• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya – Digital Cover
    • Cardi B and Offset Cover
    • Method Man – Digital Cover
    • Zazie Beetz – Digital Cover
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Fashion House 2021
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • MAYBELLINE: FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Prudential – Dream & Plan with Confidence
    • Black History Month
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Festival
  • Events
    • Road to Festival
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • Entrepreneur Summit 2021
    • Wellness House
    • VAX & VIBES Louisiana
    • Girls United Summit 2021
    • She Got Now
    • Fashion House 2021
    • GU Back To School
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • Power Tools
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya – Digital Cover
    • Cardi B and Offset – Print Cover
    • Method Man – Digital Cover
    • Zazie Beetz – Digital Cover
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Fashion House 2021
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • MAYBELLINE: FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Prudential – Dream & Plan with Confidence
    • Black History Month
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Festival
    • Sponsors
    • Fest Videos
  • Events
    • Road to Festival
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • Entrepreneur Summit 2021
    • Wellness House
    • VAX & VIBES Louisiana
    • Girls United Summit 2021
    • She Got Now
    • Fashion House 2021
    • GU Back To School
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • Power Tools
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Love & Sex

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
01
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.

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
02
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
03
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
04
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!

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
05
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
06
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
07
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
08
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
09
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
10
Confidence is Key

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

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
11
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.

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
12
His Biggest Fan

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

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
13
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
14
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
15
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.

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
16
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
17
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
18
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.”

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
19
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.

Just Engaged: Moments In Love
20
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.

Just Engaged: Moments In Love

Read More

National Friendship Day: The Many Ways That Black Friendships Enrich Our Lives
Lifestyle
National Friendship Day: The Many Ways That Black Friendship...
Listen To Your Body: The Importance of Health Awareness in The Black Community
Health and Wellness
Listen To Your Body: The Importance of Health Awareness in T...
New Music This Week: Doechii, Drake, The Weeknd And More
Videos
New Music This Week: Doechii, Drake, The Weeknd And More
Star Gazing
Celebrity
Star Gazing: Stars Hit The Red Carpet Across The Country
12 Hair Removal Aftercare Products That Will Leave Your Skin Supple And Smooth
Shop
12 Hair Removal Aftercare Products That Will Leave Your Skin...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2022 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now