Behind Ally Brooke’s Engagement to Longtime Boyfriend Will Bracey

Ally Brooke is officially engaged to her longtime boyfriend Will Bracey.

On Monday night, the Fifth Harmony alum’s longtime boyfriend popped the question while the two were visiting a private art gallery in Manhattan.

“It is the best day of my life. It’s wonderful, truly wonderful,” the pop star, 30, told PEOPLE in an emotional interview just minutes after Bracey, 36, proposed. “I had no idea. No idea. When he did it, I was just in pure shock.”

The two met back in 2015 when Bracey became Fifth Harmony’s tour manager, and the two started dating shortly later that same year.

Bracey apparently spent much of 2023 preparing for this big moment and decided to get down on one knee in New York because the city is more than special to the two of them.

“I’ve been planning it all year, and New York was always our city — it’s where we fell in love,” Bracey says. “And who’s not a fan of Christmastime in New York?”

Brooke admitted, “Oh my goodness, it was beautiful. I was awe-struck,” she says. “It fits like a glove, and it looks so beautiful on me. I’m just…I’m at a loss for words. I’m still in shock!”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 31: Ally Brooke and Will Bracey attend a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena on October 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

The two have been together for nearly eight years, and the newly engaged singer says it was love at first sight.

“I knew the moment that I…truly, when I saw him, I fell in love with him,” she recalls, “but I knew about a year in that he was the one for me.”

Bracey also admitted, “She’s easy to love.”

As the two prepare to walk down the isle in the near future, Brooke looks forward to a future with her partner.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Will and just share the beautiful memories that we will create together as one,” she says, tearing up. “That is wonderful and very special to me.”

As for how they celebrated post-proposal: “We always used to just walk around New York and dream — even early days of Fifth Harmony and stuff, we would always just dream,” Bracey said Monday, “so I feel like that would be special to do tonight.”

TORONTO, ON – JUNE 19: (L-R) Camila Cabello, Normani Hamilton, Dinah-Jane Hansen, Lauren Jauregui and Ally Brooke of Fifth Harmony arrive at the 2016 iHeartRADIO MuchMusic Video Awards at MuchMusic HQ on June 19, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/Getty Images)

As of late, Brooke released a single titled “Gone to Bed” in September. Just recently, the singer also released the holiday EP Under The Tree, which features a duet of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with her former bandmate Dinah Jane. This marked the first time any members of Fifth Harmony teamed up since disbanding back in 2018.