If you spend enough time scrolling through old Dancing with the Stars clips or falling down a rabbit hole of 2000s ballroom nostalgia, you’re bound to run into the same persistent rumor. It’s one of those "Mandela Effect" moments for the reality TV world. People genuinely believe there was a julianne hough mark ballas wedding at some point in the mid-2000s.
Honestly? It never happened.
They didn’t get married. They weren’t even really "dating" in the way people think. But the reason the internet is so convinced they had a secret romance or a botched engagement is actually more interesting than a standard celebrity wedding story. It’s a tale of "foster" brotherhood, intense childhood training in London, and a bond that was—frankly—way more like siblings than soulmates.
Why Everyone Thinks There Was a Julianne Hough Mark Ballas Wedding
So, where does the confusion come from? Part of it is their undeniable chemistry on the dance floor. When you watch two people move with that much precision and fire, it’s easy to assume there’s a romantic spark.
But the real reason is their shared history.
When Julianne and Derek Hough were kids (we’re talking 10 and 12 years old), their parents were going through a messy divorce back in Utah. To keep their dance training on track, they were sent across the pond to live with Corky and Shirley Ballas in London. They stayed there for years. Mark and Derek basically grew up as brothers, and Julianne was the "little sister" of the group.
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The Ballroom Power Trio
- They trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
- They formed a pop-dance trio called 2B1G (Two Boys, One Girl).
- They competed against each other in international ballroom circuits before ever hitting US television.
Because they were always together, fans naturally assumed a julianne hough mark ballas wedding was the logical endgame. The media fueled this for years, especially when they all joined Dancing with the Stars around the same time. If you look at old tabloid archives, they were constantly linked. But the reality is that their "wedding" moments were limited to choreographed routines and music videos.
What Really Happened: Their Actual Weddings
Since there was no Julianne and Mark union, who did they actually marry? Both had high-profile, "very Pinterest-worthy" weddings to other people, and the crossover of guests is probably what confuses Google’s algorithm to this day.
Mark Ballas and BC Jean (2016)
Mark was the first of the "trio" to settle down. He married his Alexander Jean bandmate, BC Jean, in November 2016. It was a massive, bohemian-themed event at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu.
It was super intimate but also kind of a circus in the best way. Derek Hough was the best man (obviously), and Julianne was right there in the front row. They had a seven-tier pink velvet cake and BC walked down the aisle to a string version of "Bohemian Rhapsody." It was about as "Mark Ballas" as it gets—artistic, slightly edgy, and very sentimental.
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich (2017)
Less than a year later, Julianne had her own big day. She married NHL star Brooks Laich in a stunning outdoor ceremony in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
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This wedding was everywhere. People Magazine had the exclusive, and the photos of Julianne in her custom Marchesa gown were on every mood board in 2017. Mark Ballas was there, of course, returning the favor as a close friend and "brother."
The fact that these two weddings happened so close together, with the same core group of dancers in both bridal parties, is likely why people still search for a julianne hough mark ballas wedding. The photos all kind of bleed together in the digital archive of the 2010s.
The "Bad Blood" That Almost Ruined the Friendship
It hasn’t always been sunshine and sequins between these two. If you want to know what most people get wrong about their relationship, it’s the idea that they’ve always been best friends.
There was a really awkward period around 2013. Julianne was a guest judge on DWTS and gave Mark some pretty stinging critiques. She basically told his partner at the time, Christina Milian, that Mark tended to "outshine" his partners and make the dance about himself.
Ouch.
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Mark didn't take it well. He called the comment "hypocritical" in interviews later that week. For a while, the "Ballas-Hough" bond looked like it might actually snap. There were even rumors that Julianne's comments were tied to her childhood experiences living with the Ballas family, which she has occasionally described as "difficult" or even "abusive" in broad terms (though she's never specifically named the Ballas parents as the culprits).
Why the Rumor Still Matters Today
In 2026, we’re seeing a massive resurgence in "pro-dancer lore." With Mark and Julianne both moving into different phases of their careers—Julianne hosting and Mark focusing on music and theater—fans are looking back at the "Golden Era" of DWTS.
The persistent search for a julianne hough mark ballas wedding shows just how much we project onto TV "couples." We want the childhood sweethearts to end up together. We want the dance partners to fall in love.
But Julianne and Mark’s story is actually better than a romance. It’s a story of survival, shared ambition, and a lifelong friendship that survived the pressure cooker of professional dance. They chose to be family, not spouses.
What to take away from the "Wedding" that never was:
- Check the timeline: Most "romantic" photos of them are from their 2014 "Move Live on Tour" or old DWTS pro numbers.
- Understand the bond: They are legally unrelated but culturally "siblings."
- Respect the real partners: Both have moved on to very different lives (Julianne is currently single after her 2022 divorce; Mark is still married to BC Jean and they have a son, Banksi).
If you’re looking for those gorgeous lakeside wedding photos, you’re looking for Julianne and Brooks. If you want the boho-Malibu vibes, that’s Mark and BC. Just don't expect to find a marriage certificate with both "Hough" and "Ballas" on it.
The next time you're debating this with a friend or a fellow Dancing with the Stars fanatic, you can set the record straight: the only thing they ever committed to together was a triple-step.
To get the full picture of their current relationship, you should check out Julianne's recent podcast appearances where she discusses her London years, or keep an eye on Mark’s social media for their occasional "reunion" dance clips that still go viral every few months.