Jennifer Love Hewitt is truly relishing a recent milestone in her life. On November 21st, this 45-year-old 9-1-1 actress and her 46-year-old husband, Brian Hallisay, commemorated 11 years of wedded bliss. As she humorously remarks in this week's issue of PEOPLE, which hits newsstands on Friday, "That's like 190 years in Hollywood!" She takes great pride in the family they have built together and is immensely proud of themselves.

Love at First Sight and a Slow Burn

Although they initially crossed paths on the set of Love Bites in 2011, it wasn't until a year later, when they reunited on the set of the Lifetime series The Client List in 2012, that Hewitt and Hallisay began dating. Hewitt vividly recalls, "I thought he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my life. I told my manager and friend at the time, 'I'm going to marry that man, and I'm going to have his children.' And she replied, 'Sweetheart, I think everybody thinks they're going to marry that man and have his children.' But I was certain, just watch." For Hewitt, it was love at first sight, while for Hallisay, it was more of a gradual process. She explains, "I don't know if it was instant for him. But for me, it was immediate. It wasn't just about his looks. He is kind, good, close to his family, and smart. We just had a great time together, and I was smitten. I was lucky enough to end up with him. And look, I did marry him, and I did have his kids."

Wedding Memories

Five days before the arrival of their daughter Autumn in 2013, Hewitt and Hallisay tied the knot in the backyard of their Los Angeles home. When they moved houses in 2020, they decided to have another backyard wedding at their new place, and this time, their daughter and their 9-year-old son Atticus got to be witnesses. Hewitt shares, "It was very sweet. It was great for our kids to be there and have that as a memory. They talk about it all the time, which I love. It was during the height of COVID, so we were desperately seeking magic. And it truly became a magical time for us."

Family Life with Three Kids

In 2021, the couple welcomed their youngest son, Aidan, who is now 3 years old. Hewitt admits, "We, I think, like most parents with three kids and full-time jobs and all the other responsibilities, struggle to find time for ourselves. But I genuinely wake up every day and choose Brian. I would choose him every time. Even when he makes me crazy, I still feel that way. And he continues to choose me, thank God. I am always incredibly happy that my kids are half him."

Christmas Movie and Book

Hewitt and Hallisay got to rekindle their love while starring together in the new Lifetime Christmas movie The Holiday Junkie, which premieres on December 14th at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime. This movie was inspired by Hewitt's love for the holidays and her journey through grief after losing her mom, Pat, at 67 in 2012. She says, "It was really fun to be in a movie honoring my mom with Brian because he does such a great job of honoring her in our life, even though he only met her once. So it was special having him there. It's like our little Christmas love letter that we'll always have." Hewitt is also excited to share her mom's story in her new book Inheriting Magic: My Journey Through Grief, Joy, Celebration, and Making Every Day Magical. She continues, "Now, having written the book and done the movie, I feel so much closer to her in a strange way. It's like she is watching and knows that she is being celebrated on such a big level. I'm really grateful for that, and it has really put the grief in a new perspective."