Beyonce Knowles put out two singles [1] yesterday gearing up for her Nov. 18 album release — but even more exciting is that she's finally talking about her not-so-secret wedding [2] to Jay-Z. The couple has always kept extremely private, but in the November issue of Essence, Beyonce opens up just a little. Here are highlights: [3]

• On getting married: "We've been together a long time. We always knew it would happen. What Jay and I have is real. It's not about interviews or getting the right photo op. It's real."
• On not wanting an engagement ring: "People put too much emphasis on that. It's just material, and it's just silly to me."
• On the small ceremony: "[I'm not a] traditional woman. It's been my day so many days already."
• On her legacy: "I want to be acknowledged as a woman in a very talented group with great harmonies and great songs that made history and changed the culture of women, not only in America but all over the world. [A woman] who could sing a cappella and write her own songs and produce her own songs."

While an engagement diamond might have been unnecessary, have you seen the wedding ring she's wearing [4] these days? Underneath that, however, is the meaningful matching IV tattoos, which represent their birthdays and wedding day. While Jay-Z hinted at starting a family [5], sounds like her new album is the focus for now.