Their Story
“Our story starts before we really knew each other,” says D’Lessia. Tanesha used to produce an LGBTQIA+ web series on YouTube, in which D’Lessia’s ex-co-worker, Tyler, was an assistant producer. Tyler put her on to the web series, which D’Lessia would watch weekly. (Now remember Tyler’s name because she will play an integral part in D’Lessia and Tanesha’s story.)
During the pandemic, D’Lessia and Tanesha each went through a breakup. One day in October 2020, D’Lessia messaged Tyler on Facebook, venting how she was tired of being single and asking Tyler if she had any single friends to hook her up with. Tyler responded, ‘Hey girl! I think that my friend Tanesha is single.’ She then provided D’Lessia with a screenshot of Tanesha’s Facebook profile, and they became Facebook friends. At this point, a conversation had yet to materialize between them; D’Lessia simply checked out her page every now and then.
They unexpectedly met in person at D’Lessia’s best friend’s daughter’s birthday party. Tanesha was hired to do the videography. They arrived at the party at the same time and walked in together, but D’Lessia opted not to introduce herself. “I could not appear thirsty,” she said.
On Thanksgiving or Christmas–D’Lessia doesn’t quite remember which one–Tanesha posted a picture of a woman with a caption that read ‘Mine.’ She thought the woman was Tanesha’s girlfriend, and because she wasn’t a homewrecker, she ended her Facebook-stalking.
On February 1, 2021, D’Lessia announced a new partnership she made with a local organization within the city. An organization that, ironically, Tanesha had worked with a week prior. Right on cue, Matchmaker Tyler asked D’Lessia if she had run into Tanesha since she had worked with them recently. The next day, out of nowhere, Tanesha slid into D’Lessia’s DMs. (But really, we all knew who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.) “The rest,” D’Lessia says, “was history.”
Eleven months and a whole relationship later, D’Lessia asked Tanesha if she should plan something for Valentine’s Day since they had not discussed any plans. Tanesha responded, “No, I got it planned.” She revealed that they would have dinner and then go bar-hopping.
People were acting weirdly towards D’Lessia the week of Valentine’s. They were asking her if she was going to get her nails done or how was she planning to wear her hair–which struck her as odd because she always kept herself up to par. D’Lessia felt like something was happening, but she couldn’t put her finger on what.
When they had dinner on February 11, D’Lessia just knew Tanesha was gonna propose during dessert. Tanesha’s phone kept blowing up, and D’Lessia thought, ‘Yup! It’s happening!’ She even looked around the restaurant to see if her family was there to share in the moment. But when the waiter asked them if they wanted dessert, Tanesha answered no. D’Lessia was confused, thinking, ‘Soooo . . . when am I getting proposed to?’
Their next destination, Tanesha told her, was a booth at a club. To which D’Lessia thought, ‘That’s where I’m getting proposed to?’ When they pulled up, they had to walk a little. D’Lessia typically wore glasses but put in contacts to be cute. As they were walking, Tanesha asked D’Lessia to read a mobile billboard that rode by them. Being nearsighted, she struggled somewhat but eventually read her name. ‘What is this?’ she thought.
When she turned around, she saw their family and friends around them, all dressed in black, holding red flowers and balloons. On the mobile billboard, a slideshow of their photos and videos played. Finally, Tanesha got down on one knee–but not before taking off her Jordan Breds to prevent creasing–and asked D’Lessia to marry her. D’Lessia gave her an enthusiastic “Yes!”
The lovebirds plan to marry in Arlington, Texas, in November of 2023. -Congratulations, D’Lessia and Tanesha from Black Gay Weddings.
