A 62-year-old bride surprised herself by falling in love with a sparkly, form-fitting wedding dress

A side-by-side of a bride and groom at their wedding altar and the bride smiling in her gown.
Aldy de Vries wore her dream dress to her August 2024 wedding.Eline Nijburg Photography
  • Aldy de Vries and Ron Goed got married in August after over a decade together.

  • De Vries wore a sparkly gown with a corset bodice to their destination wedding in Greece.

  • Footage of de Vries in her wedding gown went viral online.

When Aldy de Vries got engaged in August 2023, she knew she wanted to find a white wedding dress for her big day.

It didn't matter that she was 62 years old and had been married once before. De Vries didn't get to have a wedding when she married her late husband, and she wanted to feel like a bride when this wedding finally came.

Still, de Vries didn't anticipate falling in love with a sparkly, form-fitting wedding gown — or that a TikTok video of her dress would amass over 30 million views.

A bride and groom raise their champagne glasses in a toast.
Aldy de Vries and Ron Goed got married in August 2024.Eline Nijburg Photography

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The couple decided to get married in Greece.

A bride and groom embrace at sunset. The bride smiles at the groom.
The couple got married in Greece.Eline Nijburg Photography

De Vries and Goed got married in Zakynthos, Greece, at The Cotton Beach Club on August 31.

They invited just 35 people to the event and held a bigger reception in the Netherlands a week later.

It was a no-brainer that Crouch would plan both wedding celebrations.

She told BI she designed it with an "old-money aesthetic," as she wanted the wedding to feel luxurious and classic with touches like a cigar bar.

De Vries knew she wanted to find a traditional wedding dress for the event.

A woman in a robe and sunglasses lounges on a chaise by a pool. She holds a glass of champagne.
The bride on the morning of her wedding.Eline Nijburg

When she married Crouch's father, De Vries didn't have a big wedding with a classic gown. So she knew she wanted the traditional white dress the second time around.

"It was my day with my husband-to-be, and I thought, 'I'm gonna do what I want,'" she said of her decision to wear a traditional wedding gown.

She went shopping with Crouch, Goed's daughters, and a friend to find the perfect dress. It was especially exciting for Crouch and de Vries because they had been big fans of "Say Yes to the Dress" throughout Crouch's teen years.

When she started shopping, de Vries didn't have an exact idea of the type of dress she wanted, though she was pretty set on not wanting a strapless or fitted dress.

To her surprise, de Vries fell in love with a fitted, strapless gown.

A bride and groom smile at each other as the sun sets behind them.
The dress spoke to her.Eline Nijburg Photography

De Vries said her loved ones encouraged her to try on several dresses with different silhouettes and designs, leading her to a Made With Love Bridal gown.

With its strapless, form-fitting silhouette, the dress was everything de Vries thought she didn't want.

But she fell in love with it, as did her entourage.

"She loves glitter and glamour," Crouch said of her mother. "I saw the dress with the pearls and glam, and I was like, 'This is her.'"

The gown retailed for $3,100 in the US as of November.

The details made de Vries' dress one of a kind.

A bride and groom embrace at sunset on a balcony.
The gown featured pearl detailing.Eline Nijburg Photography

The form-fitting dress had a semi-sheer base and was covered from head to toe in pearlescent beading and delicate lace.

The beading created a subtle crisscross pattern, shimmering as de Vries moved.

The gown was cinched at the waist and flowed into a subtle train at the hem. The fabric was light, perfect for an island wedding.

A corset bodice gave the gown a modern edge.

A bride and groom look at each other and smile in front of trees.
The boning on the corset was subtly visible.Eline Nijburg Photography

The corset bodice featured a strapless, sweetheart neckline.

The boning was visible through the slightly sheer fabric, elevating the look. The pearl detailing also stood out against the material.

Classic accessories and styling completed the look.

A bride in a sparkly, white dress sits on a couch and smiles.
The look was effortlessly glamorous.Eline Nijburg Photography

De Vries paired her dress with pearl-covered shoes that coordinated with the gown, delicate dangly earrings, and a heart-shaped necklace. The shoes were from Athens, which was a fun way to incorporate the destination into her look.

She wore her hair in a twist for the ceremony with natural but glamorous makeup.

Osima Bridalstudio, whom de Vries knows well because she frequently works with Crouch, styled her hair and makeup.

The dress also had a sweet connection to Crouch's roots.

A bride sits on a couch in her wedding dress.
The dress was from Australia.Eline Nijburg Photography

Made With Love Bridal is based in Australia, where Crouch's father was from. She and de Vries lived there until her father's death.

"It's got a little connection with Australia, so it made it even more like, 'Yes, this should be it,'" Crouch said of what the gown's origins meant to them.

De Vries said the dress made her feel like "a different person."

A woman in a strapless wedding dress smiles.
She loved the gown.Eline Nijburg Photography

Although it wasn't what she initially imagined, de Vries said the dress was perfect for her.

"I just love that dress," she said. "I thought it was fantastic."

Goed was "blown away" by de Vries' dress.

A bride and groom laugh during their wedding ceremony under a floral arch.
The dress was a surprise to the groom.Eline Nijburg Photography

De Vries didn't show Goed her dress before the wedding. She told BI she joked with him throughout their engagement that she would wear a "cupcake dress."

So when he saw her real dress, he was overwhelmed and emotional by how beautiful de Vries looked.

"He was in shock," Crouch said, adding that his emotional reaction to seeing de Vries made her cry. "It was like I had to cry because he was crying so much."

