Phillipa Lepley bride Charlotte

After receiving many recommendations from family and friends, Phillipa Lepley bride Charlotte booked her initial appointment as soon as the Shop reopened following the Covid Restrictions in Spring 2021.

Charlotte says, “I knew that Phillipa Lepley and the team would be able to create what I had imagined: a dress that was classic but with an element of surprise, with meticulous attention to the dress construction and fabric quality, and with impeccable, delicate detail.”

Charlotte’s bespoke silk crepe, corseted dress included all the elements she wished for with an elegant high neckline, a classic silhouette and she was especially drawn to the beautiful hand-embellished tulle yoke. She says, “The organic, hand-embellished wild flowers of the yoke perfectly mirrored the leaves on the family tiara that I knew I would be wearing for the day, so that stroke of luck really drove my decision.”

“My favourite detail of the dress is how the delicate beaded wild flowers meander outside of their lines encircling the yoke, and create a sense of movement along the edges of the cap sleeves. I love how this adds a bit of playfulness and whimsy that balances the formality of the silhouette.”

Charlotte chose a plain two tier silk tulle veil, elegantly balancing her family tiara and framing her delicately embroidered gown. She says, “I loved contrasting the intricacy of the yoke with the clean fluidity of the silk crepe dress and the simplicity of an unembellished tulle veil.”

Looking back at her couture fittings process, a particularly special moment for Charlotte was at her final fitting, when her best friend who was helping her into the dress on her wedding day was finally able to attend. She says, “After months of attending appointments by myself, as my family is based in America and travel was restricted, it was so exciting and cathartic to share the beauty of the dress with her.”

Charlotte’s timeless dress truly echoed the opulence of her wedding day, marrying in The Chapel of Saint Anthony the Eremite, at Murthly Castle, followed by a reception at the nearby Scone Palace which had been in her husband, William’s, family for 400 years. She says, “There we held an afternoon champagne reception where guests were welcomed by six Scottish pipers. In the evening, we held a formal dinner in the Long Gallery at Scone, followed by dancing in the State Dining Room to live golden era jazz music.”

When asked how she felt wearing her couture gown, Charlotte says, “I felt both the enormity of the occasion…and completely myself. The experience of wearing it perfectly balanced old and new, with elements that echoed the heritage and grandeur of our surroundings, a sense of tradition, and the minimalism of my everyday aesthetic. Because I felt such ease and confidence in the dress, I was able to commit all of my attention in the moment to basking, with William, in the significance, joy, and collective celebration of our wedding day. It was magic.”

Photography – Chloe Winstanley @chloewinstanleyphotography

Phillipa Lepley is recognised globally as a leading British wedding dress and eveningwear designer, renowned for bespoke couture dresses of the utmost luxury. Her wedding dress shop in London, Chelsea, has over 50 dresses, all of which have been made in England from start to finish at her atelier.