Alec and Hilaria Baldwin celebrate a major milestone in their romance that would ultimately change the trajectory of their respective lives.
Sunday is the Oscar-nominated actor took to his Instagram page to pay tribute to the anniversary of the day he and his wife Hilaria first saw each other at Sarma Melngailis’ New York restaurant Pure Food and Wine.
“February 18, 2011,” Baldwin, 65, began in the caption, the day of their very first meeting. “Things were about to change dramatically. “@bocartist and I are wandering Irving Place. And who will I find there? I’m more grateful to you than anything…’
While Baldwin would find his future wife at that now-closed vegan restaurant, he used a photo from their wedding at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City the following year to mark their anniversary tribute.
The author, podcaster and yoga instructor, 40, also took to her Instagram page to honor meeting her future husband and eventual father of her children.
Taking to her Instagram page, Hilaria posted a photo of herself and the eldest of her seven children, Carmen, 10, which was taken just as they were about to head out for a mother-daughter outing.
“Date night with my first baby…she did our makeup. How quickly they grow up and how wonderful it is to be inspired by them. Carmen, you are such a special soul…just like your brothers and sisters…all unique and equally incredible,” the proud mother said.
She ended the caption with a disclaimer to make sure the date marked the anniversary of her meeting her husband.
‘Met today, 13 years ago, @alecbaldwininsta…what a journey we have been on…ps edit from Carmen and I here for the birthday wishes we read in the comments: it’s not her birthday…it’s the day I met Alec. all of you.”
It turns out that the Baldwins both happened to be eating at that vegan restaurant when they had their first meeting, according to a number of publications such as People.
“I was standing at the door with my friends, when (Alec) came up to me, took my hand and said, ‘I need to know you,’” Hilaria recalled the cheesy line he used to get her attention.
They would start dating that summer, a few months after meeting, and it quickly became an item.
The Marrying Man star was far from lackluster during their courtship. In fact, he never tried to kiss her for the first six weeks of dating, and instead shook her hand after every time they went out together, according to another report from People.
Alec and Hilaria first met at Sarma Melngailis’ New York restaurant Pure Food and Wine on February 18, 2011; they are depicted in the establishment approximately a year after meeting
The Oscar-nominated actor admitted his life was “about to change in a big way” after meeting his future wife at a vegan restaurant 13 years ago to the day, February 18.
Hilaria Baldwin, who just turned 40 a few weeks ago, praised her eldest child, Carmen, as she paid tribute on the 13th anniversary of meeting her husband at New York restaurant Pure Food and Wine in 2011.
The longtime Hollywood leading man claimed he only shook Hilaria’s hand at first to show her how serious he was about getting to know her.
‘He told me all these things, like, “I’m going to marry you. I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you. We’re going to have a lot of kids,” and then he would shake my hand at the end of the night, the Boston, Massachusetts native recalled.
The actor explained, “I didn’t want you to think I just wanted to have sex with you,” to which Hilaria replied, “Hey, look, it worked.”
Finally, the former 30-something rock star proposes to his wife during a visit to a lighthouse in East Hampton, New York.
The Baldwins often share photos and videos of their children on social media; they have even considered doing a reality show that focuses on their large family of seven children
“He took me to Montauk,” she recalled, a town on the eastern side of the Long Island peninsula known for its beautiful beaches. ‘He got down on his knee and I can’t remember the rest because I started crying, but yes, he is very romantic.
They were reportedly engaged for about 14 months before tying the knot in June 2013, two months before Carmen was born.
After Carmen made her way into the world, the family would grow exponentially to consist of Rafael, eight, Leonardo, seven, Romeo, five, Eduardo, three, Maria, two, and Ilaria, one.
Baldwin, who is actually a father of eight, also has daughter Ireland Baldwin, 28, with ex-wife Kim Basinger.