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Just Engaged: Moments In Love

There is never a dull moment when soon-to-be-weds Brian and Tanika are together. Let's celebrate their upcoming "I dos."

By Jolie A. Doggett · Updated October 27, 2020

Queen of His Heart

Tanika wasn’t looking for love when Brian came around. “Dating was fun and I enjoyed being treated like a princess but one day I found a man who treated me like a Queen and made life feel much more meaningful,” she remembers.

The Eyes Have It

What did Brian think when he met Tanika? “He thought I was beautiful,” Tanika says. “From the look in his eye I could tell he was smitten.”

More Than Meets The Eye

Tanika’s first impression of Brian? “I thought he was cute but young,” she remembers. “I didn’t take him seriously and he knew it. But in the end he made sure I knew just how serious he was.”

Something There

“It wasn’t love at first sight,” Tanika admits. “But he kept crossing my mind and I knew there was something there.” Their chemistry is electric!

A Date to Remember

On their first date, Tanika had a case of the of sniffles. “Though we were laughing and having a good time, by the end of the night my cold was getting the best of me but he insisted on taking me one more place…It was Duane Reade to pick out cold medicine because he wanted to make sure I was going to be alright,” Tanika recalls. “He was a total stranger concerned about my well being and he is still the same caring person today.”

Adventure Time

“We like to explore,” Tanika says. “We will find a neighborhood in the city and eat at a new place or check out a museum or shops.”

Cinematic Maniacs

“We love watching movies together but I can’t say which one is our favorite collectively,” says the bride-to-be. “We do enjoy corky indie films though. A date night at Nitehawk in Brooklyn always does the trick.”

Nice and Easy

“I knew he was the one a few months in while we were sitting in his apartment eating burgers and watching the game on a sunday afternoon,” Tanika remembers. “It was fun and easy and I knew this is the life I want with this man.”

Surprising Love

Who said “I Love You” first? “He did,” according to Tanika. “It was cute and caught me off guard but I said it too.”

Confidence is Key

“He is comfortable in his skin and confident in himself,” Tanika says of her husband-to-be.

Free To Be Me

“He just gets me. I don’t have to explain why I am who I am,” Tanika says of her love.

His Biggest Fan

“We are best friends and I’m his biggest cheerleader,” says the bride-to-be.

The Perfect Valentine’s Day

Brian planned an elaborate V-day proposal. “He planned an entire day of activities on Valentines Day,” Tanika remembers. “We went to some art galleries, the top of the Empire State building and dinner and a show before he surprised me with a hotel suite downtown. It was during desert that he finally proposed.”

Honest and True

“I love that my future husband is open and honest,” Tanika says of her fiancé. “He is always available to me emotionally.”

Man of Her Dreams

Tanika is ready to walk down the aisle with Brian. “Knowing I’m marry the man I’ve always dreamed of even when I didn’t know he was my dream,” she says.

A Beautiful Mind

“If I had to pick one thing I love the most, it would be how creative she is,” Brian says of his future wife. “She sees the art and beauty in everything we do. When I am with Tanika, she makes me appreciate each day, regardless of what we get into.”

Love in the City

“We both have lived in New York for almost a decade, but we always find new activities and places to explore,” Brian says. “Its the city that we met, and the city that never sleeps, so we enjoy experiencing it together. There are always fun, spontaneous events for us to get involved in.”

The One for Me

“Her confidence and enthusiasm really made her stand out to me,” Brian remembers. “I could tell that she enjoyed her life and it drew me in to learn more about her.”

Easy to Love

Brian wants to marry Tanika because she always has his back. “I fell in love with Tanika because of how supportive she is,” he says.

Growing Together

“She is always thinking about my needs and how we can grow together. I really appreciate that aspect of her personality,” Brian says of his bride-to-be.