Phillipa Lepley bride Katie | Phillipa Lepley

Our Brides

Phillipa Lepley bride Katie

Married amongst the spectacular surroundings of Lake Como, Phillipa Lepley bride Katie wore an exquisite Italian duchess satin gown with a wide collar and bespoke softly coloured hand embroidery.

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Katie’s gown was crafted from a luxurious heavyweight Duchess satin in ivory, woven in mills near where she was married in Lake Como.

Formed upon a Phillipa Lepley corset, the fabric enveloped Katie’s shoulders in a wide collar, specially positioned to enhance her silhouette. The architectural lines of the gown, with a column skirt and a play of pleated angles, embody timeless elegance.

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‘Upon meeting Phillipa, I had no vision nor understanding of various dress cuts and characteristics that best suited me. I hoped to feel comfortably confident about my body on my wedding day. In its own right, I felt the dress was crisp and feminine – simultaneously avant-garde. I was drawn to the flattering silhouette and the classic glamour it exudes.’

Phillipa Lepley bride Katie

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Working closely with Phillipa and her specialist team, bespoke embroidery was developed for Katie’s dress, featuring North American Wildflowers and Maiden’s Hair Fern.

Phillipa’s Head of Embellishment collaborated with Katie to carefully select pastel tones that complemented the rich ivory of the duchess satin – a delicate dance of blush pinks and sage greens were chosen as the main colours, while a hint of pale yellow was added to highlight areas of the design.

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The embroidery whispered across the collar and over the bodice, before trickling down the back of the skirt onto the long train. The placement of each thread was a meticulous process, with Phillipa herself intricately guiding the organic flow, ensuring a subtle cascade of wildflowers with even a few delicate petals escaping off the collar.

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‘When Phillipa began to pin miscellaneous floral appliqués during our first visit, (all a variety that she grows in her own fields and vast gardens at home), I knew she had a clear vision in mind. I truly appreciated watching her work her magic: I now understand the veracity of artistic vision and feel that I’ve enriched my appreciation for couture.’

Phillipa Lepley bride Katie

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After an initial visit and consultation with Phillipa, Katie’s embroidery design came to life virtually, as she was based in the U.S. She was consulted via video call and posted special swatches of the embroidery’s development, whilst work was underway behind the scenes in The Phillipa Lepley Atelier. At the optimal time, Katie flew back to London for her fittings at The Conservatory on Cheslea’s Fulham Road where the dress was refined on her.

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As a sentimental touch, the Atelier team hand-embroidered Katie’s late father’s initials into the inside of her collar, so Katie could keep his memory close to her heart throughout the day.

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Katie’s two-tier silk tulle veil echoed the shapes of her gown, hand-embroidered with the same floral motifs in ivory—a magnificent companion to her bespoke gown.

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Katie’s breathtaking venue, Villa del Balbianello, provided the perfect backdrop for a celebration curated by wedding planner Gemma Aurelius.

‘The word “dream” is truly the only way I could describe our wedding. We were married with our 70 dearest family and friends surrounding us, under the infamous 3 arches of the villa, or “Loggia Durini,” overlooking the lake in all directions. Gemma, our incredible planner, helped us to incorporate deep hues of purple and blue hydrangea and gardenia along with beautiful greenery. We filled the dinner with candles of all heights, creating an atmosphere full of romance. The magic of the venue was especially highlighted with a fireworks show and other-worldly Italian singing Tenors – both of which were surprises for our guests. We ended the evening on our feet, dancing our hearts out.’

Phillipa Lepley bride Katie

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Katie’s gown truly showcases the bespoke artistry possible when designing a dress with Phillipa Lepley. Each design element from the modern satin shaped collar, bespoke floral embroidery and intimate sentimental touches, were expertly crafted to Katie’s vision ensuring she would feel amazing on her special day. 

‘Words don’t seem to suffice to state the joy that my dress brought me. I felt gorgeous, I felt comfortable, and I felt so genuinely “me.” Phillipa is an artist in the truest sense of the word. I remain exceedingly in awe of her talent.’ – Katie, on her couture experience at Phillipa Lepley.

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Photography by Matteo Coltro Weddings

Planning by My Lake Como Wedding

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.