An engagement ring is displayed at a jewellery store in Tokyo June 2, 2009.
IN PHOTO: An engagement ring is displayed at a jewellery store in Tokyo June 2, 2009. Japanese men are increasingly spending less on diamond engagement rings or not buying them at all, a reflection of the country's sluggish economy and changing views on courtship and marriage. Picture taken June 2, 2009. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

“My Kitchen Rules” series 5 star Chloe James had a dream wedding with her childhood sweetheart Luca Piettropiccolo in New York. Barely a year later, though, the marriage has ended.

Chloe sold her wedding pictures to Woman’s Day magazine in June 2014, showing off her gorgeous custom-made Kevin Raphael lace gown and their beautiful wedding. In another Woman’s Day exclusive, the reality show star, who competed in the Seven Network cooking program with best friend Kelly Ramsay, admitted her marriage failed to even make it to a year.

She had been with Luca for six years, though they had been living in separate states for the last three years. She and her 9-year-old son from a previous relationship stayed in Perth, while Luca was in Melbourne. Still, there was no doubt in her mind that she would be spending the rest of her days with him.

However, things didn’t turn out quite as planned. Chloe mistakenly thought Luca would move back to Perth after a year to be with her and his stepson. After their honeymoon in Las Vegas, Chloe and Luca went back to their respective States, prompting them to lead a “together yet single” existence.

“I’m embarrassed I couldn’t make our marriage work within a year,” she told the mag of her 362-day marriage. She added she felt “totally alone and lost” in their relationship.

Her social media followers had no clue her marriage had ended, though. On June 6, she celebrated her first wedding anniversary by posting photos from her wedding last year. “One year ago. How time flies,” she captioned one photo on her Instagram.

While Chloe was hoping her marriage with Luca would last, Kelly wasn’t as optimistic. She confessed she was having doubts about her friend’s relationship with Luca even on the wedding day itself.

Her short-lived marriage may be kaput, but her partnership with Kelly is going strong. The MKR pair, who finished as runners-up in the series, run their own catering business and cooking schools in Perth and Brisbane. They are also lending their culinary expertise to WA’s dining scene as the new restaurant critics for STM and PerthNow.

Contact the writer: a.lu@ibtimes.com.au

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