Newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon sat down with people exclusively to share details about their recent secret wedding. The R&B superstar and the actor/rapper went into details about their love at first sight, their wedding, children and their honeymoon. Below are some clips of the interview.

So, how does it feel to be married?
Mariah: [Laughing] Who wants to go first? You go first.
Nick: It feels amazing. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. I've been smiling for days.
Mariah: It's comforting--and something I've never felt before. Which is really being in love and happy with someone who really understands me and isn't trying to do anything but make me happy. It's wonderful.

When did you first know that?
Nick: I'd always admired Mariah from afar, but once we connected I felt it was destined: This has to be my wife.
Mariah: I definitely knew. Of course, everyone is running the photo from the 2005 Teen Choice Awards...
Nick: From then on, I thought, "I have to get closer to her and express my true feelings." I was praying I'd have the chance to share them with her.
Mariah: People were very skeptical and told him, "You can never get past her people." I only knew that he'd say nice things about me. So I thanked him when [I saw him again].
Nick: I said, "I meant every single word. Hopefully I can express more to you." She was down-to-earth. From that point, we built a friendship.

Mariah: Only about four people know we were going down there to get married. Once we were there, they gave me a bachelorette party. Everyone calls me Mary Poppins. No matter how provocatively I might dress, I'm very pruddish. So they did everything they could to shock me. They had a grab bag full of silly things they think a bachelorette wants. They were so happy they got to embarrass me.

How was the ceremony?
Mariah: We got married at sunset on the beach. We were trying to get the really golden light. It was late--of course I was late, it's just in my DNA. We had a white carpet on the sand that went to the water's edge. My pastor Clarence Keaton flew in from New York. The whole wedding was really beautiful and sweet. Being there with loved ones under the sky... it was a spiritual moment.

What were you thinking then?
Mariah: When I walked down the aisle, I was thinking, "My veil is blowing all over the place!" It was really windy. I was nervous. We didn't know if they would make us speak.
Nick: I haven't been shy in years, but I was speechless. I was elated, but I was thinking, "Don't pass out." What the pastor did was really cool. He said, "The eyes are the window to the soul," then gave us an entire minute to stare into each other's eyes. So I was saying, "Don't cry."
Mariah: With the sun setting on the turquoise water, we kissed.
Nick: We had our passionate wedding kiss. Then I swooped her off her feet.
Mariah: He carried me to the water.

Have you thought about kids yet?
Mariah: It's part of the whole purpose of getting married. I'd just want our children to have the best childhood and upbringing they possibly could.

So you have thought about kids?
Mariah: Yes.
Nick: Absolutely.

What do you love about each other?
Nick: She is beautiful on the outside and 10 times as beautiful on the inside. She is such a giving, nurturing spirit. Someone who has spent their entire life making others happy.
Mariah: We really do feel we are soulmates. I never felt a love like this was in the cards for me. I was always so career-oriented. I would hope and pray for my friends to find love, but I never did that for myself. And then? Everything just fell into place!

For more on Mariah & Nick's romance – including photos of their new tattoos, details on Nick's candy-themed proposal, and their plans for kids (!) – pick up the latest PEOPLE, on newsstands today