Millie Bobby Brown, the acclaimed young actress known for her role in Stranger Things, recently opened up about the creative ruse she employed to keep the details of her wedding dress secret from the public before her marriage to Jake Bongiovi. During the March 11, 2025 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Brown recounted how she navigated the lens of paparazzi, ensuring her bridal gown remained undiscovered until her officiant called her to walk down the aisle.
It all began during her final wedding dress fitting, which took place against the backdrop of flashing cameras camped outside the New York dress shop. Brown, 21, recalled, "I turn up in New York and I'm going to do my last, final dress fitting, and I see this tabloid person with a camcorder. And she was like, 'Millie! Millie! Millie! Are you going to try on your wedding dress?'" Immediately, she felt the pressure of keeping her wedding details private.
Feeling cornered and anxious about her impending nuptials, Millie devised a plan to throw off the photographers. "I went to the wedding dress fitting and I put my wedding dress on, and there was a big glass window, and I thought she could see through it. So I was like, 'Oh my gosh, she knows what my wedding dress looks like and then Jake's gonna see it.' I was so terrified," she explained, relaying the panic she felt at the thought of her gown being revealed too soon.
To outsmart the onlooking paparazzi, Brown hatched the idea of wearing a completely different dress during her fitting. "So I thought, 'Okay, I'm going to find a dress that's the complete opposite,'" she remarked. What followed was her wearing a heavily bedazzled gown, embellished with gloves and colored peachy, making it drastically different from the actual dress she intended to wear on her special day. The charade was all part of her strategy to mislead the awaiting cameras.
Her plan proved fruitful when she dramatically pretended to be overwhelmed with emotion, exclaiming how perfect the imposter dress was. "I walked out and I'm gonna start fake crying, pretending I found the gown,” Brown said jokingly. “She thought she got some quality. Well, let me just tell you right now, it definitely wasn't. I tricked you." Fortunately, her antics achieved the desired results; the photographer captured every emotional moment she staged, believing it captured real bridal joy.
Perhaps the most amusing part came when Fallon played footage from the day of the dress fitting where Brown was seen joyfully approaching the mirror and stated, "This is my dress!" With her glee illuminated from the candid moment, the paparazzo snapped away—none the wiser about the reality behind the scenes.
The elaborately planned moment blended seamlessly with her overall story leading up to her May 2024 wedding to Jake Bongiovi, son of rock star Jon Bon Jovi. Brown’s love story with Bongiovi has captured the public's heart, marked by numerous milestones beginning from their initial Instagram photo together back in June 2021. They confirmed their romance later in November 2021, resulting in public appearances filled with reassurance of their commitment.
Far from ordinary, their love story evolved over the years through cherished moments—celebrations during Christmas, the marking of Millie's 18th birthday, and their significant engagement announcement made public by Brown's social media highlights late April 2023.
Other key events include their appearance at the BAFTA Film Awards where they made their first official red-carpet debut together, as well as summer outings and family celebrations. With each passing milestone, their connection seemed to grow only stronger, evident from intimate moments shared via social media.
People have closely followed the couple’s affectionate exchanges, exemplified beautifully during birthdays and anniversaries celebrated together. "Grateful for my friends, family, donkey (Bernard), my doggies, my puppies, and my partner for life," Brown expressed, celebrating every joyful occurrence along the way.
After the wedding came additional challenges, as Brown is now tackling public perceptions and criticism with poise. Stepping away from the wedding hype, she recently addressed the media critiques surrounding her engagement and marriage, affirming the significance of her story, countering any speculation floated about her relationship choices.
During her busy schedule, Brown has also made it common to bring her animals to work, sharing delightful snippets of the experience. Capturing the balance of her celebrity lifestyle with her love for the animals, Brown continues to shine with both grace and authenticity.
Millie Bobby Brown's story encapsulates both personal triumphs and creative endeavors as she navigates the public eye. Her quick thinking and flair for performance, evident during her wedding dress fit, highlight her spirited personality, proving yet again why fans are enamored not just with her talent but also with her genuine narrative.