For the first time in years, I've had multiple clients hire live musicians — not just for the ceremony either.

I'm seeing live bands booked for cocktail hour and the reception, too. (Live music is a great way to have a packed dance floor at a wedding.)

Several of my recent clients chose to do their first dance as soon as guests sat down for a main meal.

It's a good choice for a couple who's put some time into practicing a first dance or really just want people to pay attention to it.

If you do this and don't have additional VIP dances planned for later in the reception, make sure you have a way to signal to guests that your dance floor is officially open. (An announcement works great as does a particularly beloved song.)

Flowers aren't going anywhere, but I'm seeing increased interest in couples wanting to incorporate live plants like succulents, ferns, and even potted trees into their decor.

I've noticed an uptick in the number of venues that require vendors to provide proof of business insurance. This is important for couples to know since not all vendors carry it.

Read your venue contract and use my list of interview questions for vendors to avoid a sticky situation.

Many of my clients have begun celebrating the quirky parts of their relationship at their weddings and letting guests in on the fun.

From wearing wings with a wedding dress to using Lego bricks as centerpieces, there are so many unique ways to add whimsy to the big day.

There's no denying that people love photo booths — they combine a souvenir with an activity.

I'm seeing continued interest in these, especially ones with a real person attending them instead of the more DIY ring-light setups.

People seem to be craving more physical mementos from their weddings than ever — especially when they can help create a memorable experience for guests.

I've seen couples hire artists to paint the ceremony as it happens or to create tintypes and flower pressings for guests.

Audio keepsakes, where couples rent a phone and have guests record messages that'll later be turned into a vinyl, are also popular right now.

Mixed-gender and mixed-number wedding parties aren't anything new, but how we recognize the people we love continues to evolve.

Some couples are skipping wedding parties entirely and instead celebrating VIPs through toasts, flower handouts, and other meaningful moments.

Over the past few years, couples just had to have custom drinks inspired by themselves and maybe even each of their pets.

These special cocktails are still cute and fun — but the once-intense desire to have them seems to be dying down.

More of my clients want to magically appear during their reception instead of being formally introduced.

This makes sense for introverted folks, and it's not hard to make a grand entrance into a more casual one. For example, skip the coordinated dance moves and don't have the emcee announce the arrival of every VIP.

Streaming the ceremony and other key wedding-day moments feels like a vestige of a former time.

Folks still use video during a wedding — perhaps for calling loved ones who couldn't attend in person — but I saw far fewer clients send around Zoom links in the past year.

De Vries, 62, and Goed, 60, met in 2011 in Holland, where they still live today. She caught Goed's eye when she was out to dinner with friends; they've been an item ever since.

De Vries works in administration at a university, while Goed, who has two daughters, is partially retired but still does some work in the business sector.

Before he proposed in August 2023, Goed consulted de Vries' daughter, Chloe Crouch, 27, because of her close-knit relationship with her mother. De Vries raised Crouch on her own, as Crouch's father died when she was just 11 months old.

Crouch is also the founder of the wedding planning company Chloe Crouch Events, so her insight was even more valuable to Goed.

"He was asking me all those little things, like what kind of engagement ring," Crouch told Business Insider. "It was also not only my job as a wedding planner to advise but also a bit like his daughter. And I know my mom very well."

Of course, de Vries said yes when Goed popped the question.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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.

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.

"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.

"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.

"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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