Tangara, 31, and Brian, 31, met at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2009. "I was backstage and I laid eyes on a pulchritudinous young lady dancing for the opening act. We made eye contact, began to talk with each other, and she captured my attention," Brian says. The following week they reunited at the Blues Festival in Ottawa, Canada and Brain says, "this rest is history."
"I received a call from my agent on a Friday letting me know I had an audition on the following Monday," Tangara says of her proposal night. "The audition was at a hotel in downtown Toronto. I didn’t think anything of the location because people hold auditions any and everywhere. Once I got to the hotel, I was told to have a seat and wait until I was called up. Shortly after, I was told to head upstairs, and there will be signs directing me to the room. As I slowly and cautiously opened the door, I saw candles and a bed with rose petals on it in the shape of a heart. All I could think was, Oh crap. They’re gonna ask me to take my clothes off! But, as I opened the door and looked to my left, there was Brian on one knee holding an open ring box."
"The first person I called after the proposal was my mom. She was so excited and couldn’t believe it. She knew it was going to happen soon too, but Brian wanted her to be surprised," Tangara says. "Then I called my sister, who cried and updated her BBM status before I could even hang up the phone."
When Brian proposed, Tangara said she was in complete and utter disbelief. "I couldn’t tell what was more of a shock: the fact that he was there after not seeing him for so long or that he was proposing," Tangara says. "I had no idea it was going to happen that day. My mind was on so many things at the time, I never gave it a thought."
Since Tangara lives in Toronto and Brian lives in New York, Tangara says the distance has been their biggest obstacle. "Right now, my biggest obstacle is moving to the U.S. There is a lot we have to do before I can be there with him full time," she says. "Brian always knows exactly what to say to make me feel better and to reassure me that everything will work out. He has definitely shown me how to be more patient and trust not only in myself, but in God and his timing."
"Everyday is a favorite memory with her," Brian says of his bride-to-be. "Walking through Central Park in New York, holding hands and talking about our future. Also being at her house in Toronto flipping through TV stations and her saying, 'Hey, I'm on this episode [of Degrassi]" and she was."
"All my life, I've never met anyone quite like her,' says Brian. "Tangara was, and is, everything I could possibly ask for and more -- literally a heaven sent prototype of the perfect, tailor-fit lady for me."
"We are both understanding, passionate about our careers and just loving individuals seeking peace and happiness," Brian says.
Tangara says her first date with Brian lasted three days. "Being that I live in Toronto, and Brian lives in New York, meeting up was somewhat of a challenge. We planned for him to come to Toronto at the end of that summer," she says. "We had spent countless hours talking on the phone, emailing, texting and Skyping. We talked a lot, so when we were finally face-to-face, it was like I had known him for years."
"I love that he has the biggest heart of anyone I know," Tangara says. "The things he does for people, even those he doesn’t know, are beyond words and with no expectation of anything in return. I love that he is humble and extremely talented. But most of all, I love that he’s all mine."
"We love to eat, shop, listen to great music, go to church, travel and sometimes just do absolutely nothing at all," Brian admits.
Tangara says she loves to tag along to Brian's shows to watch him play live. On Brian's recent tour with his band PJ Mortian, he says, "She fit right in and adapted comfortably with no complaints from anyone, and we had lots of fun."
Brian says he made a book of more than 100 things he loves about Tangara. "I love the fact that she is goal-oriented, always striving for excellence in all that she does," he says. "She lives a life of impeccable integrity. I love the fact that she is understanding and open-minded with my profession. I travel a lot and the money is not always constant, but she’s a 'ride or die chick.' I love the fact that she loves me and constantly drenches my life with wisdom and love."
"I feel like the proposal was special because Brian planned something that was specific to who I am and true to who he is," Tangara says. "Turning something that I do every day, and am so passionate about, into one of the greatest moments of my life. He is always surprising me. He really got me with the proposal."
Tangara says planning the wedding from Canada has been tricky: "I've been doing everything online and over the phone. We talk so much about what we want, and we don’t want to compromise on the things we love. We only get this one day so we want it to be everything we've ever dreamed of."
"The most exciting part about being engaged is knowing that we will be together forever," Brian says. "Even before we were engaged we were in love and that hasn’t changed."
Join us in wishing Tangara and Brian a very happy ever after. Leave your well wishes for the happy couple below! Want to share your engagement joy with our readers? Send your engagement photos via email now to be considered for an upcoming Just Engaged feature.
