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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider People and Events devider We found love in Umbria

We found love in Umbria

The unforgettable destination wedding of Theo Sandico and Camille Marie Jimenez at the centuries-old monastery Abbazia San Pietro in Valle

Published Feb 19, 2024 05:25 am

At A Glance

  • Theo and Camille initially wanted to have their destination wedding in a castle in France, but after seeing Abbazia San Pietro in Valle, they immediately fell in love with the place.
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A GRAND WEDDING Over 120 invited friends and family members of the couple from all over graced the momentous occasion

By VERONICA BALUYUT-JIMENEZ

About 120 guests from the Philippines, North America, and Europe flew to Umbria in Italy to witness Camille Marie Jimenez and Theo Sandico seal forever their 10-year relationship, which began in college at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Theo and Camille initially wanted to have their destination wedding in a castle in France, but after seeing Abbazia San Pietro in Valle, they immediately fell in love with the place. Not only is the church conveniently located within the monastery, it al- so boasts of 19 charming rooms and two elegant suites, where the wedding entourage could stay. There were lovely hotels in the nearby town of Spoleto for the other guests.

This medieval abbey in Umbria, Italy was founded in the eighth century by Faroaldo II Lombard, the Duke of Spoleto. The historical church is adorned with a magnificent cycle of frescoes depicting stories from the Old and the New Testaments. Sculptures and sarcophagi also embellish the church. Changing owners through the centuries, it is now a small hotel run by the three Costanzi sisters whose family owned the abbey for over a century. Now vying to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the abbey is surrounded by green woods and magnificent views of the valley.

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DESTINATION WEDDING Umbria's charm comes from its medieval hill towns and old churches

On the eve of the wedding, the guests were treated to a welcome Italian dinner at the Alloro Restaurant, also within the Monastery. There was an overflowing of red and white Italian wines from nearby vineyards as well as olive oil dips harvested from the olive groves in the region. The wedding ceremony began the next day at 4 in the afternoon at the Abbey church followed by cocktails and a sumptuous buffet of pre-dinner appetizers.

A short program was held in the courtyard where the two maids of honor and some groomsmen roasted the newlyweds. The formal dinner was in the garden amid breathtaking views of the sprawling Umbria mountains. After the dinner, everyone proceeded to the courtyard for the dance performance of the bride and the groom, as well as the traditional dance with the parents of the couple. The party didn’t end there. The guests were ushered to the dungeon for a buffet of desserts, unlimited cocktails, plus more after-dinner dancing. It took about a year for Camille and Theo to plan and organize the wedding. It helped that there was a Filipina wedding organizer and a Filipino priest in Umbria. All their efforts truly paid off as it turned out to be an elegant and a most memorable wedding not only for the couple but for the guests as well.

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