By EMILY SHERIDAN
They've had a slow and steady courtship since they started dating as teenage school pupils.
And last week, footballer Theo Walcott finally sealed the deal with fiancee Melanie Slade as they tied the knot in Italy.
The young couple, who have been dating for nine years, wed at the Castello di Vincigliata in Tuscany last week.
Just married: Arsenal footballer Theo Walcott and Melanie Slade wed last week in Italy
Blonde Melanie, 24, looked stunning in a strapless gown with sweetheart neckline as she wed her Arsenal winger fiance.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, the proud groom, 24, said: 'It's fantastic to be able to finally call Melanie my wife.
'Now we're excited to see what the future holds for us.
The full interview is in the new edition of Hello! which is out now
'I don't think marriage will change our relationship - I hope not anyway, as it was already everything I could have wanted.'
Melanie, who was doing her GCSEs when Theo was selected for the England squad during the 2006 World Cup, admitted it was an emotional day.
She enthused: 'That moment when I saw Theo waiting for me at the altar was so overwhelming. Your emotions are all over the place - you're so excited and euphoric because you're marrying this person who you love so much, but there are some nerves there too because it's such a big step.'
Melanie and Theo started dating in 2004 after meeting at the WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton - when he was playing for the seaside town's youth team.
She was billed as 'the new Coleen McLoughlin' by the media when Theo was selected by Sven-Göran Eriksson for the England squad in 2006.
However, Melanie never courted the press and kept a relatively low-profile compared to other WAGS and focused on her career as a sports physiotherapist.
The couple got engaged on New Year's Eve 2012 at their Hertfordshire home.
Last week, Theo was spotted enjoying a stags' holiday with his friends in Las Vegas.
The full interview is in the new edition of Hello! which is out now.
Starting out: A teenage Theo and Melanie in December 2006
On the pitch: Theo playing in an Arsenal game against Everton in April
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