Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez’s kids have always been an important part of their relationship, and a source tells PEOPLE that the couple’s children will “definitely” play a huge role in their upcoming wedding.
“For them both, they are still all about their family with the four kids. Their initial strong attraction for each other would have quickly faded if they had not been able to come together as a family,” the source says.
“Their kids all accepted each other and got along from the beginning. It’s always tricky when you merge families, but Jennifer and Alex did a great job from the start. The kids are amazing together. And they have wanted Jennifer and Alex to get married for a long time. They will all definitely be a huge part of the wedding,” the source adds.
Lopez, 49, and ex-husband Marc Anthony, 50, have 11-year-old twins Maximilian “Max” David and Emme Maribel, while the 43-year-old former MLB player and ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis, 46, share daughters Ella, 10, and Natasha, 14.
The happy couple announced they had gotten engaged on Saturday, sharing matching photos of Lopez wearing her stunning diamond engagement ring as Rodriguez romantically holds her hand.
“She said yes,” Rodriguez wrote, while Lopez simply captioned the image with eight black heart emojis.
Lopez and Rodriguez previously opened up to PEOPLE about how important it was to them that their children felt comfortable with their relationship.
“Kids are so beautiful and open to love and new friends,” the Second Act star explained in December. “I was so loving to his kids and he was so loving and accepting of mine, and they embraced each other right away. [It was] ‘I get a new bonus brother and sisters to hang out with all the time and it’s nice.’ ”
“Our kids have become best friends and that keeps us both grounded and appreciative,” Rodriguez added. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better than the four of them getting along as they do.”
Praising Lopez, the former baseball star added, “Jennifer has given so much to me and my kids over the last two years.”
“Her best quality is undoubtedly her generosity. I see it every day and my kids see it as well,” he added.
In a sweet nod to their blended family, Lopez shared a touching tribute to Rodriguez last year in honor of Father’s Day, as she thanked him for being “so beautifully loving to Emme and Max.”
“Appreciating you and loving you today and everyday for being our fearless leader, our everyday hero, for making us all laugh and enjoy this adventure we are all on together in every moment… for being the ringmaster to this traveling circus we call our life!! We love you today and everyday,” she wrote. “Your kindness and generosity is never taken for granted. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives.”
Alongside the note, Lopez shared a video that showed Rodriguez getting emotional as he read a pair of Father’s Day cards the couple’s children had made for him.
“We also have gifts,” one of the kids can be heard saying in the background, as the former athlete replies, “I know, but this is my favorite.”
Appreciating you and loving you today and everyday for being our fearless leader, our everyday hero, for making us all laugh and enjoy this adventure we are all on together in every moment… for being the ringmaster to this traveling circus we call our life!! We love you today and everyday… Happy Fathers Day to the most loving daddy to Tashi and Ella!! And thank you my love for being so beautifully loving to Emme and Max. Your kindness and generosity is never taken for granted. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives… ♥️♥️ #daddysday #amor #blinkingthetearsaway #lovehimlots
A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on
Today has an entirely different meaning to me than I did when I first became a father to Tashi and then my Ella Bella. It’s an incredible responsibility, and one I have always treasured. But as I grow older and proudly watch them doing the same, not only are my kids my pride and joy and number one priority – now they also motivate me. Every day, Tashi and Ella make me a better dad and a better person. Being a father is the greatest job in the world, more than any career I could have dreamed of as a kid. To all the fathers out there, never stop trying to be the best. I don’t. #HappyFathersDay
A post shared by Alex Rodriguez (@arod) on
Praising the couple’s “incredible” bond, the source tells PEOPLE they’re “very much soulmates.”
“They are incredible together. Very much soulmates that bring out the best in each other and are so supportive of each other,” the source says. “From the start, they moved very quickly. Their relationship was always very passionate. Jennifer quickly fell very hard for Alex. And she quickly started planning for their future.”
Although the source adds that “there were talks about an engagement from early on,” Lopez then “realized that she wanted to live more in the moment” and “wanted to enjoy what they have together with the kids.”
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