Phillipa Lepley bride Catherine

For the creation of her Phillipa Lepley couture dress, Catherine travelled from Texas to our London atelier, her fitting schedule built around her travel plans – a personalised approach we extend to every bride who comes to us from overseas.

Her gown was a bespoke design in ivory duchess satin from Lake Como, drawn from the silhouette of our ‘Magnificent Moire’. The signature Phillipa Lepley corset defined the waist, set against a full, sweeping skirt that made an entrance through the church before being bustled for the evening. An off-the-shoulder V neckline – framing the feminine décolleté – led into crossover straps and a richly draped bodice with three clean pleats at the side, drawing the eye to the signature corseted waist. Further pleats radiated from the back waist seam into a full A-line skirt with petticoats, contrasting beautifully with the corseted bodice, and the look was finished with a wide duchess satin belt. Every element sat in precise proportion on her frame, the result of a couture process tailored entirely to Catherine.

Her two-tier silk tulle veil featured 362 individually hand-embroidered wildflower motifs – cow parsley, allium, sheep sorrel, tiarella, meadow rue, cowslip, dandelion, erigeron, verbena and scabiosa – in soft tones of peach, yellow and ivory. A true labour of love and a deeply personal piece that spoke to the endless bespoke possibilities of having a couture Phillipa Lepley design.

Photography by Caroline Lima

Planning by Sweet August Events