‘Dance Moms’ Alum Brooke Hyland Is Engaged to Brian Thalman (Exclusive)

Brooke Hyland is engaged!

The Dance Moms alum, 26, said “yes” to longtime boyfriend Brian Thalman during a surprise proposal in her hometown of Pittsburgh. Thalman tells PEOPLE he popped the question in scenic Frick Park as a small group of close family members looked on.

He presented Hyland with a stunning sparkler — Brilliant Earth’s Sydney Perfect Fit ring, featuring an 18K yellow gold band and a 3.25-carat elongated cushion diamond.

After the romantic moment, the couple and their loved ones celebrated with a brunch. Hyland and Thalman are also planning a larger engagement party this summer.

Thalman tells PEOPLE that he and Hyland — who starred in the TLC reality series from 2011 to 2014 — first met in Pittsburgh in December 2021 when she was home for Christmas.

“At the time, she was living in Austin, Texas. Her cousin, who is my close friend, introduced us to one another,” he recalls. “We did long distance for a few months before Brooke moved back to Pittsburgh.”

He says the pair bonded over their love of travel, trying new restaurants, being active outdoors. “We also have a dog named Jack,” Thalman adds.

Hyland affirmed their shared wanderlust spirit when she quipped, “In a relationship with him and my passport,” in the caption of a December 2023 Instagram post featuring photos of her and Thalman kissing in a pool in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

In a surprise announcement in November 2023, Hyland’s Dance Moms costar JoJo Siwa and the show’s official Instagram account revealed in a joint post that a group of original cast members would be returning to TV for a reunion special in 2024.

“You heard it here first. The squad is officially back together for a #DanceMoms reunion coming 2024 only on @lifetimetv !!” read the post, which was accompanied by a glam mirror selfie featuring Hyland, Siwa, Brooke’s sister Paige Hyland, Chloé Lukasiak, Kendall Vertes and Kalani Hilliker.

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Brooke shared the big news on her own Instagram page at the time, writing: “Took a 10 year break, but returning to your tv for a @dancemomstv reunion in 2024 💘 #DanceMoms.”

A trailer for the two-hour special, which premiered on Lifetime on May 1, showed the cast members — who are joined by their mothers — getting emotional as they reflected on their experiences on the reality series.

Per a press release, the special featured one-on-one interviews with the six former dancers “as they look back at the most memorable moments of the series and discuss the good, the bad and everything in-between including the lasting impact on their entertainment careers.”

One of the topics discussed was Brooke and Paige’s retirement from dance. Brooke has since begun to acting, most recently appearing in the 2023 movie The Man in the White Van.