Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

Neil Patrick Harris' children pressured him to get married.

The 41-year-old actor, who tied the knot with longtime boyfriend David Burtka in Italy earlier this month, admits their four-year-old twins Harper and Gideon, born via a surrogate mother in 2010, were one of the main reasons they decided to walk down the aisle.

The 'How I Met Your Mother' star said: "I think when our kids got to the age when they were having reasonable conversations where they're asking lots of 'why' questions, then it seemed [important] to be able to have a real clear-cut [identity] of who their daddy is -- that he's my husband, it was easier than partner or boyfriend."

But the star was also eager to commit to David, 39, after more than 10 years together.

Speaking on 'The View' about their recent nuptials, he said: "I just wanted to be able to say nice things about David to David in front of the people that mattered the most to us. It was less about a proclamation and more about a declaration that I was able to share in front of our kids."

He added: "It was nice, very small and intimate. Only about 45 people were there. We did it as a destination wedding, and it kept the numbers down."

The couple got engaged following the passing of the Marriage Equality Act in New York in June 2011.

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