The wedding, however, is a case of separation of powers, with First Lady Laura Bush 'in charge', in the words of her husband. But she has kept details under wraps.

Earlier this week, she tore into the Myanmar military government for its handling of the cyclone aftermath, smiling only at the end of the White House press conference when a reporter wished her well for the wedding.

'We're getting, for us, our first son,' the first lady said.

The female twins are the first couple's only children. She joked that the grandchildren might have names like 'George and Georgia, Georgina' or even 'Georgette'.

Jenna 'just wanted to get married at home. She just feels a lot more comfortable there. ... We want what she wants', Laura said.

Would the president be out early Sunday for his usual bike ride?

'Since he probably won't be staying up to dance the last dance, it'll probably be early,' Laura said, laughing.

USA Today reported that such private weddings reflect a American social trend against over-the-top, encrusted traditions.

The last high style White House weddings were Lynda Bird Johnson's 1967 marriage to Marine Captain Chuck Robb, while dad Lyndon was mired in the Vietnam War, and Tricia Nixon's 1971 all-out affair with a towering, two-metre-plus cake as dad Richard launched his re-election campaign.

Jenna and Henry met in 2004, when he was working in the White House for Bush's former political strategist, Karl Rove, USA Today reported.

The couple are to live in Baltimore, where they have bought a 128-year-old row house for $440,000. He is to work at an energy company while Jenna is an intern for Unicef in Latin America. She has written several books, including a children's book that she wrote with her mother.

In the photograph: (from l to r) Barbara Bush, Laura Bush and Jenna Bush

Photographs: Getty Images