Exclusive: Ally Brooke Shares Her Love Story And Wedding Plans

Ally Brooke is engaged and "feeling 'Fabulous.' " The lyrics of her 2020 song by the same name narrate her journey from past to present.

But now I understand/ That if I'm gonna love someone/ I'm just gonna love myself/ I already know I'm fabulous/ I don't need no one else/ Say yes I'm gonna love my curves/ And yes I'm gonna love my scars/ And I'ma be the only one/ Who's never gonna break my heart/ I woke up feelin' fabulous

The member of the former girl group Fifth Harmony ar- rives on set in New York City all smiles, joking it's her en- gaged glow. "It's been my biggest dream to get married," she says. It's hard for me to imagine, given all the success she's achieved in her 31 years—a top 10 Billboard hit, third place on Dancing With the Stars, and a memoir, Finding Your Harmony—but I believe her. Her success has been hard- earned, with a quick rise to fame and plenty of pivots along the way. At last, she's found a new kind of peace, thanks to therapy, her family and friends, and her faith. "I've finally gotten to a place where I believe these words," she says of her "Fabulous" lyrics.

Photography by Colette Aboussouan; Earrings by Jennifer Behr

I ask her to take me back to the beginning, and she does, recalling the exact moment she knew singing was her des- tiny. "My third-grade teacher overheard me singing and told my mom that I should do something with that," she says. So she started singing in a chapel and then joined a local organization where kids performed around her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. "I sang for the first time in front of an audience at nine years old," says Ally. That was it: She was hooked. "I felt like I had a superpower. I just loved it." She also credits her mom's "crazy intuition" and the support of both of her parents when it came to pursuing her dream. "My mom heard on the radio that The X Factor was coming to town, and she said, I think you should audition," recalls Ally.

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"I didn't want to audition, but I did and after I said a prayer: 'God, if it's in your plan, let it be. But if not, it's okay.' That prayer was life-changing." She made it to the next round but was eliminated as a soloist. "I thought the dream was over, but then the judges called me and a few other girls to the stage, and Simon [Cowell, a music producer] formed Fifth Harmony, and that's how my career exploded," Ally says.

Thrust into the spotlight, the five women went from competitors to confidantes overnight. "It was crazy not know- ing these people and then having to be in a group and form something more than yourself. Everyone had to find their place," she remembers. Fifth Harmony was officially signed by Cowell, their mentor, to his record label Syco Music in a joint deal with Epic Records. They went on to release a debut studio album, Reflection, which includes the singles "Boss," "Sledgehammer" and "Worth It," which reached the top 10 list in 13 countries. Next up was a North American tour and the beginning of Ally's happily ever after.

Photography by Colette Aboussouan, Dress by Viktor and Rolf; Shoes by Roger Vivier; Earrings by Ritique

"I knew the moment I laid eyes on him," recalls Ally, re- telling the first time she saw her fiancé, Will Bracey. Will joined the girl group as their touring manager in 2014, and for Ally, it was love at first sight. "I asked someone, 'Who is that?' when he walked through the door, because he's so handsome, and he just had a glow about him." She laughs, claiming she couldn't stop staring at him, totally enamored. "The previous tour manager told me Will was very into God and Jesus," says Ally. "And that was one of our first real conversations." The two were just friends at the beginning. "I had a crush on him and then we fell in love," recalls Ally. Her bandmates were the first to catch on. Once Ally fessed up to it being something more, Will offered to resign. "The girls were like, 'We love you, and we trust Will, and we know you guys are pure. We totally support the relationship'." So Will stayed on and their connection deepened. "We would just hang out," she recalls. "We bonded over movies. He ac- tually told his mom that he fell in love with me over my DVD collection."

In 2018, Fifth Harmony dissolved when the girls went their separate ways to pursue solo careers. Soon after, Ally re- leased the first single, "Low Key," with Tyga. For her, it was a real turning point—not just in her career, but in her life. "It was so amazing and exhilarating, just having my own music. I toured the world, continued making music and did things outside of music too," she says. For the first time, Ally was in the driver's seat, and she liked it. "I took a mini break for my mental health, to heal a lot of parts of me that were broken and to be in a new place in my life," says Ally.

