Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds arrive at 'Movies Rock: A Celebration ...

LOS ANGELES - The wedding ceremony between Eddie Murphy and film producer Tracey Edmonds two weeks ago was only symbolic — and that's as far as they plan to go, they announced Wednesday.

Murphy, 46, and Edmonds, 40, traded vows on New Year's Day on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia in a ceremony that was not legally binding.

"After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forgo having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further," said a statement on behalf of both Murphy and Edmonds issued by publicist Arnold Robinson.

"While the recent symbolic union in Bora Bora was representative of our deep love, friendship and respect that we have for one another on a spiritual level, we have decided to remain friends," the statement said.

The statement did not clarify whether the two remained a couple. In an e-mail exchange, Robinson said he could not comment beyond the statement.

Murphy has six children from previous relationships. He and Edmonds, whose credits include "Dreamgirls" and "Beverly Hills Cop," began dating last year. They became engaged in July.

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds arrive at 'Movies Rock: A Celebration of Music in Film,' at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles,in this Dec. 2, 2007, file photo. Murphy symbolically tied the knot with film producer Tracey Edmonds two weeks ago but that's as far as their wedding plans will go, they announced Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. The couple exchanged vows in a sunset ceremony on New Year's Day on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Since the couple's nuptials took place in a foreign country, the wedding was purely ceremonial not legal.

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello/File)

Eddie Murphy accepts the Golden Globe for best supporting actor for his work in 'Dreamgirls' from presenter Rachel Weisz at the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards in this Jan. 2007 file photo, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said Monday, Jan. 7, 2008 that the traditional Golden Globe Awards ceremony has been canceled and will be replaced with a news conference format.

(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy(R) and film producer Tracey Edmonds, seen here together in 2007, got married in a ceremony in French Polynesia New Year's Day.

(AFP/Getty Images/File)