Photography: Emma Bassill.
When baker and author Jordan Rondel showed up in a chic, asymmetrical ivory dress and matching veil on her wedding day in scenic Santa Barbara, California, she sent a bolt of electricity through her dashing Detroit-born groom Ryan Fiorentino.
“The instant I saw her, it felt like I stuck my finger into a light socket, but a huge one that would illuminate New York!” Ryan, 43, gushes about the former Great Kiwi Bake Off judge.
“She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, but that moment maxed out my nerves.”
Jordan, 36, says, “There’s a particular smile he does which is my favourite of all his smiles. It’s different because it’s with his eyes. He had it all day.”
A bold first move
It wasn’t Ryan’s grin, but his brave moves that first caught Jordan’s attention when the pair met at Los Angeles members club Soho Warehouse in 2022.
“He ran an ice cube down my arm, which was a brave first step,” laughs Jordan, who moved to LA in 2019 to expand her cake kit company The Caker.
“He was this bold guy, which is funny because he’s normally demure. I don’t know what came over him that night.”
Taking it slow
Having both recently come out of relationships and with Jordan busy developing the business with her sister Anouk, the two took things slowly, building a bond during a series of tourist dates planned by Ryan, who works as a head strategist for Nasa.
Jordan recalls, “He took me to parts of town I never knew about and introduced me to people we’re still close with. There was constantly a new adventure.”
A surprise proposal in Ojai
Moving in together, the pair had discussed marriage, but Jordan wasn’t suspicious when Ryan came home one day last July and told her to pack for a stay at a gorgeous inn in Ojai, California. She found him on one knee on the guesthouse’s balcony the next morning and immediately said yes.
Excited to get married and keen to avoid the stress of planning a big event, they decided to have a “micro- wedding”, with just eight guests at a beautiful hotel located 90 minutes north of LA. Anouk and their mum Dee were by Jordan’s side as she slipped into a “dream dress” by Italian designer Marina Eerrie and a chain headpiece made by a friend.
Jordan says Ryan, who wore a Balenciaga suit and boots, looked tall, handsome and like “the man of my dreams” as he entered their hotel’s courtyard. The group then strolled to the local courthouse, where an “ethereal, sweet” celebrant conducted an outdoor wedding ceremony.
“I was a blubbering mess,” admits Jordan.
“We were both in tears because it felt so right to say those vows with the people closest to us. Ryan’s a wordsmith, so his were gorgeous. “I highly recommend a micro-wedding! Even though it was tiny, it felt so special and had the same gravity of a bigger event. I could connect with everyone and didn’t feel stressed.”
Celebrating in style
The wedding party then celebrated with a seafood dinner and although there was no wedding cake for the famed baker, Jordan may make one if they have a bigger party in the future. After spending two days on a mini-honeymoon, where they meditated and relaxed at a health retreat, the pair returned to LA to begin their new chapter – although Jordan jokes they’ve formed a gang of three with her sister Anouk.
She laughs, “There’s no such thing as a date because there’s three of us! She’s our sidekick.”
Navigating life after The Caker
Having sold The Caker in 2024 – after overcoming hurdles like losing $30,000 in a business scam and partnering with Chrissy Teigen, only to find the model launch a similar line of baking mixes – Jordan says Ryan’s support has helped her through a huge transition.
“It was a big lifestyle shift selling up,” she tells.
“My whole identity was deeply wrapped up in The Caker for 14 years, so it was tough on me and our relationship. Ryan was a rock. He helped me find my footing.”
Back to her roots
Jordan’s gone back to her roots, baking private cake orders for the likes of Miley Cyrus and Billie Eilish, and she and Ryan are launching a fragrance brand. Ryan has only enriched Jordan’s confidence in the business world, helping her squash the self-deprecating voice inside. He’s also redefined her perspective on relationships.
“It’s about wanting the person I love to flourish,” smiles Jordan.
“His happiness and growth bring me joy, and that feels like the purest expression of love.”
