\n<\/p>\n
Love at first sight? Christopher Meloni<\/strong> <\/a>knew his wife, Sherman Meloni<\/strong>, was special the first time he laid eyes on her.<\/p>\n \u201cThis [is someone] I gotta meet,\u201d the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit<\/em> <\/a>alum told Your Tango<\/em> <\/a>in September 2006, recalling his first impression of his wife<\/a>. The pair first crossed paths in 1989, when Christopher starred in an HBO series that Sherman did production design for. Although the Washington D.C. native immediately found his future wife \u201ccool, funny [and] sexy,\u201d she had a boyfriend at the time. The pair didn\u2019t date for another two years.<\/p>\n Sherman recalled how the Wet Hot American Summer<\/em> actor<\/a> impressed her on their first date.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went to three parties, given by three sets of my friends,\u201d she told Your Tango<\/em>. \u201cThe first was in West Hollywood. Every guy there was gay; Chris passed with flying colors<\/a>. Next, we went to a party given by Beverly Hills snootballs; Chris kept his manners in check and held his own. Then we went to a costume designer\u2019s party in the Hills, where we drank beers from a tub on the porch. And I thought, \u2018I can take him anywhere.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The duo tied the knot in July 1995 and later welcomed daughter Eva in March 2001 and son Dante in January 2004. Christopher\u2019s longtime SVU<\/em> costar Mariska Hargitay<\/strong> <\/a>is Eva\u2019s godmother.<\/p>\n The Happy!<\/em> alum reflected on how his daughter\u2019s childhood had flown by<\/a> while wishing her a happy 18th birthday in March 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what\u2019s weird is, I know I took this picture yesterday and now I\u2019m celebrating your 18th bday,\u201d the proud dad captioned a throwback photo of Eva. \u201cYour birth introduced me to the emotion of love<\/a>, your life gives me life \u2026 so, I thank you for that. Keep doing you and seeking out the adventures that life holds. Now get out there and learn, have fun and fix this mess.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to raising two kids together<\/a>, Christopher and Sherman\u2019s marriage is built on \u201cspace, respect, trust and freedom,\u201d as the Night at the Golden Eagle<\/em> production designer told Your Tango<\/em>. \u201cWe just like each other,\u201d she added. \u201cWe laugh a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n