The ceremony took place overlooking the ocean.

A wedding ceremony with a floral arch overlooking the ocean and mountains.
The ceremony space.Eline Nijburg Photography

Crouch decorated the ceremony space with white and green florals, covering the seating with large umbrellas to keep guests comfortable.

A massive floral arch served as the centerpiece of the decor.

The House of Artz provided florals for the nuptials.

Both the bride and groom were escorted down the aisle by their daughters.

A side-by-side of a bride and groom walking down the aisle at their wedding.
The wedding was a family affair.Eline Nijburg Photography

Because Crouch planned the event, she was working the wedding day in addition to being a bridesmaid.

"At some point, I had to give it away to someone else because I had to walk down the aisle with my mom," she said. "I was still like, 'OK, you come here, you do this,' but as soon as I was with my mom and we walked down the aisle, I was like, 'OK, I'm a bridesmaid for the first time in my life.'"

The duo said Crouch was emotional as they walked down the aisle, while de Vries was full of joy.

De Vries and Goed said personal vows to each other.

A bride and groom kiss under a floral arch during their wedding ceremony.
A friend officiated the wedding.Eline Nijburg Photography

A friend of de Vries' was their officiant, which was in line with the intimate feel of the wedding.

"It was all the people who actually make our life happy," she said of the destination wedding's attendees.

She also said that lightning struck at the moment they said "I do," adding a dramatic flair to the nuptials.

De Vries said the ceremony was "perfect."

A bride and groom look at each other during their wedding ceremony in front of a floral archway.
The ceremony was joyful for the bride.Eline Nijburg Photography

"I'm a big cry girl," de Vries said. "If it's a movie where somebody cries, I totally go over the top crying. But it didn't happen."

Instead, she was gleeful throughout the day, soaking up the experience.

"I thought it was a magical day," she said, from getting ready with the girls to the ocean-view ceremony.

"I just enjoyed every second of it," she added.

De Vries switched up her hairstyle after the ceremony.

A bride holds a glass of champagne at her wedding.
The hair gave her a second look.Eline Nijburg Photography

She didn't wear a different dress for the reception, as more and more brides do.

However, she did change her hairstyle from the updo to a more relaxed, swept-back style to set the tone for the party.

The celebration continued at a beachside reception.

A wedding table is set up in the sand with billowy panels covering it.
The dinner was on the beach.Eline Nijburg Photography

Crouch arranged for her mother's 35 guests to dine at one estate table following the ceremony. To make it feel intimate, she framed the area with gossamer drapery.

Crouch said one of the highlights of the day was seeing the wedding come together as she had planned for two people she loves so much.

The details of the reception were chosen with care.

A close-up of a wedding reception table on a beach.
The reception table.Eline Nijburg Photography

For instance, Crouch used personalized silk ribbons tied around wine glasses instead of traditional place cards.

She also played with levels in the decor, pairing ultra-high, tapered candles with shorter bouquets.

Studio Spruijt provided stationery for the nuptials.

Crouch said her mom was the easiest wedding client she's ever had.

A bride and her daughter embrace and smile at each other.
Aldy de Vries and Chloe Crouch at the wedding.Eline Nijburg Photography

"It was easier because I know her," Crouch said. "I know what she likes. I know what she dislikes."

Crouch also lived with her mother during the wedding planning process, which made putting the event together even simpler. But it was their close bond that truly made it a breeze.

"The majority of my life, we've been together just the two of us," Crouch said. "It was just us. So we've got a really good bond with each other. We can say whatever we like to each other."

"For me, the wedding planning process was the easiest ever," she said.

The wedding was everything de Vries hoped it would be.

A bride and groom pour champagne into a tower of glasses.
The couple at their wedding.Eline Nijburg Photography

"It was a party from beginning to end," de Vries said.

"It was just fantastic," she added. "I had no stress. I was so happy."

She credits Crouch's planning as one of the main reasons she was just joyful on her wedding day.

The wedding went viral online after de Vries' photographer shared footage of her on TikTok.

A bride stands in her wedding dress looking at her groom, who is off-camera.
The bride went viral on TikTok.Eline Nijburg Photography

Eline Nijburg Photography documented the wedding day, sharing clips of the event on social media after the event.

Nijburg posted a TikTok video of de Vries during the ceremony, where she was laughing and speaking to Goed. The video immediately took off, amassing over 30 million views as of November.

De Vries hopes the video encourages other brides to wear whatever they want on their wedding day.

De Vries wants brides to wear what makes them feel good.

A couple cut their wedding cake.
The couple cutting their cake.Eline Nijburg Photography

"Just go with what you want," de Vries said. "Because people tell you, 'Oh, you're 60 years old. Why would you wear that type of dress?' Why not?"

She said the same applies to people who question if brides who have been married before should wear white.

"Why would I go for a certain type of dress because of my age?" she said.

A bride and groom dance as their friends look on. The bride laughs and presses her cheek against the groom's.
She wants brides to wear what they want.Eline Nijburg Photography

"Go with what you think is pretty," de Vries advised. "It's your day and not somebody else's."

"You have to be comfy and happy with what you're wearing," she added.

De Vries said she loves Goed's "big heart."

A bride and groom kiss as the sun sets behind them.
The newlyweds.Eline Nijburg Photography

"He is very easygoing," she said. "He's a chill person."

"He's got a lot of humor and a very big heart," she added.

If you wore an eye-catching wedding dress and want to talk to Business Insider for a story, contact sgrindell@businessinsider.com.

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