Cover Image courtesy of Erica Paredes / Camila Lhuillier
Image courtesy of Erica Paredes / Camila Lhuillier
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An altar decked with carnations and fireworks is better than what Camila Lhuillier dreamed of
In 2019, after only dating for about two years, Andrea Albani asked Camila Lhuillier's parents for her hand in marriage. When his request was granted, the couple did not waste any time planning for their big day.
See also: There's No Stopping Her: Monique Lhuillier on Celebrating Her 25th Year in the Fashion Industry
They had to postpone the wedding four times—each time starting from scratch—during the onslaught of the pandemic. But the bride collaborated with two wedding coordinators—Rita Neri Event Planners from Manila, and Eva Presutti Wedding Planner from Rome—to realise her dream wedding.
Above The bride in a dazzling tiara
Above San Michele in Palo Laziale
The bride in a dazzling tiara
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Above The bride with her father
Amb Philippe Jones Lhuillier
Above The newlyweds
The bride with her father Amb Philippe Jones Lhuillier
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Above Wedding rings
Above The church ceremony
Wedding rings
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“It’s what I’ve done all my life. I’ve planned parties, and I would say this is the best party I’ve ever planned,” the bride says with a laugh, reminiscing the week-long celebration.
Around 140 guests joined the couple on their special day, most of them family and closest friends. Also invited was a Filipino priest from Rome, Father Bonifacio Lopez, whom Lhuillier had known since she was eight. Still, there were a few kinks that Lhuillier did not anticipate.
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“I was really shocked when the fireworks went off as we were cutting the cake...we moved to the corner of the villa which was on the ocean. They had the cake there. I was telling my husband, ‘My gosh, this is really amazing!’” says the bride. “The fireworks
were so beautiful.”
The bride and groom with Bea Berti, Mariella Maluroni, Francesco Albani, Roberta Mularoni, Giulia Berti and Marino Albani
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Florist Andrea Patrizi also decorated the La Posta Vecchia Hotel with Lhuiller’s favourite flower, the carnation, to emulate the folds of her dress.
Lhuillier, who has a liking for pink dresses, fell in love with the voluminous dress she had seen on her cousin Monique Lhuillier’s coffee table book. Her father, whom she asked about wedding dresses, encouraged the bride to walk down the aisle in a pink gown.
The couple with Amb Philippe J Lhuillier, Edna Lhuillier, Roberta Mularoni and Dr Marino Albani
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She shares, “It’s not couture, but it’s not off-the-rack because we customised it quite a bit. The original dress had sleeves on [both] sides. We did a spaghetti strap so it could fit my shape a little bit better. We did a little customisation on the bodice by adding a corset. We got the matching shoes and the matching veil. I also got the tiara from Monique. My wedding dress was Monique, but Mark Bumgarner did all my other dresses: from the welcome party to the despedida de soltera and the after-party.”
For their first dance, the pair joined hands and waltzed across the dance floor while their favourite song Fall on Me by Andrea Bocelli and Matteo Bocelli was playing in the background.
See also: Wedding Inspiration 2021: 7 Gowns For The Minimalist Bride
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“It was the first big event after Covid for a lot of people, so you can feel the excitement and joy envelop the occasion,” she says.
“Everybody was smiling!” Looking back, the bride believes that her dream wedding turned out to be better than she had ever imagined.
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Credits
Images: Metrophoto / Oly Ruiz / Erron Ocampo / Rae Cabradilla
Christine Andas is a features writer and the style lead of Tatler Philippines. She mostly covers style-related content but enjoys writing about space, sneakers, and her favourite stars. She acquired a master's degree in Creative Writing at the University of Santo Tomas and has written young adult short stories which can be read online.
