Sophisticated brides-to-be get engaged on Valentine’s Day and take stylish photos in Phoenix, Arizona

Real Engagements: D’Lessia & Tanesha

By Mae Wagner

D’Lessia first became aware of Tanesha through her coworker and mutual friend Tyler. Tanesha, a videographer, was producing an LGBTQIA+ web series for YouTube with Tyler. D’Lessia, a therapist and graduate of University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Syracuse University, began watching Tanesha’s videos every week. So in October of 2020, D’Lessia messaged Tyler on Facebook and asked if she had any single friends, and to her delight, Tyler told her that Tanesha was available. CoincidentallyTanesha had been hired to do the videography for a birthday party D’Lessia would be attending. Completely by chance, the duo walked into the party together, but D’Lessia didn’t introduce herself because she did not want to appear too eager and reveal that she recognized Tanesha from Facebook. During this period that D’Lessia jokingly calls her “stalking days,” she learned Tanesha’s birthday, and realized that they shared the same sign, Sagittarius. It seemed like fate. Months later, though , Tanesha posted a picture of a woman and captioned it “mine.” Thinking this woman was Tanesha’s girlfriend and not wanting to interfere, D’Lessia stopped “stalking” Tanesha’s profile and gave up hope of their having a relationship. Fortunately, D’Lessia and Tanesha finally got their first date on February 13, 2021, during the Covid pandemic.

Nearly a year later, as the couple’s anniversary and Valentine’s Day approached, D’Lessia could sense something big was coming. She asked Tanesha if they should plan something, but Tanesha assured her that she already had everything planned: the two of them would go out to dinner and then go bar hopping afterwards. The week of Valentine’s Day, people in her life began acting strangely, asking if she was getting her nails done for the occasion and how she planned to style her hair. On February 11, when Tanesha took D’Lessia out to dinner, D’Lessia was convinced that Tanesha would propose during the dessert course. She looked around the restaurant to see if any of her family members were there to witness it. When the waiter asked if the couple wanted dessert, Tanesha said no, to D’Lessia’s surprise. After their dinner, Tanesha suggested that the two of them get drinks at Central Station. On the way there, she pointed out a van to D’Lessia, who could not read it very well, because she wasn’t wearing her glasses. Finally, she was able to read her name on it, and then turned to see her and Tanesha’s friends and family holding flowers and balloons. Tanesha had rented a mobile billboard and created a slideshow of photos and videos of them. She got down on one knee, taking off her Jordan Breds so they wouldn’t crease, and asked D’Lessia to be her bride. The couple plan to marry in November of 2023 in Arlington, TN.