Brooke Hyland, a familiar face from the reality series *Dance Moms*, tied the knot with Brian Thalman on 21 February in a picturesque ceremony held in Fort Myers, Florida. While the wedding brought together many former co-stars, one notable absence raised eyebrows among fans.
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In a recent episode of the *Casual Chaos with Gia Giudice* podcast, 28-year-old Brooke discussed the reasons for well-known alum Maddie Ziegler’s absence from the event. Although many of their castmates were present to celebrate, Maddie’s commitments to a film project prevented her from attending. Brooke explained that Maddie was involved in the filming of the Netflix romantic comedy *In a Holidaze*, which began shooting in late January in Canada, a commitment that ultimately made it impossible for her to partake in the wedding festivities.
Brooke acknowledged that Maddie, along with her sister Mackenzie Ziegler and mother Melissa Gisoni, had initially planned to attend her bridal shower. However, as the wedding drew nearer, it became clear that Maddie’s filming schedule would coincide with the special day. Despite the disappointment of her absence, Brooke expressed that her relationship with Maddie and the other original *Dance Moms* cast members remained solid.
“Unfortunately, a few of the girls couldn’t make it to my shower, but everyone is coming to the wedding except for Maddie because she’s filming something,” Brooke shared during the podcast, which was recorded prior to her nuptials but released a few days later.
Brooke’s sentiments about her friendships with her former co-stars resonated with her sister, Paige Hyland, 25, who also shared her thoughts on the bond they share. “I think with all the original girls on the show, we have a really good relationship. I would say we’re all like sisters. Honestly, sometimes sisters don’t like each other but you always love each other, you know?” Paige remarked.
The wedding celebration featured a host of familiar faces from the show, including Chloe Lukasiak, Nia Sioux, and Kendall Vertes, among others. Paige Hyland took on the role of maid of honour at the event. Brooke’s mother, Kelly Hyland, was also on hand to support her daughter on her momentous day.
Social media was abuzz with posts from the wedding, with Christi Lukasiak sharing several group photos and recounting the joy of the evening. “It was a time….celebrating our @brookehyland and her sweet husband, Brian. I cried 87 times to see her so happy and to be lucky enough to spend the evening with women I love so dearly,” Christi reflected on her Instagram.
Guests were enthusiastic about the celebration, with Kalani Hilliker expressing her gratitude for being part of the event. “I love our dysfunctional family and Brooke threw the best wedding,” she commented, clearly moved by the experience. Mackenzie Ziegler also chimed in on the social media post with a string of heart emojis to convey her affection for the occasion.
Despite the geographical distances that separate the cast now—Chloe resides in New York, while Nia is based in Los Angeles—Brooke expressed a commitment to staying connected with her former co-stars. “We all live in different places, but any time any of us are in the area, we always try to make an effort to see each other. It’s nice that all my wedding plans have given us a reason to come together,” she said.
Brooke Hyland’s wedding not only marked a new chapter in her life but also showcased the enduring friendships formed during the years spent together on *Dance Moms*. While Maddie’s absence was felt, the overwhelming support from fellow cast members illustrated the strength of their bonds. For Brooke, the day was filled with joy, love, and cherished memories shared among friends and family.