Beyonce [ tickets ] Knowles and longtime beau Jay-Z were married April 4, a friend of the couple's told People magazine. The ceremony reportedly was followed by a lavish party at Jay-Z's Tribeca apartment.

Jay-Z and Knowles, a couple since 2002, have long been silent about their relationship. The wedding buzz reportedly began last week when the couple applied for a marriage license at a village hall in Scarsdale, NY. Then early Friday (4/4) morning, a white tent was seen being erected atop the Tribeca building where Jay-Z owns a penthouse apartment.

Not long after the tent was put up, deliveries of audio equipment, party rentals and flowers were observed. A source told People that more than 50,000 white orchid blooms from Thailand had been ordered for "a big party."