Angelina Jolie is secretly plotting to wed Brad Pitt on the Bahamian beach where she scattered her mother's ashes, according to US news reports.

The actress has reportedly contacted the Bahamian registrar's office to make sure her big day will run smoothly, and insiders tell American publication Life + Style the couple hopes to wed this summer.

Pitt's representative has denied the happy news, but a friend tells the publication, "Angelina is giddy with excitement and is throwing herself into the (wedding) plans. She and Brad are really so in love."

The couple might have a new addition to their ever-expanding family by then - their new adopted son, a three-and-a-half year old from Vietnam, may arrive in time to see them tie the knot.

Life + Style reports the couple will hold their low-key nuptials on the beach in the Bahamas where Angelina scattered the ashes of her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died in January.

The pal says, "It's important to Angie that the wedding honours her mom."

This will be Jolie's third marriage and Pitt's second. The actress divorced second husband Billy Bob Thornton in 2003, Pitt divorced Jennifer Aniston in 2005. The couple met on the set of Mr + Mrs Smith and have one child, Shiloh Nouvel, together. Pitt is also the official guardian of Jolie's two adopted children, Maddox and Zahara Marley.