How Did Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert Meet? A Timeline of the ‘DWTS’ Couple’s Relationship

"Dancing with the Stars" fan-favorite Derek Hough and his longtime girlfriend Hayley Erbert made a crucial decision in their relationship, and they shared the good news on social media.

On June 2, 2022, Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert surprised their Instagram followers by announcing their engagement. The photo showed Hough holding Erbert in his arms while she hugged him (legs included). The background was also stunning.

They were in front of a predominantly white and brown floral arrangement and tall white candles, and a bed of white flowers covered the floor. "It's only the beginning…the beginning of forever," Hough captioned the post. Read on and learn more about their relationship and marriage proposal.

WHO IS HAYLEY ERBERT?

Hough might be the most famous dancer of the two, but he is not the only one. Erbert, who got an oval diamond set in platinum with a pave band from her fiancé, made her debut as a troupe dancer on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2015.

Two years earlier, she participated in season ten of "So You Think You Can Dance." While Erbert placed in the top six, she was part of the show's 42-city tour later that year.

After Erbert started dating Hough, she got very close to his famous sister, Julianne Hough. When Erbert turned 23, Julianne posted a photo on Instagram and said she had a big heart filled with love. She also thanked Erbert got giving that heart to her brother.

Erbert might love dancing, but she is also very passionate about cats. She and Hough live with their rescued kittens, including Palo, a cat they found while returning home from an Emmys pre-show party.

DEREK HOUGH AND HAYLEY ERBERT'S RELATIONSHIP TIMELINE

The engaged couple's relationship has been unique. Hough and Erbert met each other in 2014 after joining the dancing crew of Hough and his sister's "Move Live" tour. Despite their ten-year age gap, they hit it off right away.

Hough wanted the proposal to be "transformed in the intimacy of their home."

Although Hough and Erbert supposedly started dating in 2015, they only made their romance official in 2017. Hough confessed that letting the world know they were an item after so long was "freeing."

Later in 2017, Hough pointed out that his family put no pressure on him to marry Erbert. One of the couple's favorite things to do is traveling the world.

In July 2019, they posted PDA-packed photos of their romantic Paris getaway on social media. They have also visited South Korea, Kenya, Monaco, and a few other places.

While the 2020 quarantine broke multiple relationships, it only strengthened Hough and Erbert's. The couple had fun together and got closer during the months they lived under the same roof non-stop.

In October 2020, Hough returned to "Dancing with the Stars" for the first time since 2017 and danced a striking Paso Doble with Erbert. He admitted he wouldn't have it any other way.

HOW DID DEREK HOUGH PROPOSE?

Coming back to the proposal, Hough did it at home. He hired event planner Troy Williams to help him transform their house into the most romantic place with over 250 candles and 1,600 roses.

Williams explained that Hough wanted the proposal to be "transformed in the intimacy of their home" to start their lives' next and most important adventure.

Fortunately, everything went as planned as the ring fit perfectly, and Erbert had no clue her partner had arranged such a romantic proposal. Way to go!