This Bride’s Archive-Inspired Jimmy Choo Wedding Shoes Were Designed Especially For Her
These days, Ellery Romanko has what many would consider a dream job, as senior talent and entertainment relations manager at Jimmy Choo. But when she first met her now husband, Florent, she was working as “the worst bartender of all time” in east London. “I was looking for a summer job after finishing my first year at the London College of Fashion, and a friend suggested a spot she loved,” she says. “Florent had been working there for a few months before starting his Masters at the London School of Economics. I somehow managed to keep hold of the job after receiving mandated training – organised by Florent! We went on to have the most incredible summer together alongside the rest of the team, who are still some of our closest friends nearly 10 years later.”
Those same friends were among the guests who congregated in an idyllic corner of Devon in September to see the couple exchange vows, after Florent, who now works in the Mayor of London’s office, popped the question on the remote island of Darocotan during a holiday in the Philippines. “The island didn’t have any data or wi-fi,” recalls Ellery, “so we had a few days to let everything sink in just the two of us, before sharing the news with our family and friends. Travel is a huge part of our relationship – we’ve been lucky to visit more than 20 countries together – but the Philippines will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
When it came to choosing a wedding dress, the watchword for Ellery, who is from the US, was timeless. “My mom was always the blueprint,” she says. “She wore a beautiful strapless column dress, paired with elbow-length gloves and her signature bouncy blowout. It was glamorous but still undone, with an easiness I’d always admired.” Also added to the wedding moodboard after Ellery’s deep dives on Pinterest and Vogue Runway: Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren looks from the late ’90s and early 2000s. “A lot of things I saw when I first started looking felt a bit too costume-y for me… I didn’t want a huge dress, or something that I wouldn’t normally wear. Of course you want to be an elevated version of yourself, but I still wanted to be authentic to my style and aesthetic.”
Rather than more traditional bridal gowns, “I kept gravitating towards minimal silk dresses with clean lines,” says the bride, who was initially convinced she could find something online that would fit the bill. “I ordered dozens of dresses from Net-a-porter.com and Matches.com, and I was regularly checking Tab Vintage and Happy Isles for new vintage and archive arrivals, but nothing was quite right.” After considering Galvan, Halfpenny London and Christopher Esber, Ellery ultimately found her dream dress at London’s The Own Studio – scene of her very first bridal appointment. “I fell in love with the high neck and the low back, and the drama of the billowing tie at the nape of the neck.”
Happily, deciding on a shoe to go with it was easy. “Sandra Choi, Jimmy Choo’s creative director, very kindly offered to work on designing my shoes for me,” says the bride. “Sandra is such a force. She’s such an incredible woman and a huge inspiration, but also so down to earth and disarming. To have a relationship with her is really special.” Ellery immersed herself in Jimmy Choo’s image archive, searching for minimal shapes from early collections that would complement her bespoke dress. “Having the archives at my fingertips was really fun! I could pull on different elements of styles that I’d seen before, or that talent had worn, and talk that through with Sandra.” To make the bespoke shoes that much more personal, they were embossed with “F & E” on the left sole, and the couple’s wedding date on the right. “It was surreal having the opportunity to work with her on this,” Ellery says. “I’m still in disbelief.”
Reflecting now on that gloriously sunny September day in the countryside, it’s the ceremony itself that stands out the most, says the bride. “It was held outside under a wooden arbour, and I arrived from the far end of the garden, so I got to see everyone as I walked through which was amazing – as was getting to see Florent. We didn’t want the ceremony to feel stuffy; it was low-key but still so personal to us. I remember feeling so excited but also at ease – and ready to party!”
Ruth Atkinson1/44“I kept gravitating towards minimal silk dresses with clean lines.”
Ruth Atkinson2/44“I toyed around with the idea of doing my own make-up and hair as I tend to be very fussy, but ultimately decided it would be better to take a back seat on the day and hire professionals to take the lead, so I could relax.”
Ruth Atkinson3/44“For make-up, I wanted glowy skin with a peachy cheek, and soft winged liner – an elevated version of my no-make-up make-up. My make-up artist Chelsey did an unbelievable job. For my hair I opted for my signature big blown-out curls, but with more definition to last through the day.”
Ruth Atkinson4/44A tantalising line-up of bridal Jimmy Choos.
Ruth Atkinson5/44The bride in her bespoke dress by The Own Studio.
Ruth Atkinson6/44“We’d spent time in and around Devon with our families throughout the years and had fallen in love with its scenic charm.”
Ruth Atkinson7/44Ellery and Florent married at the Great Barn in Devon in September.
Ruth Atkinson8/44Ellery’s archive-inspired bridal shoes designed by Sandra Choi, creative director at Jimmy Choo, where the bride is senior talent and entertainment relations manager.
Ruth Atkinson9/44Guests arriving in brilliant sunshine.
