#xoProposals: Tamon Turns A Black Love Photo Shoot Into An Emotional Proposal To Zaria
Would you hold out if your man told you you would have to wait 13 years before getting married?
For Zaria, 27, her relationship with her then-boyfriend Tamon was strong enough to do so. Although Tamon occasionally joked with his girlfriend that he wouldn't be ready for marriage until the year 2027, Zaria was patient and remained content within the relationship.
Little did she know, a wedding proposal would come sooner than later.
On a summer day, Tamon invited Zaria to Brooklyn, New York to do a photo shoot for a friend's 'black love project.' But what she didn't know was that the photo shoot was actually a carefully planned engagement that would be all caught on camera:
“My fiancée took me to New York and told me we were doing a photo shoot for a friend who wanted to do a black love project on his website. We took pictures in Brooklyn in a park together, and later moved to the neighborhood where he found a beautiful set of brownstone steps for the final pictures before the sunset. Little did I know, his friend switched to video and caught the entire proposal as it happened.”
And of course, Zaria said 'Yes'!
The happy couple are now set to wed March 19, 2016. Take a peek inside this gorgeous couple's proposal below:
Tell me about Zaria and your story of falling in love with her.
Tamon: I stumbled into Zaria on a Friday night while visiting a relative in Baltimore. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't from the area, and in fact I was still living in Canada (where I am from). We met March 23rd, 2012, and I returned home to Canada from my visit on only three days later.
After our serendipitous meeting, I asked to see her again before I left, and she obliged. We went on a date the day before I returned home. I didn't fully expect our friendship/relationship to continue, but for some reason, we talked everyday, for hours, even as I left the country.
When did you know it was time to put a ring on it?
Tamon: My love for Zaria wasn't gradual; it was immediate, unrelenting, and powerful. I could have married her after our first date, but I waited a few years so that people wouldn't think I was crazy.
Did you at any point feel like it was time to settle down with Tamon or were you just going with the flow in the relationship?
Zaria: After I visited Tamon in Canada for the first time, I could honestly envision us spending our lives together. I told my mom about him, and raved to my friends about him. There was just something different about Tamon that made the idea of long-term commitment and marriage feel real. We were both on the same page for so many important aspects of our relationship that it wasn’t a far thought that we would get married. I just thought I would have had a clue that he was thinking about proposing!
Talk about the concept you came up with for the proposal.
Tamon: The one thing that I had to absolutely guarantee was that she would have no idea. For about six months prior to our engagement, I had been telling Zaria that I'll be ready for marriage when I turn 40 (obviously untrue). She knew that I loved her deeply, but to really catch her off guard, I constantly reminded her that 2027 sounded like a good year for a wedding.
Phase one was then complete. I knew I wanted to capture the moment on camera, and I wanted to keep her all to myself the night I proposed. Hence, I planned for us to travel to New York for the weekend from Washington, D.C.
I personally am a hobbyist photographer, so I approached a photographer friend of mine in Brooklyn to capture the moment for us. I often put Zaria in front of my lens, so it raised no suspicions to have a friend of mine take images of the two of us. I told Zaria that my friend in Brooklyn was working on a Black Love site and wanted to take some photos of us for his site–easy enough.
We shot around Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn for about an hour, and my friend Julien found a gorgeous brownstone for the backdrop.
Then it happened.
Zaria, your reaction was beautiful. What were you thinking during the photo shoot and what were thoughts when your fiancé pulled the ring out?
Zaria: I loved the concept of a Black Love project, and I was curious to see how the photos turned out in the end. There were several moments in the park when I thought, "Oh, this would be such a cute engagement shoot!” But when we were on the steps and he pulled the ring out, I was in awe that something so wonderful could happen to me. The fact that he planned for so long and was so diligent about every detail made it even more special.
What do you have planned or what are some ideas you're going for in your wedding?
Zaria: We want a classic and timeless wedding, something we can look back at in 50 years and reminisce about the day we became a family. We’re getting married at a church in Washington, D.C., and since it will take place between winter and spring, we picked neutral colors that would be appropriate in either season. I’m just happy to be marrying my best friend!
Do you have a beautiful proposal story that you would like to share? Contact us at editor@xonecole.com, Subject ‘Proposal Story.’ Include photos and video (if possible)!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Frustrated With Your Job Search? Here's What One Expert Says You Should Start Doing
Recent LinkedIn findings have confirmed a few telling things about Black job seekers that many of us can probably relate to. Things in the realm of work and career advancement efforts have been shifting for Black professionals, with a majority (90%) considering a job move this year for more money (30%) or a better work-life balance (23%).
