CAN HARDLY WAIT? HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CIVIL WEDDING

Set to be married in a grand celebration in Rome next year, Andrea Albani and Camille Lhuillier decided to have a civil wedding in Manila

- JANE KINGSU-CHENG

One serendipitous day in 2017, Camille Lhuillier was asked by her brother, Philippine Consul General for San Marino Jean Henri, to take his friend out for drinks. International businessman Andrea Albani was just in Manila for a few days and Jean Henri thought that his sister was a great candidate to take him out since they were in the same age group. “We hit it offright away,” says Camille who revealed that Andrea wanted to go on a date as soon as he could fly back to Manila.

From dating to proposing

A long-distance affair can be quite the challenge, but the two have been able to strengthen their relationship through frequent travels. Andrea was based in Asia during their first year as a couple, giving the pair an opportunity to explore countries within the region such as Vietnam and Indonesia. Their second year had him fly back to his country, San Marino, but he found a way to stay closer to Camille with a job in Hong Kong.

A man who respects tradition, Andrea asked permission from Camille’s parents last December if he could marry their daughter “But he did not ask me yet. My parents were already sharing the good news that we were engaged. People were asking me if he had proposed already, but he hadn’t,” says Camille. “People were getting confused, because we were already booking wedding suppliers. We even chose a date, but no proposal yet.”

It was only when they flew to Rome last February to meet his parents and to scout for some venues that he proposed. “He surprised me in Rome where I grew up, and he proposed with his mother’s ring which was quite beautiful.”

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