social media of their romantic getaway.

Twilight star Nikki uploaded a sweet picture of them cuddling up on a beach, and captioned it, "Salty... sandy... sticky... sunburned. The best. I love this human. My human", while Ian added alongside another shot, "Good morning Brazil... (Nikki Reed and I) are very happy to be here. Thank you for all of the love!"

The marriage is Nikki's second - she split from her first husband, singer Paul McDonald, last year (14), while Ian previously dated his The Vampire Diaries co-star Nina Dobrev.