A 62-year-old bride surprised herself by falling in love with a sparkly, form-fitting wedding dress
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.
The couple decided to get married in Greece.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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 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."
"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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
"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.
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.
"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.
"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."
"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.
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