In these times of economic uncertainty, Black and Latino professionals are the most likely to consider a job move in 2024, but more than half of Black and Latino professionals “believe that looking for a job is frustrating.”
Despite the challenges, 62% of Black professionals, specifically, are changing their job search strategy to keep up with the changes in the new world of work, and they’re also the “most inclined” to want to find a job that aligns with their values and meets their criteria, the report further indicates.
I caught up with Tyrona Heath (@tyronaheath), director at LinkedIn’s B2B Institute, about strategies to shift your job search approach, what red flags to look out for when it comes to scammy postings, and how LinkedIn’s tools can be helpful in networking and landing your dream gig.
Job Search Tip 1: Don't be shy about marketing yourself and creating a story around whatever it is you offer to the world.
Heath shares that, when approaching your job search, the key is to stand out and be remembered. Candidates have to tap into highlighting what they can uniquely bring to the career opportunity they're pursuing. "Your brand is out front speaking for you when you’re not in the room. An active online presence, especially on LinkedIn, is crucial, as it helps create a natural identity that pulls people in and fosters lasting relationships."
"Use LinkedIn to message connections, have informational interviews, set up alerts, and follow people and companies to stay in the loop," she added. "Just like marketers deliver brand messages, tailor your updates and content to showcase what you know and contribute to the ecosystem. Employers are looking for people with skills to solve problems and identify the next opportunities.
She also noted that 70% of Black professionals "emphasize skills over degrees when job hunting, highlighting the importance of practical abilities increasingly outweighing traditional qualifications."
"Embrace your skills, and don't be afraid to go for those opportunities that might seem a bit out of reach. I always urge people to be really strategic in their search, using filters to narrow down the best roles, but also to make sure candidates aren’t undervaluing their professional experience.
Job Search Tip 2: Take the next step and invest in premium or membership upgrades on job-seeking sites.
"If you are still stuck on what to say to your new connection, LinkedIn’s AI Networking Tool for its premium members helps them craft a personalized message when reaching out to your connection for the first time," Heath said. "After you’ve used some of these tools to make an initial connection, it’s important to continue to tend to your LinkedIn garden. It's not just about planting seeds; it's about nurturing and cultivating relationships over time. Effective networking involves refining your connections and focusing on those that truly matter. By consistently investing in your network, you allow it to flourish and yield fruitful results over time."
Getty Images
Job Search Tip 3: Research prospective employers thoroughly to avoid getting scammed or wasting time applying for a fake job.
"Sadly, more and more job scams appear every day. They are feeding on the increasing innocence of job seekers as the job market continues to fluctuate," Heath said. "To help avoid being a victim to job ghosting, email phishing, and fake remote work opportunities, it is important to research the companies thoroughly and conduct thorough research. With the help of LinkedIn Pages, you can find out the credibility and information about the company, its values, and its commitments.
LinkedIn also has integrated verification directly into job posts, she added, which helps to ensure job seekers are able to get verified information about a company and job poster. "Most importantly, don’t ignore your gut feelings. If you’re getting asked for personal information like your social security number, bank information, or being asked to pay for things yourself, it’s probably a scam," she said. "Receiving an offer after just one interview is also a red flag. Legitimate companies have thorough processes, so if it feels too good to be true, it probably is."
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
Job Search Tip 4: Still hitting walls? Keep networking with authentic motives, take the focus off the pressure of the process, and find ways to expand your support system.
"I have deep compassion for those who constantly do everything they can do in their power and come up short. You start to feel helpless, and you find yourself stuck in a rut. What you’re feeling is real. We are seeing a tightened job market compared to the past few years," Heath said. "Before, we saw two jobs for every applicant; now it’s the complete opposite. One of the best things to do is expand your circles, relationships, and communities. Not only does this make for a great support system, but it also allows for the potential for opportunities you may not have uncovered otherwise. Your next job could be brought to you by your connection’s connection’s connection."
You can use platforms like LinkedIn to see who's connected to whom and become industry friends of friends (so to speak) with the network of someone you're already connected to.
Job Search Tip 5: Lean into the right timing for responding to applications, and be flexible. Achieving a big goal can start with consistently achieving a few smaller ones.
"While it’s easy to get hung up on finding the 'perfect' dream job, it’s important to remember that most jobs are vehicles and not destinations," Heath said. "Instead of focusing on this, try to think about what skills you’ll gain from each opportunity and how you can apply those skills and experience to your next opportunity."
She also encourages candidates to be quick on the draw when it comes to responding to job openings. "Applying within the first 10 minutes of receiving a relevant job notification can increase your chances of hearing back by up to four times, so don’t underestimate the importance of being the first to apply."
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Images