Derek Hough, Dancing With the Stars Judge, Exchanges Vows with Hayley Erbert in a Heartwarming Redwood Wedding Celebration

Derek Hough has taken the dance of love to the next level—marriage. The celebrated ballroom pro and revered judge on Dancing With the Stars officially tied the knot with his longtime dance partner and girlfriend, Hayley Erbert. This enchanting union unfolded in the serene embrace of Monterey County, California.

With the redwoods as their witnesses, the couple exchanged vows in front of a select group of 106 cherished guests, as reported by People. The sacred ceremony took place amidst the towering giants of a redwood forest in Northern California. Hayley Erbert, glowing with joy, shared the significance of their chosen location, saying, "We're in a redwood forest, but we got married right in front of this mother tree that's surrounded by all these smaller trees. They drop all the seeds, and it plants kind of like an army of children to protect the mother. The symbolism of it was beautiful. We're here, planting our seeds to grow our family."

The matrimonial festivities commenced on a blissful Thursday at a cliffside estate in Carmel, California. Friday brought a garden rehearsal dinner, a cherished prelude to the main event. Saturday was the culmination, where they exchanged not only traditional vows but also heartfelt personal promises.

Erbert, radiant in every sense, donned a bespoke duchess satin gown, a creation by the renowned Georgina Chapman for Marchesa. She added an exquisite, flowing veil and adorned herself with jewelry from Ring Concierge. Speaking of her attire, Erbert remarked, "It's all very just classic, timeless." On the other hand, Derek Hough was resplendent in a Tom Ford suit for the ceremony and a Brooks Brothers suit for the reception. Their engagement ring and wedding bands, elegant symbols of their commitment, were masterpieces designed by Paris Jewellers.

As the sun set, the guests gathered for a heartwarming reception inside a century-old barn. The newlyweds' first dance, a moment of profound intimacy, unfolded to the melodies of "Fall Into Me" by Forrest Blakk. Contrary to expectations, it was not a grand choreographed performance. Derek Hough shared, "I think everybody's expecting us to do a performance and a dance whole thing. But that's the thing, if we perform, we go on stage, we dance, we do things. So for us, it feels more special for us to not perform. To be on the floor with each other, to listen to music, and just be in the moment."

In this remarkable chapter of his life, Derek Hough's closest confidant, Mark Ballas from Dancing With the Stars, stood by his side as the best man. Meanwhile, his sister, the talented Julianne Hough, was present to share in the joy of the day. Following her split from Brooks Laich in May 2020, Julianne attended the festivities independently.

The guest list boasted an array of notable names, including Jenna Johnson, Frieda Pinto, Amy Purdy, Maria Menounos, Shawn Johnson, Nina Dobrev, Shaun White, Robert and Kym Herjavec, and Alfonso Ribeiro.

This splendid union took place more than a year after the couple announced their engagement in June 2022. Hayley Erbert marked the occasion with an Instagram post exclaiming, "Almost 7 years down, forever to go."

For Derek Hough, the decision to propose was prompted not only by their lengthy courtship but also by inspiration from his former World of Dance co-judge, Jennifer Lopez. He humorously explained, "I remember seeing her and I was like, 'Yo, if she can get two [engagements] within the time that I've been with [Erbert], I better step up my game.'" This shift in perspective was also influenced by the realization that the term "girlfriend" no longer encapsulated the depth of their bond. Hough recalled, "I kinda stopped myself and was like, 'This feels wrong. That word does not live up to what this relationship is.' That was a good indication of like, 'OK, I think it’s time to go to the next step.'"

Months before their wedding, Derek Hough expressed a desire to forgo one tradition on the big day. He confessed, "I kind of wish we didn't need to do a first dance. Because I just want to, like, be in the moment." Nevertheless, they did have a first dance, aiming to make it an authentic experience rather than a performance.

Now that they've embarked on this lifelong journey together, Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert are likely considering the possibility of expanding their family. Their baby fever was stirred by the arrival of Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson's newborn. Hough remarked, "There wasn't a rush on [having kids] until we just met Val and Jenna Chmerkovskiy's baby, and that was when it was kind of like, 'So should we get on this now?' It did kind of make us think, 'Why wait?'"