Derek and Hayley, a Kansas native, former gymnast and dancer with the DWTS troupe, met in 2014 while accompanying him and his sister Julianne on their Move Live Tour. The following year, they began dating.
In June 2022, Derek publicly confirmed their engagement after proposing a ring from Paris Jewelers to him.
“It’s just the beginning,” Derek wrote on Instagram at the time, “the beginning of eternity.”
On August 25, the day before their wedding, the groom shared a special message for his partner and a video montage featuring the two, accompanied by a new song he wrote and recorded himself called “Hold Back Time”.
“I sat down at the piano and thought about our relationship and the huge step of trusting my life to you,” he wrote on Instagram. “The amount of lives we’ve already shared is pretty incredible. This video is just a small sample of what we have already experienced.”
Derek continued, “Life seems to move so fast, I want to hold back time as much as possible to enjoy every single moment with you. I can’t wait to continue building memories and a beautiful life together with you.” .”
Hayley commented, “I love you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for choosing me in this life.”
Take a look back at Derek and Hayley’s journey to marriage below: