OK! catches up with newlyweds Robert Earnshaw and Zarah Shah to talk about their two-day fairy-tale celebration in Ireland
WORDS: KIRSTY NUTKINS PHOTOS: JAYCE KEIL PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
A month on from their stunning wedding in Ireland, newlyweds Robert Earnshaw and Zarah Shah admit they are still buzzing. And who can blame them?
The former Welsh international footballer and his Irish fiancée, former Miss Longford and Bollywood actress Zarah Shah, tied the knot in an incredible two-day celebration last month. A colourful fusion of the bride and groom’s cultures (Zarah is half Pakistani and Rob is half Zambian), their nuptials were attended by more than 300 guests across two venues.
“I feel like I’m in a bubble, everything is heightened, and I feel super in love,” smiles Zarah, as she and her new husband sit down to chat to OK!. “It was a fairy tale.”
“It almost hasn’t sunk in just yet that Zarah is my wife,” adds Robert. “It’s very, very special. And there was so much love and warmth from both our families. That was really important – that our families got along and enjoyed celebrating together.”
The first day was a traditional Pakistani wedding at Vela Restaurant in Dublin, followed by a more western celebration at Luttrellstown Castle, outside the city – the same venue chosen by David and Victoria Beckham for their wedding 25 years ago.
“I was a massive Victoria Beckham and Spice Girls fan growing up,” laughs the 38-year-old Dublin-born bride. “And in Ireland, everybody knew of that venue because of their big day.
“Rob and I originally wanted to marry in Portugal, where sunshine was guaranteed, but some of our family weren’t able to travel, so we decided to do both days in Ireland. Luttrellstown was on our shortlist and when we went to view it, we could see what the Beckhams saw – we were blown away! It was so beautiful.”
And like Victoria Beckham more than two decades ago, Zarah wowed on her wedding weekend. She even pushed the boat out with three different dresses – an embellished champagne gown from House of Inaayat for her Pakistani ceremony, a white corseted dress with a full skirt by couturier Vlora & Kaltrina (paired with Louboutins) for the castle nuptials, followed by a soft tulle number for the evening by Sachin Lama of SWL Designs. Her hair and make-up were by celebrity artists April Walsh and Yvonne Maher on both days.
Robert, 43, wore a traditiona
