CELEBS...CELEBS...CELEBS...CELEBS...CELEBS...CELEBS...CELEBS...

IN HER FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE HER £5MILLION WEDDING, COLEEN TELLS FABULOUS SHE COULDN’T WAIT TO CHANGE HER NAME – AND WHY SHE DREAMS OF BEING A DOMESTIC GODDESS

By Gemma Calvert

For most brides, the end of the honeymoon signals the moment they come crashing down to earth and start battling post-nuptial depression.

But not Coleen Rooney.

She arrives for her first interview since becoming Mrs R glowing with happiness and confides she’s glad all the fuss is over.

“Our celebrations went on for so many days, I’ve not suffered the blues, thankfully,” she says.

“It’s nice now that everything’s died down because we can get back to normal.

“When we got home after our wedding in Italy, we were so exhausted, Wayne didn’t even carry me over the threshold!

“We were supposed to be going to Hawaii after Las Vegas for our honeymoon but cancelled it.

"We’d been on so many flights, the extra few hours on a plane would have driven us crazy.”

Coleen has been Mrs Rooney for all of 11 weeks and is loving married life.

But before she even walked down the aisle, speculation was rife that she wouldn’t be taking Manchester United striker Wayne’s surname because she didn’t want to harm her ‘brand’.

“I’ve definitely taken Wayne’s name,” she says with a smile.

“But I only realised I needed a new signature after the wedding!

“My autograph is just ‘Coleen’ so I started practising at my mum’s house and it didn’t take long to get it right – after all, Rooney’s shorter than McLoughlin!

“Wayne loves the fact that I’ve got his surname and now we’re as one.”

For our interview, Coleen is dressed in a simple floral dress and lilac flip-flops, but her understated look only serves to draw attention to the giant diamond on her wedding ring.

Specially designed by New York jeweller Jacob and Co, it now sparkles on the second finger of her left hand.

“Whenever I look at my ring it reminds me of my wedding and brings back memories of when Wayne and I said our vows,” she says.

“Wayne’s ring is similar to mine.

"He’s not a jewellery person and when he’s had a ring before, he’s ended up taking it off.

"But he wears this one all the time. He says it’s meant to be.”

And few could dispute that.

Coleen and Wayne, both 22, have had their ups and downs, but these days they’re as solid as the rock on Coleen’s finger.

Their romance started much the same as any teenage couple.

The pair, who grew up on a council estate in Liverpool’s notorious area of Croxteth, began dating at 16 after Wayne fixed Coleen’s bike chain.

Their first date was to see Austin Powers at the cinema.

Wayne famously proposed in October 2003 on the forecourt of a BP garage, on a high after making his England debut aged 17.

And from that moment, the couple’s life was anything but ordinary.

Because of Wayne’s success, Coleen found herself thrust into the spotlight.

Few can forget the photo of the fresh-faced schoolgirl, wearing an unflattering knee-length Puffa jacket, splashed across every tabloid.

But fast-forward to 2008 and Coleen’s life has completely transformed, culminating in her and Wayne’s lavish £5million wedding in June.

The setting was the beautiful town of Portofino on the Italian Riviera.

The bride wore not one, but three stunning gowns by design house Marchesa, and guests – who were flown in for four days of celebrations by private jet – dined on lobster washed down with pink champagne.

Since that incredible day, Coleen’s been getting used to married life.

“At first it was a bit weird calling Wayne ‘my husband’ but now it rolls off the tongue,” she says.

“On our honeymoon Wayne called me his wife a lot.

"He said it as we were checking into the hotel and I looked at him and we both started laughing.

"It’s still a novelty for us.

“I’m Mrs Rooney and I love that.

"Our relationship feels even more special now we’re married because we’ve made that extra commitment to each other.”

Her husband isn’t the only thing Coleen’s committed to.

She’s determined to have a successful career in her own right and has already built up her own £6million fortune through books, TV shows and advertising endorsements.

And unlike other footballers’ wives, Coleen’s never-ending wardrobe of designer outfits, shoes and handbags are all courtesy of her own hard-earned cash.

So it’s no surprise to learn that since returning from her honeymoon, she’s thrown herself straight back into work.

She’s currently filming a second series of Coleen’s Real Women, which hits ITV2 early next year, and is launching her next book, Coleen’s Real Style.

“I feel more confident with the TV show this time around because I know what works best,” she says.

“I was working on the book while I was planning the wedding.

"It was so much fun because I love fashion and style.”

Has she found any time in her busy schedule to work on her new role as a wife?

“I don’t know what the perfect wife is,” she admits.

“I don’t think there’s a rule book that you have to follow.

"If you just do it your way then your marriage will be personal and as perfect as it can be.

“Every new bride hopes to be a domestic goddess. Everyone’s got their own way of living.

"I’ve got a cleaner, but I tidy up after myself. I don’t leave everything for her to do.”

Coleen confides that the secret to her relationships’s success is the fact that neither partner is more dominant than the other.

“No one wears the trousers,” she says.

“Wayne’s more laid-back whereas I’m keener to get things done.

"I keep the argument going whereas Wayne’s attitude is to forget about it.

"But since the wedding there have been no disputes. We’re just enjoying married life.”

And while she might be keen to get back to normal, Coleen is determined to make sure the memories of her big day don’t fade.

“I collected various memorabilia from the wedding – the menu, place names, order of service,” she explains.

“I read that I was going to get my dress put in a glass cabinet but that’s rubbish.

"I haven’t decided what I’m doing with it yet.”

Wedding photos now adorn the walls of the couple’s mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire.

“Getting our pictures back is what we’ve enjoyed the most,” she says.

“A lot of people bought us frames as wedding gifts because we asked for guests to make donations to charity instead of giving us presents.”

So will there be any Rooney Jnr pictures to hang on their walls any time soon?

“I’m definitely considering kids at some point.

"Not right now but when it happens, it happens,” says Coleen.

But with Wayne admitting he wants “at least three or four”, we reckon it won’t be long before Coleen’s head coach of the Rooney five-a-side team!

And with her business brain and fashion nous, and Wayne’s football talent, they’ll be a formidable bunch.

Coleen’s Real Style is out now (Harper Collins, £17.99).

 

Photography: Derrick Santini, goffinf.com Styling: Lorraine McCulloch assisted by Cheryl Lewis. Coleen wears: suit (roland mouret), gloves (superfine), shoes (christian louboutin) all at cricket