- - Mom Breaks Down in Tears After Daughter Wears Her 1994 Wedding Dress for Engagement Photos (Exclusive)

Ashlyn RobinetteJanuary 16, 2026 at 4:39 AM

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Natalie Harwood and Zachary Vittetow; Natalie Harwood and Nicole Harwood -

Nicole Harwood and David Harwood got married on May 7, 1994

Nearly 32 years later, the couple's daughter, Natalie Harwood, surprised them by wearing Nicole's wedding dress in her engagement photos

"Their faces were priceless — it was full of love, joy, and a few happy tears," Natalie tells PEOPLE

A bride brought her mother to tears when she surprised her by wearing her wedding dress in an engagement photo shoot dedicated to her.

After Natalie Harwood, 28, got engaged to Zachary Vittetow, 30, last year, she decided to try on her mother Nicole Harwood's wedding dress before going traditional wedding dress shopping. To her surprise, the vintage off-the-shoulder gown with tiered ruffles fit perfectly — "both physically and emotionally."

Alongside photos from her parents' May 7, 1994, wedding day, Natalie shared video clips of herself excitedly twirling around in the wedding dress on social media in November 2025. Her TikTok post quickly went viral, amassing more than 3.6 million views and nearly 600,000 likes, with hundreds of commenters begging Natalie to wear her mother's gown during her own ceremony.

Natalie decided she'd do one better — not only wear the wedding dress at her upcoming legal civil ceremony in the States before her destination wedding in Europe next year, but also surprise her parents by getting professional photos taken in the gown."My mom's wedding dress was actually the very first dress I tried on," Natalie tells PEOPLE. "What began as a quiet, personal moment to feel close to her quickly turned into something much bigger. It became a really special way to honor her and bring something so meaningful into this next chapter of my life."

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Nicole Harwood hugs daughter Natalie Harwood with David Harwood in the background

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, Natalie and her fiancé traveled to Villa Como, a private estate nestled atop the hills of Laguna Beach, where Natalie's parents, Nicole, 55, and David, 56, were waiting.

Nicole glowed with pride and tenderness as she admired Natalie in her old wedding dress. She couldn't contain her smile as her own wedding memories came rushing back.

"Seeing my daughter, Natalie, today in my wedding dress was a memory I will cherish and brought tears to my eyes," Nicole tells PEOPLE. "It brought back a flood of emotions from my own wedding day and how the gown made me feel like a princess! Today Natalie was able to experience those same feelings. She was breathtakingly beautiful and I am honored that she loved the gown as much as I did!"

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From left to right: Nicole Harwood, Natalie Harwood, David Harwood, and Zachary Vittetow

The mother-daughter duo shared several hugs and emotional moments throughout the photo shoot, which was coordinated by VIP Events & Weddings. Photos were taken by Abbey Regnier Photography while other content was filmed by Captured by Carody.

"It was honestly so special," Natalie shares. "I felt really lucky to be able to wear it. It felt like such a privilege. Seeing how much it meant to my mom made it even sweeter, and watching her reaction was everything. It was just one of those really happy, love-filled moments I’ll always remember."David was just as moved by the heartfelt surprise, envisioning both his past and his daughter's future.

Abbey Regnier Photography

Natalie Harwood and Zachary Vittetow

"My favorite moment was when my parents turned around and saw me for the first time in the dress. Their faces were priceless — it was full of love, joy, and a few happy tears," Natalie remembers. "That moment made the whole day so unforgettable."

She continues, "They were both really touched. Seeing my mom’s reaction was especially meaningful — it brought back so many memories for her. My dad felt it too, and it turned into such a special family moment."

With breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean behind them, Natalie and Zachary took many photos at the mansion, and used elegant floral arrangements by Rose White Florals as props. The soon-to-be bride and groom also drove around Laguna Beach and Corona Del Mar in a 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible from Beach Gypsy Classics.

"It was such a magical day!" gushes Natalie, whose hair and makeup was done by Randall Beauty.

Abbey Regnier Photography

Natalie Harwood holds hands with mother Nicole Harwood

"Wearing my mom’s dress made me feel like a princess, and having my parents there cheering me on made it even more special. I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time — it was just pure joy," she says. — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Natalie is counting down the days until she says "I do" and gets to wear her mother's wedding dress again.

"It's so special to honor my mom, and I can’t wait to carry a piece of her with me as we celebrate!" she shares.

Courtesy of Natalie Harwood

Nicole Harwood and David Harwood on their wedding day

The wedding dress was designed by Scassi, and purchased from a now-closed store in Newport Beach, California. Nicole says she was drawn to the gown's "thick, buttery fabric" and "classic lines and simplicity." It "stood apart from everything else" because the bridal fashion trend in the '90s was puffiness and heavy embellishments.

"I knew from the moment I put it on, it was the one!” she says.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”