Basketball superstar Yao Ming and his bride Ye Li have been through the hoops to gain their marriage certificate, and will hold their private wedding banquet today in Shanghai.

But the exact place and time is still a secret, said a photographer appointed by the couple to take the wedding picture. He was still waiting to be told the location last night.

According to Shanghai Wedding Trade Association, Yao and Ye will tonight entertain only eight tables of guests, all relatives and close friends.

As both their parents like peaceful houses with gardens, their wedding ceremony is likely to be held at a restaurant with a long history.

Yao, 27, and Ye, 25, who plays for the national women basketball team, signed their marriage certificate on Friday night in Xuhui District Marriage Management Division. Officials there stayed open until 8:30 p.m. for the couple.

The bride and groom followed normal procedures by filling out forms and attended a short ceremony where they were presented with their wedding certificates.

Some friends and relatives accompanied them to Friday's ceremony, but not their parents.

The 2.26m tall Yao and 1.90m tall Ye, both from Shanghai, shot their wedding photos at the Taihuyuan scenic resort in Lin'an, Zhejiang Province, last Monday.

The couple arrived at 6 a.m. and spent two hours taking pictures in the scenic resort. Yao's arrival attracted many people and some even got his signature, Sina.com reported.

The couple reportedly met as teenagers in 1999 when Yao was playing for the Shanghai Sharks. Their relationship first became public at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where they were seen walking hand-in-hand at the closing ceremony.

(Shanghai Daily August 6, 2007)