On this episode of Weddings-ish with Jove, I sat down with newlywed Brooke Hyland to talk about her stunning Florida wedding, her unforgettable rise to fame on Dance Moms, and the full-circle moments that made her wedding weekend feel deeply personal, nostalgic, and completely joyful. Brooke opened up about starting dance at just three years old, growing up at Abby Lee Dance Company alongside her mom’s longtime connection to the studio, and how what began as a “six-week docuseries” unexpectedly turned into one of reality television’s most iconic shows. She shared how she almost quit dance before filming began, believing she was headed toward competitive cheerleading instead, before the opportunity changed the course of her life forever. From childhood fame and recording music to planning a wedding filled with meaningful nods to her past — including the now-viral dance floor moment when her song played during the reception — Brooke reflected on love, family, timing, and the surprising ways life brings everything together exactly when it’s meant to.

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As Brooke and I continued talking, what became so clear is that every part of her wedding planning process was rooted in intentionality, emotion, and creating an experience that truly reflected both her personality and her relationship. Although she and her husband Brian are both from Pittsburgh, Brooke knew almost immediately that she didn’t want a traditional hometown wedding and instead felt pulled toward Naples and Fort Myers, Florida — a place already filled with family memories thanks to years spent visiting her mom and grandparents there. The couple ultimately fell in love with La Casa Toscana, a romantic Italian-inspired wedding venue that looked straight out of the Tuscan countryside while somehow still being tucked away in Florida. From the villa architecture and lush landscaping to the flowing layout of the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception spaces, Brooke knew she had found the perfect destination wedding venue for the elegant, luxury wedding weekend she envisioned. Once the venue was booked, she fully embraced her inner Type-A bride, diving headfirst into Pinterest boards, vendor research, spreadsheets, and wedding design inspiration while slowly building the aesthetic of the day piece by piece. After months of debating between bold colors, romantic tones, and completely different wedding styles, Brooke ultimately landed on the timeless blue-and-white palette that became one of the defining visual elements of the celebration — inspired, in part, by realizing how stunning blue looked on all of her bridesmaids. She also shared the emotional story behind finding her wedding dress after trying on countless gowns in New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh before unexpectedly falling in love with a completely different dress than the one she originally returned to purchase. One of the most memorable details from our conversation was Brooke’s decision to do an “all the women in my life” first look, where her bridesmaids, mother-in-law, grandmother, and closest women all saw her in her wedding gown together at once — a deeply meaningful moment that felt both modern and incredibly sentimental. From serving sushi during cocktail hour and incorporating a Pittsburgh-style cookie table into the reception to completely manifesting perfect outdoor wedding weather without even having a rain plan, Brooke’s wedding planning journey felt equal parts thoughtful, stylish, emotional, and joy-filled in the most Weddings-ish way possible.

What I loved most about my conversation with Brooke Hyland was how deeply personal every wedding decision ultimately became — even the wildly unexpected ones, like literally cutting layers out of her wedding dress before the reception so she could actually dance comfortably all night long. Instead of opting for a traditional bustle on her dramatic, cathedral-length wedding gown, Brooke worked with her bridal stylist to carefully remove layers of heavy tulle underneath the train, creating a lighter version of the dress that still looked stunning while allowing her to fully enjoy the dance floor. It was the perfect example of Brooke’s overall wedding philosophy: meaningful over performative, practical without sacrificing beauty, and always centered around creating joy. That same energy carried throughout the entire wedding weekend, especially with the emotional presence of so many former Dance Moms cast members who came together to celebrate her marriage. Brooke shared that although life, careers, and distance mean the girls don’t see each other constantly, the bond between them remains incredibly strong — with longtime friends and castmates including Kelly Hyland, Melissa Gisoni, Mackenzie Ziegler, Nia Sioux, Holly Frazier, Kendall Vertes, JoJo Siwa, Kalani Hilliker, and others all showing up for the celebration. She also addressed online speculation surrounding cast members who couldn’t attend, reminding listeners that real friendship means supporting one another’s biggest career moments and life opportunities without keeping score.

Beyond the nostalgia and reunion moments, what stood out most was how hands-on Brooke truly was throughout the entire wedding planning process. From Cricut-making custom cocktail napkins, escort cards, welcome bag stickers, and gelato cup details to sourcing a viral fabric seating chart from Etsy and assembling welcome bags herself, Brooke poured genuine creativity into every detail of the wedding design. Even after years in front of cameras, one of the most touching parts of our conversation was hearing her describe the quiet intimacy she and Brian intentionally created before the wedding day officially began — waking up together before sunrise, reading private vows to one another on their hotel balcony, and sharing a calm moment together before the celebration unfolded. Between the heartfelt ceremony officiated by her aunt, the sentimental first looks, the packed dance floor, the thoughtful DIY wedding details, and the reminder that wedding planning doesn’t have to follow anyone else’s rules, Brooke’s story felt like the perfect Weddings-ish conversation: emotional, stylish, deeply human, and centered around building a wedding day that actually feels like you.