Phillipa Lepley bride Hedvig

One of Stockholm’s grandest churches, Engelbrektskyrkan, was the setting for Phillipa Lepley bride Hedvig’s wedding. She wore an exquisite celebration of lace – an ivory lace high-neck wedding dress, paired with a breathtaking two-tier Buttercup lace silk tulle veil.

Flying to London from Stockholm for the creation of her couture wedding dress, Hedvig was welcomed into The Phillipa Lepley Shop & Conservatory in Chelsea for a series of appointments where the dress transitioned from sketch to silk. 

‘In the beginning phase of searching for a wedding dress, I knew that I wanted a timeless design in which I could feel like myself. Travelling from Stockholm and seeing the exquisite materials and craftsmanship in real life, meeting the team and understanding their immense attention to detail made me realise that I did not want anything else than a Phillipa Lepley couture wedding dress’. 

Phillipa Lepley bride Hedvig Cervin

The base of Hedvig’s gown was a renowned Phillipa Lepley timeless silhouette – a strapless corseted bodice contrasted with a full A-line skirt and petticoats to create a soft, feminine shape that highlighted the waist. 

Phillipa and her team have been refining the expert craft of British corsetry for over 35 years. Each corset is specially engineered for the bride in the Phillipa Lepley Atelier before it is refined on the body during fittings to create the desired shape. When paired with Phillipa’s luxurious satin, smoothly moulded over the corset, the shapely precision can be seen in full effect.

A high-neck, ‘Geneva Buttercup’ overlay sat over the base dress. Formed from delicate, fine French corded lace, it gave the bridal look an instant air of romance. The high neckline elongated the body and neck, subtly accentuating feminine features. 

Crafted from ivory, heavy-weight duchess satin, Hedvig’s dress created a beautiful canvas for the lace overlay. The sheen of the duchess satin contrasted with the warmer-toned lace layered on top so that the beauty of the detailed lace shone.

 ‘I was very drawn to the delicate look and feel of the ivory satin gown with the overlay of lace due to its feminine timelessness’ 

Phillipa Lepley bride Hedvig Cervin

Although undeniably timeless and demure, Hedvig’s wedding dress design incorporated many modern design moments – a combination of a sleek strapless dress neckline and closely fitted cap sleeves – to ensure it felt true to her. 

‘Wearing my wedding dress was like a dream come true, I felt as if my personality was reflected in it. I have never felt as beautiful.’ 

Phillipa Lepley bride Hedvig Cervin

The beauty of a couture wedding dress is in the finishing – delicate organic edging on the hems of the lace featured three miniature scallops within each lace scallop and little ‘eyelash’ threads along the edges – both fine, intricate detailing that captures the eye.

Walking herself down the aisle – a Swedish tradition – Hedvig likened her dress to ‘secure and comfortable armour’. Her silk tulle veil – hand-made from the same lace as her gown – took centre stage as it trailed behind her in the church in a breathtaking bridal moment. 

When designing looks for a bride’s wedding day, Phillipa is ever inspired by the framing aspect a veil creates. Hedvig’s long veil, paired with her gown’s striking A-line silhouette, made impactful triangle shapes that served to highlight the defined corseted waist.

Surrounded by the dark grandeur of Engelbrektskyrkan church, Hedvig contrasted with her background in beautiful, bright ivory – an unforgettable look that will be remembered for years to come. Breathtakingly timeless with modern touches, her couture lace wedding dress and veil were the perfect match for her grand Stockholm wedding.

Photography: Linda Broström

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.