Phillipa Lepley bride Kate

Phillipa Lepley bride Kate and her husband David Lindesay-Bethune were married in a beautiful church ceremony in St Andrews before the couple celebrated with a marquee reception on the front lawn of the family’s home. Kate wore a timeless white duchess satin strapless gown with a high-neck buttercup lace overlay, which she later removed for the evening reception.

Having previously designed wedding dresses in the Lindesay-Bethune family, Phillipa was delighted to work with Kate to design her regal bridal look. 

Opting for an iconic Phillipa Lepley silhouette, Kate’s dress featured a waist-defining corset – a staple in every design. Phillipa is passionate about celebrating the feminine figure through her designs. The skirt was fitted over the high hip to show the defined shape created, whilst maintaining dramatic fullness with petticoats.

Kate wore a high-neck, full-length detachable lace overlay over the top of her dress which was crafted from ‘Buttercup’ lace – a French corded lace that instantly adds an air of romance to any bridal look.

Phillipa’s team worked with Kate to design her bespoke ‘dream’ sleeve, fitting closely over the shoulder and extending long to the midpoint of her arm in a modern ‘t-shirt’ cut. The design was finished with beautiful edging on the hems featuring three miniature scallops within each lace scallop.

The sheen of the white duchess satin and a warmer-toned lace layered over the top made for a stunning bridal look, with the slight colour difference highlighting the beauty of the detailed lace. “The buttercup lace had the most beautiful design and brought my vision exactly to life. I loved the scalloped hem and the way the lace was perfect on top of the satin.” – Phillipa Lepley bride Kate.

A long plain single-tier silk tulle veil framed the dress, paired with family heirloom jewellery and tiara.

After the ceremony and for the evening of her wedding Kate transformed her look, removing the detachable lace overlay and swapping it for a narrow satin belt worn with her strapless duchess satin gown – “I always knew I wanted to lean into a more traditional look for the church and then be able to have my look change for the dinner/dancing. Everyone thought I was in a completely different dress!’ says Kate. The long train was bustled to allow for lots of dancing.

The impeccable fit of the corset sang in her strapless gown, a testament to the world-renowned corsetry Philipa and her team have been refining for over 35 years, while the gently rounded strapless neckline highlighted the beauty of the décolleté.

Kate’s two bridal looks beautifully contrasted with each other, from a romantic regal look in lace to a clean, chic satin. 

“I was so in love with my dress. I felt beautiful and comfortable the entire night and loved it! I adored the lace for the church and reception and almost did not want to take it off! However, upon removing I felt like that was a transition into a more festive and party vibe and loved the strapless duchess satin.” – Phillipa Lepley bride Kate.

The couple celebrated their marriage with a weekend in the Scottish highlands joined by guests from the couple’s respective homes of America and Scotland. Kate & David met and got engaged in Scotland, having spent lots of time there, so it felt only fitting to tie the knot in a place they hold so dear. 

Their wedding blended American and Scottish traditions to ensure the day was filled with special personal touches. The newlyweds were transported from the church to the reception in a beautiful horse-drawn carriage that has been in the family for over 100 years. ‘We then entered the marquee with bagpipers piping us into dinner!’ – Kate 

Photography: David Wheeler

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.