Ruth Atkinson10/44Ellery is from the US and Florent is British Kosovan, born and raised in London. They ultimately decided on Devon to host a wedding for their international crowd.
Ruth Atkinson11/44“We were blessed with the most unbelievably sunny day. Our ceremony was held outside underneath a wooden arbour, set against the Great Barn’s walled garden, cottages and rolling hills.”
Ruth Atkinson12/44“Florent wore a classic navy suit with Jimmy Choo dress shoes (of course), and his favourite Moscot sunglasses – my wedding gift for him on the day!”
Ruth Atkinson13/44“My dad walked me across the garden towards the aisle. My nerves settled once I saw Florent and our niece and flower girl, Dua.”
Ruth Atkinson14/44“During the ceremony I was elated. I felt completely at ease, excited the moment had finally arrived.”
Ruth Atkinson15/44Florent and Ellery exchanging vows in the gardens.
Ruth Atkinson16/44“My brother Reed and Florent’s sister Eliona delivered beautiful readings during our ceremony that made us all emotional. We chose our moms as official witnesses.”
Ruth Atkinson17/44“After the ceremony, we had our drinks reception in the idyllic garden while lapping up the sunshine.”
Ruth Atkinson18/44The gardens at the Great Barn bathed in glorious sunshine.
Ruth Atkinson19/44“I worked with an amazing florist called Liv Carter at Stowford Flowers. She grows all of her own flowers out of her family’s farm in east Devon, focusing on natural and seasonal blooms.”
Ruth Atkinson20/44“The Own Studio is amazing because you can customise different elements of the dress. The one I chose actually had a pearl strap across the back which was so beautiful, but again didn’t feel completely authentic to my personal style. I toyed around with a few different ideas, but eventually I decided I wanted to keep it completely backless.”
Ruth Atkinson21/44All smiles for a family snap.
Ruth Atkinson22/44“We didn’t have a wedding party. I included friends and family in different aspects of the day and planning process, but it wasn’t important to us to formalise the ask, or have any requirements of anyone.”
Ruth Atkinson23/44Guests enjoying the gardens at the Great Barn.
Ruth Atkinson24/44“We slowly said our hellos after the ceremony with Pimm’s and Champagne in hand.”
Ruth Atkinson25/44Ellery and Florent met while working in a bar in east London as students.
Ruth Atkinson26/44“Dua walked behind us, as we weren’t sure we could coerce her down the aisle otherwise. We had practised with her ahead of the day, and she did not disappoint!”
Ruth Atkinson27/44Ellery kicked off the speeches herself on the day. “I’m not a comfortable public speaker, but I was inspired after going to a friend’s wedding a few weeks before, and I’m so glad I did it!”
Ruth Atkinson28/44“I opted for a small bouquet and milk churn flower arrangements in front of the arbour for our ceremony. Florent had a buttonhole reminiscent of my bouquet – at his request!”
Ruth Atkinson29/44The wedding flowers were a mix of ammi, dill, cosmos and daisies in whites and greens, with small pops of colour.
Ruth Atkinson30/44The newlyweds sharing a moment.
Ruth Atkinson31/44Ellery knew The Own Studio founders Jess Kaye and Rosie Williams through working together with other brides in the past. “I was really inspired by them, and the business they’ve built by tapping into a new community of brides.”
Ruth Atkinson32/44“I love the idea of possibly dyeing my shoes and wearing them again in the future.”
Ruth Atkinson33/44Sweet personalised party favours.
Ruth Atkinson34/44“Food was a very important part of our day! The head chef, Mike, helped us curate the perfect late summer menu with local ingredients.”
Ruth Atkinson35/44A happy guest at the reception.
Ruth Atkinson36/44Raising a glass to Ellery and Florent.
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Ruth Atkinson37/44Cutting the cake: vanilla with raspberry compote filling.
Ruth Atkinson38/44“We had Eton mess served for dessert in the garden alongside coffee and tea, before cutting a vanilla cake with raspberry compote filling. We then had wood-fired pizzas later on in the evening to keep the party going!”
Ruth Atkinson39/44“We were excited to infuse aspects of Kosovan culture into the day, one of them being the music and the traditional dance, the Valle. After dessert, we had a live Kosovan band perform.”
Ruth Atkinson40/44Ellery initially thought she would stay in her wedding dress for the reception, until Magda Butrym’s bridal range persuaded her otherwise. “When I saw the structured lace corset and miniskirt I knew I had to! I paired it with classic Jimmy Choo Romy pumps for the evening, and swapped out my diamond earrings for my grandma’s chunky gold hoops.”
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Ruth Atkinson41/44Getting the party started on the dancefloor.
Ruth Atkinson42/44Ellery in her Magda Butrym reception look, finished with classic Jimmy Choo heels.
Ruth Atkinson43/44After the wedding, the newlyweds, who share a passion for travel, enjoyed a honeymoon in Japan.
Ruth Atkinson44/44“We are still on cloud nine.”
