You Won’t Believe Jenna Johnson’s EPIC Wedding Dance Surprise!

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At the start of her wedding preparations, Jenna Johnson had already decided that she would be responsible for arranging an extraordinary first dance – just not the typical one people were anticipating.

Although she had the opportunity to dance with professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy on Dancing With the Stars, she opted for a more intimate slow dance with her husband at their wedding on April 13, 2019. “I’m sure many people anticipated a choreographed routine,” she told People, “but we wanted to maintain authenticity and keep it simple.

So she decided to save the theatrics for dad Curt Johnson. 

The plan first sprang to mind not long after Val’s June 2018 proposal in Italy.

At home in Utah, flaunting her freshly acquired cushion-cut diamond, she engaged in conversation with her father when his preferred tune, “Uptown Funk,” began playing. She reminisced to Brides, “‘I gave him a glance and said something like, ‘Don’t you think it would be cool if we danced to this?'” He chuckled and dismissed the idea, not considering it a serious proposition.

In an unexpected turn of events, the typically reserved father of five switched songs during his number, moving from Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” to a lively performance by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, complete with sunglasses, Jenna’s choreography, and a routine that left the 200 guests, including the groom himself, amazed and delighted.

Jenna recounted the unexpected scene, stating, “Everyone erupted in excitement and bewilderment,” as her father almost called off the reception at the last minute. “Val rose from his seat, looking puzzled. He had no clue what was unfolding. It was a breathtaking moment!

An apt word for the entire day, really. 

After having successfully executed his long-held dream of proposing in Venice, a place that captivated him during his visit at age 17 (“I made a promise then that I would return to Venice one day to propose to the woman I’d want to spend the rest of my life with,” he shared with People. “True to my word, fifteen years later I fulfilled my promise”), the couple chose to embrace romance wholeheartedly for their actual wedding.

After strolling along an island blanketed with petals towards the melodious strums of a string quartet, So You Think You Can Dance finalist Jenna, aged 31, exchanged vows with her partner, 39, who was dressed in Brooks Brothers attire, under a chuppah adorned with various white flowers such as tibet roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, garden roses, and peonies. The Pacific Ocean provided the breathtaking scenery for their nuptials.

At the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palo Verdes, California, the couple exchanged heartfelt emotions while overlooking the scenic views. They penned their own vows and donned matching rose gold Jacob & Co wedding bands. As Jenna described it, the ceremony incorporated several significant traditions from both families, making the event truly special.

And, of course, both sides brought the moves. 

After enjoying a meal of tender braised short rib and flavorful dill crusted salmon, accompanied by wilted baby kale and creamy parmesan mashed potatoes, the spouses delighted one another by unveiling their thoughtfully prepared surprises. Specifically, Jenna arranged a special dance with her father during a visit home to Utah before the wedding, while Val added an unexpected element to the evening with his unique performance.

Despite aiming for an unrehearsed and spontaneous first dance to Michael Bublé’s “La Vie en Rose”, the newlyweds had planned a little surprise. Val unexpectedly switched to a violin serenade during the song.

Jenna exclaimed to Brides that she had never heard her Ukrainian husband practice dancing at home before, so it took her by surprise when they danced for the first time. It made their first dance particularly meaningful and memorable for her.

Once given the green light, the LA-rooted band, Eli’s Band, kicked off their vibrant live performance, playing a mix of timeless classics, hip-hop tracks, and salsa rhythms carefully chosen by the duo themselves.

Jenna noticed that she had donned a cap-sleeve gown by Tony Ward from Kleinfeld Bridal for the reception, and expressed, “We shared our preferred musical genres and our vision for guest entertainment with them.

With a significant number of stars from “Dancing with the Stars” on the guest list, it was only fitting that Maxim Chmerkovskiy, Val’s older brother, took on the role as best man. On Jenna’s side were her former partner Adam Rippon and fellow professional dancer Lindsay Arnold. The crowd certainly lived up to expectations.

The talented dancers from the series such as Hayley Erbert, Witney Carson, Emma Slater, Sasha Farber, Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Alan Bersten, Artem Chigvintsev, and Brandon Armstrong, along with their past partners like Joe Amabile, Normani Kordei, Laurie Hernandez, and Ginger Zee, filled the dance floor. To Jenna’s joy, her entire team also joined in.

Sharing a memorable moment from the evening, she shared with Brides, “Suddenly, Val tugged at my arm, exclaiming, ‘You need to come see this!’ It turned out that our entire family – parents, siblings, their partners – were all on the dance floor having a blast. It was heartwarming to witness my usually reserved brothers letting loose and enjoying the night by dancing!

The night was full of cherished moments akin to biting into a five-layer Vanilla Bake Shop milk chocolate and hazelnut cake. To be sure, Jenna expressed her desire to repeat that special day multiple times, as if it were another slice of that delightful cake.

Indeed, as the couple embraces their newborn son named Rome in January 2023, many unforgettable moments are yet to unfold.

Val shared with TopMob News that the experience has undeniably increased his enthusiasm for life and his love for his family. He added that each day brings a new lesson in parenthood, and he feels incredibly thankful and blessed for the outcome.

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2025-04-13 17:17