They always knew that they wanted a small wedding outside the Philippines. Somewhere unique, significant and, most importantly, somewhere their guests would enjoy visiting. But despite having traveled to six continents, they were still left with no answer to their question ... where?
In late 2005, while incessantly doing travel research, Cecile chanced upon a website that described a wedding at the Vatican. Like most people, her initial reaction was, "You can do that?" But it struck a chord with the couple and they knew that they had finally found the answer to their question. After all, what better place to get married than at St. Peter’s Basilica!
Eight months of hectic planning and a KLM flight later, everything was set for the May 9 wedding. The date was chosen for the ideal spring weather and because it is the only time that the Spanish Steps is bedecked in flowers. The reception was to follow on the veranda of the Hassler Hotel’s Presidential Suite. (Previous celebrity sightings show Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes stayed here, too.) Miguel points out, "We chose the Hassler because it has the best view of the city. Anywhere else, and you could just be in a nice restaurant anywhere in the world. Only the Hassler could complete the ‘Rome experience’."
Just as everything looked set to go, Mr. Murphy reared his ugly head. For a week, the weather was fantastic with clear blue skies. But as luck would have it, we woke up early on that Tuesday morning to howling winds and dark stormy skies.
I am sure there were a lot of very stressed people that morning as the Hassler had pulled out all the stops, setting up custom-built tents on the veranda and even preparing outdoor air-conditioning units in case it got too warm. With the inclement weather, however, there was no way the reception was going to be held at the hotel’s top floor. But as photographer Carlo Carletti so aptly said to the couple, "Don’t worry ... pictures will be beautiful ... autumn wedding in spring!"
We arrived at St. Peter’s Square after making it to our shuttles, sharing umbrellas and gingerly making our way, lest our heels got stuck in the wet cobblestones. Just as we entered the Vatican, the enormity of the situation began to dawn on everyone. Most of us had been to St. Peter’s at one time or another, but certainly never to attend a wedding. Nobody really knew what to expect even as the excitement mounted.
At approximately 10:25 a.m., the massive gates of the 15th-century Capella del Coro swung open to let us in. It is difficult to describe the initial rush of awe upon first seeing the chapel, which is gilded in gold from floor to ceiling with a huge painting of the coronation of the Virgin Mary hanging behind the altar. Two historical organs hovered above the intricately carved bas-reliefs, which covered the choir stalls on the sides of the chapel.
The couple arrived a few minutes after we settled down. Accompanied by melodious organ music, Cecile was radiant in a Badgley Mischka wedding gown in beaded silk chiffon with a vintage veil made of Belgian lace. She was escorted down the aisle by her brother Benedict Litonjua, while Miguel waited for her by the altar in his Paul Cabral barong. Officiated by close family friend Msgr. Manuel Gabriel, the ceremony was solemn, simple, and bereft of any entourage, with just a single ninong and ninang serving as witnesses on either side of the couple.
After the wedding, it was off to the Hassler Hotel. As the rain had mercifully stopped, we were able to have cocktails and photo opportunities at the veranda while the reception was moved to the garden, which quite amazingly had a retractable roof.
All told, the reception consisted of excellent food, probably the best wedding singer I have ever heard, great wine, better prosecco, and the best of friends. Appropriately, giveaways were rosaries blessed by the Pope and certificates of apostolic blessing, also from the Pope.
Miguel says, "Putting together this wedding was an enormously difficult task. But in the end, I think everyone agrees that it was very much worth it. One of the things we realized is that a great thing about a destination wedding is that everyone is on vacation. There were no cell phones, nobody had meetings or work the next day. So everyone could just relax, hang out, and enjoy themselves. We just hope that it was as memorable for everyone as it was for us."
Rest assured Cecile and Miguel, all the efforts were absolutely worth it. Everything was truly unique, truly beautiful – and definitely memorable. I can say without a doubt, it was the best wedding I’ve attended. Laughter rang through the afternoon as guests delighted in the food, ambience, and company.