“The best part of the wedding was watching her down the aisle,” Wilson tells PEOPLE exclusively about his wedding day to Ciara

PHOTO: COURTESY THE WILSONS

Russell Wilson is still on cloud nine after his fairy-tale wedding to Ciara.

The Seattle Seahawks quarterback tied the knot with the singer on Wednesday at Peckforton Castle in England in front of “100-plus close, close friends and family,” and seeing his bride walking towards him is a moment he will cherish forever, Wilson tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“I’ll tell you, the best part of the wedding was watching her walk down the aisle. I had so many [thoughts], but to see her gracefully walk down the aisle in that long train … and to realize I was going to spend the rest of my life with her gives me chills,” the star said Monday at rehearsal for the Kids’ Choice Sports Awards, which he’s co-hosting for the second year in a row.

The athlete also revealed he’s always known Ciara would one day be his wife.

“Ever since the first day I met her, she’s always been, honestly, my best friend. We’ve been so close,” he says.

While the wedding itself was “low-key and private,” the couples’ wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, knew how to keep the guests grooving until late into the night, he adds.

“To listen to Earth, Wind & Fire – the best band in the land – perform for so long and entertain for us and all night long basically until the sun came up was really, really cool,” says Wilson.

And while he doesn’t have any children of his own just yet, Wilson is already a doting dad to Ciara’s 2-year-old son, Future Zahir (with her ex Future).

“I think ultimately, the one thing I can say about being a step-dad and any person that’s a parent – but especially when you come into a new situation – the key is loving the child as your own,” Wilson says. “That’s the biggest thing.”

He’s also ready to expand his family and give 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 Future younger siblings.

“I want to have a bunch of kids – me and Ci do,” he said, laughing. “I think that ever since the first day I ever met Ciara and Little Man, too, it’s been really cool and really special.”

Adds the star: “Ciara’s such a great mom. She reads to him every night. I read to him too, and we just share so many special moments together. That’s what family is all about. Ultimately, it’s about giving back and loving as much as you can to your fullest. That’s what you’re able to do together.”

The 2016 Kids’ Choice Sports Awards airs July 17 at 8 p.m. on Nickelodeon.