Alec Baldwin and his new wife shared their wedding joy with fans over the weekend (30Jun12-01Jul12) by opening up about their first meeting.
The actor, 54, wed 28-year-old yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in New York on Saturday (30Jun12) and guests included Baldwin's brothers Stephen and Billy, his 30 Rock co-star Tina Fey and director Woody Allen.
Details of the couple's big day were kept secret right up until the ceremony, but the newlyweds marked the occasion by running an announcement in the New York Times on Sunday (01Jul12) detailing their first date and courtship.
In the piece, Thomas reveals she met Baldwin at New York restaurant Pure Food and Wine in February, 2011 when he walked up to her and handed over his business card.
She says, "I was standing near the door with my friends when he walked up and took my hand and said, 'I must know you'... And then he gave me his card."
Baldwin admits his pick-up line was "none too clever", but was pleased when she agreed to go out to dinner with him a few days later and they ended their first date with a handshake.
He later adds, "I've dated a lot of people since my divorce (from first wife Kim Basinger) and have thought a lot about what I wanted and what I wanted to do. I thought about it too much, I suppose. I wasn't really ready to take that chance and to act until I met Hilaria... I was ready. While she was in no hurry, she was very mature and clear about what she wanted - to be married someday."
The newlyweds also shared their happiness with their Twitter.com followers by each posting a picture of their left hand adorned with a wedding ring.
Baldwin simply captioned the picture with the date of the service, while Thomas changed her name on the site to Hilaria Baldwin and posted a picture of herself kissing her new husband.
She also hinted about the couple's honeymoon plans by writing, "Espana!!!!", fuelling rumours they will be enjoying a post-wedding break in Spain, the country where she was born.