How To Get A Ring
PUT A RING ON IT: How A ‘Do You Like Black Girls’ Text Lead To The Most Stunning Interracial Love You’ve Ever Seen
Who doesn’t love Black love!? We do and we celebrate it with our “Put A Ring On It” series. Each week, we’ll feature YOUR engagement and wedding stories, romantic photos and even tips that’ll help other Beauties out on their big day. Check back each week for a new installment!
This week, we spoke with Ryan and Ayanna about finding love on the first date and going with the flow even when things go wrong.
HER STORY
Three summers ago, on a photo shoot set for designer Michael Angel, Ryan and I met each other for the first time. My first impression–he was shy, yet charming, very much a gentleman and, of course, very handsome. My boss, Michael Angel, and his partner noticed our interaction and insisted a couple of days later on passing my contact information along to Ryan. We met for our first date, our 8-hour long first date, and that’s where it all began.
Our first date was a beautiful day in Brooklyn. At the time, I resided in East Williamsburg. So Ryan, being a gentleman, chose a brunch spot in my neck of the woods. Somehow, I still managed to be 40 minutes late. After lunch, we strolled through Williamsburg, conversed, did some people watching and eventually ended up at his friend’s loft space in Bushwick, hanging out on the rooftop. By far it was the longest date, but one of the most connected experiences I’ve ever had. I didn’t want the date to end.
As time went on, we became inseparable. My dating experience with Ryan holds so true to something he told me after six months of us together, “I promise to love you everyday.” And to date, despite my whirlwind of emotions, he is love, EVERYDAY. It’s really admirable. By no means are we perfect; we have challenges like all couples. However, the good outweighs the bad, and the smiles definitely outshine the sad.
THE UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT
On the night of June 19, 2014 (our three-year anniversary), we made plans to see a Broadway show (“Holler If You Hear Me”), dinner at the Standard Grill, and a nightcap. As we all know, nothing ever goes as expected. While the show was amazing, and dinner was delicious, the attempt for drinks (and a surprise rooftop proposal) didn’t go over so well.
We were wrapping dinner and Ryan mentions, “Let’s take a walk along the Highline.” Me, after running in heels to the Broadway Theater, (because of course I was running late) and taking a short walk en route to dinner, had blisters on every toe. There was no way I was walking the Highline.
Revisiting our original plan, we head over to Gallow Green at the Mckittrick Hotel. Just as we arrive, they were doing last call. At that moment, we head home and Ryan’s face reads disappointment. I explain to him that the night was amazing and we had a great time, why so sad? Me, not having a clue he was planning to propose, encouraged him to enjoy the moment.
We get home, he pours us a drink, puts on some Bob Marley (my absolute favorite) and proceeds to give me more anniversary gifts. The first is a ring box, filled with earrings to throw me off, then a love letter. At that moment, he gets down on one knee and pops the question! I was on cloud nine. It was our perfect moment.
NEXT: Check out his side of the story and Ayanna’s beautiful and unique ring!
HIS STORY
“Do you like black girls?,” read a text sent to me from a colleague. Her boss was trying to set us up on a date. He saw we had a connection on set at the photo shoot. I responded with a tasteless text like, “F*** yeah, I do!” I remember walking out of the studio and resenting not getting her phone number.
Being fresh out of a long-term relationship, I was open to new possibilities. Our first date, we met at a chicken & waffles joint called Pies-N-Thighs in Billyburg. Completely annoyed, I waited 40 minutes for her to show up. But when she arrived, she glowed all cinematic and backlit in her cute summer dress. The neckline swooped down exposing a hint of her cleavage and they looked incredible and perky. After we indulged in gluttonous chicken-eating and conversation for an hour or two, I instantly felt comfortable and connected with her. We continued the date at my friend Matt’s rooftop in Bushwick where we enjoyed a hot summer night’s sunset.
She put me in my place when we first started dating. She nearly broke up with me when my ex was calling to “talk.” When Ayanna called me out on my s*** at the entryway of PS1, I was dumbstruck. At that moment, she demanded and earned my respect. I was sold. I’ve never seen such a sexy woman as confident, beautiful and smart as she was in that moment.
Now, we go everywhere together. We share the passion of traveling and culture. Portland, Maine, Oregon and Virginia where her family resides, are a few of the places we’ve gone. This was a new experience for me, breaking bread with her family during the winter holidays. Her family provided an abundance of warmth and love and by no means ever made me feel like the token White guy. Our biggest trip came when we vacationed in the Bahamas and Italy. Italy was the most perfect trip I have ever taken.
We are a great team. We utilize our creativity and help build each other’s career. She has her new online vintage boutique, and I photograph all of her fashion stories. I’ve known for the past two and half years that I would marry her. But it wasn’t until we both experienced the Momentum Education workshop that gave me clarity to act upon my desire. As my aunt always said, “Ryan, you need to s*** or get off the pot.” What was I waiting for? The week before I proposed, I took a 7-hour bus ride to Norfolk, Virginia to receive her mother’s blessing. That night, her mother and I enjoyed a great date.
PLANNING THE PERFECT PROPOSAL
On June 19th, our third anniversary, we met at a play called, “Holler If Ya Hear Me.” Afterwards, we ate at the Standard Grill. I wanted an open-air summer experience that exuded positivity and love. During dinner, we discussed going to their rooftop bar but the scene was too clubbish and the Highline park was too much for her blistered feet. Nothing seemed to go right for me and my attitude threw off my focus.
Urgently, I cabbed us over to Gallow Green, the rooftop bar of Sleep No More, to propose to her. Unfortunately, they had just taken their last call upon our arrival. As we headed home, I was swept with a feeling of defeat. Ayanna then says to me, “It’s not about how it looks, babe. I had a wonderful time.” Hearing this opened my perception of what a perfect proposal looked like. When we arrived, I shifted my mood by pouring us drinks and putting on Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved.” She started dancing and singing along, the mood was set. On hand and knee, I asked her to marry me. The engagement ring she now wears is a family heirloom designed by my great-grandmother.
Are you recently engaged or married? Do you know someone else who’s about the head down the aisle? Let us know by messaging us on Facebook or emailing us at hbgotthering@gmail.com and you could be featured!
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PUT A RING ON IT: How A ‘Do You Like Black Girls’ Text Lead To The Most Stunning Interracial Love You’ve Ever Seen was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
