Kristin Cavallari & Jay Cutler: Love at First Sight

Kristin Cavallari had been dating Jay Cutler for less than a year when the Chicago Bears quarterback popped the question in April – but Cavallari says the proposal felt like it was a long time coming.

"I think we both knew from the moment we met that we wanted to marry each other," the former Hills star, 24, tells PEOPLE. "It's been a great situation."

And it doesn't hurt that her family is a fan of Cutler, 27, who proposed during a romantic getaway to Mexico.

"My parents are both extremely happy," she says. "There's been no drama, which is good."

Cavallari – who has been portrayed as the typical blonde California beach babe on TV – is even planning to permanently trade her bikinis and flip-flops for snow boots once she and Cutler tie the knot.

"I will relocate to Chicago," she says. "I want us to be together. I don't want to be one of those married couples where one person is on the West Coast, and the other is somewhere else. I do want some normalcy in my life. I want to be a wife."

As for raising a family? It's in the cards.

"We definitely want kids," the ShoeDazzle designer says. "As far as right away, probably not. But definitely in the next few years."

Credit: PEOPLE (Dhavi Shira)

Kristin Cavallari Talks Proposal, Wedding, Kids

It's official: Kristin Cavallari is engaged and she's sharing all the details of her fairy-tale engagement and future plans with Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in the new issue of Life & Style.

On April 24, Jay got down on one knee as the sun was setting in the sky over Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and asked Kristin, his girlfriend of eight months, to be his wife. "I couldn't be happier," Kristin, 24, tells Life & Style exclusively. "I don't have to date anymore!"

Kristin had a feeling a proposal was coming but Jay made sure to keep it a surprise. "When he opened the ring box, it took me a second to say yes because I was in such shock," Kristin says of her reaction to the 5.2-carat Asscher-cut diamond ring. " I was just staring at the ring and thinking, Oh my God, it's absolutely beautiful!"

Kristin says it was her "dream proposal" however she won't be rushing into an over-the-top wedding anytime soon. "It'll be about a year engagement and then I want a classic and traditional wedding. I can't decide whether I want a small, intimate wedding or a huge wedding -- but it will absolutely not be on TV!" Kristin assures. "If we go with a bigger wedding, then I'll invite some of the Laguna and Hills casts. But if not, then it will probably just be family and really, really close friends."

And while she won't be rushing to the altar, Kristin is already thinking about her future with Jay. "We definitely want kids -- a lot of kids. We want at least three," Kristin tells Life & Style. "I guess we'll take it one pregnancy at a time!"

Credit: Life & Style

Kristin Cavallari "Very Surprised" By Proposal

Bride-to-be traffic jam!

There were three engaged stars at Tuesday night's Hollywood premiere of Something Borrowed: The flick's stars Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin, plus Kristin Cavallari, who walked the red carpet.

After about 8 months together, Chicago Bears hunk Jay Cutler proposed to the former Hills star, 24, over the Easter weekend.

"I kind of knew it was coming," Cavallari told Us Weekly Tuesday. "But I was definitely very surprised."

After being set up with Cutler, 27, via reality star and E! News host Giuiliana Rancic, Cavalarri says she knew "right away" that Cutler was The One.

"I think that we both knew right away that it was very different and very special," she gushed.

Also very special: Her whopping engagement ring, which she rocked on Something Borrowed's red carpet.

One thing she's keeping private: Cutler's proposal. "I don't want to say, but it was very romantic and very sweet," she said.

The quarterback was very old-fashioned, she offered. "He went and asked my dad, which was really sweet, and my dad really appreciated that! My parents couldn't be happier. They love him and his family is excited, so it's great."

Wedding planning has barely begun, she admitted. "I've been ripping out things from magazines and I had just made a wedding binder, but that's as far as I've gotten."

The wedding could take place in Chicago. "My mom and that whole side of the family is there, and Jay obviously lives there. I think that makes the most sense."

Any dates picked out? "Because of the football season, it would have to be in the next couple months or next spring, so probably next spring."

Credit: Us Magazine

Kristin Cavallari: 'Something Borrowed' Premiere

Kristin Cavallari attended the Los Angeles premiere of "Something Borrowed" held at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on May 3, 2011.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by PacificCoastNews.com