Photography By Colette Aboussouan; Dress by Self Portrait; Earrings by Roxanne Assoulin; Bobby pins by Jennifer Behr; Headpiece (worn on shoulder) by AREA

In 2020 she was set to tour again, but the pandemic had other plans. She pivoted and wrote her memoir. "The book was part of my healing—I wanted to give my story to the fans and just be able to show the world who I was and how I grew up," says Ally. She hopes it will inspire someone else to pur- sue their dream or their faith. "I wanted that to shine in the book," Ally says. She also credits the slowdown as being instrumental in her healing. "I love my therapist. She's helped me overcome a lot in my life and move forward," she says.

Will also moved on to new professional opportunities, which allowed the couple to establish boundaries. "He helped me jump-start my solo career, and we were working very closely together for that. Now he has another job," Ally says. "It's nice we can focus on being fiancés. We have sepa- rate worlds that mesh, but we're not having to discuss work all the time." In a way, the two grew up together, dating for nine years before Will proposed. Ally assured me that they were always on the same page about their timeline. "We wanted to get our careers in order," she says. But like every self-respecting woman, she dropped hints along the way. "If we were watching a movie and someone got engaged, I'd point to my ring finger, and he would just smile," she says. Will knew he had to deliver, and he did.

Photography by Colette Aboussouan; Dress by Ines Di Santo; Earrings by Lelet NY; Shoes by Roger Vivier

When I ask her about her December 2023 engagement over breakfast the day after our shoot, she completely lights up. Her voice jumps an octave as she recounts the whole story through a huge smile. "I was here in NYC to be on The Kelly Clarkson Show with one of my bandmates from Fifth Harmony so I was in total work mode," she says. "And I was also doing a photo shoot that day, or so I was told." The ruse led to full glam for Ally, a picturesque setting at a midtown gallery and a photographer to capture it all. Will planned all the details, working with a private jeweler in Turkey to design the ring. In her elation, Ally nearly forgot to say yes. This ring was her second of significance. Ally grew up in a religious household, and for her 18th birthday, her parents gave her a promise ring that symbolized her commitment to abstain from sex until marriage. It's a pledge she plans to keep until the wedding night. "Will is so respectful, and I obviously respect myself, so it's just one more reason to look forward to the wedding," she says.

The couple is in the early stages of planning a 2025 wedding, and they're facing a disagreement that plagues many to-be-weds. "Hilariously, we are not on the same page," laughs Ally. "I want a bigger wedding, and he wants 25 peo- ple. It's going to be interesting to see how it turns out." I share my long-held belief that wedding planning is actually just marriage prep under the guise of a party. It's the first of many compromises you make as an official team. "I know we will get on the same page," she assures me. I ask if she'd been keeping a secret Pinterest board hidden during their nearly decade-long courtship. "No," she says, "but I know I'm going to work with a wedding planner." After spending years living life on stage, Ally is accustomed to working with professionals and knows they will bring her vision to life.

Photography by Colette Aboussouan; Dress by Self Portrait; rings by Erickson Beamon; Earrings by Jennifer Behr

She is leaning toward a classic wedding vibe. "Whites and neutrals have been inspiring me lately," she says. Ally and Will both like the idea of a traditional wedding with some twists. Will has been sober for over a decade, so nonalcoholic sips will be on offer. The two have celebrated life mile- stones over a really good steak, including one the night of their engagement, so it will definitely have a place on the wedding menu too.

The singer also doesn't miss a beat when I ask if she could have anyone perform at her wedding, who would it be. "Will and I love Ed Sheeran. There is nothing like his music—he's just so beyond." A nonnegotiable for Ally is skipping the first look. "Everyone is different, but for me, I want the first look to be down the aisle. That is my must." She's also hoping for a violin soloist to perform as she processes. Because music is such a big part of their lives, the couple also plans to hire a DJ to play their favorite reggae and pop hits throughout the night. There's talk of a wedding singer as well.

Photography by Colette Aboussouan

When I ask Ally what she's looking forward to most, she pauses thoughtfully and repeats what she first told me min- utes after meeting: "I really can't wait. It's been my life's dream to be married."

She's headed back to a chapel, where it all began.

Photography by Colette Aboussouan; Dress by Viktor and Rolf; Veil by HONOR NYC; Earrings and ring by Ritque

Credits

Photography by Colette Aboussouan; Styling by Rebecca Dennett ; Illustrated by Ana Strumpf ; Makeup by Misuzu Miyake; Hair by Shin Arima; Story by Lauren Kay; Creative Direction by Nathalie Kirsheh; Produced by Lauren Kill

This story first appeared in the 2024 Engagement Issue of The Knot Magazine. More exclusive imagery of Brooke, as well as fascinating features and planning advice can be found in our latest issue.