JERMAINE &
TANISHA

Bridal party

BRIDESMAIDS

Elizabeth Downs - Matron Of Honor

I met my friennnnndddddd, my boo thang, my good, good, girlfriend through our mutual friend Janean. We were going out to the club one night and we all galivanted through the night in Washington, D.C. We had such a great time, found out she was a Taurus, and I knew right then she had to be one of my friends, her personality is fire!

I remember calling Tanisha just checking on her and she says girl I have something to tell you. In Liz style I was like, “What girl tell me, sis loves a piece of tea.” She says, “I’m dating a guy, his name is Jermaine.” Oh, I was shocked, yet happy. I told her that me and Janean would grill the hell out of him, and we did, lol! I met Jermaine at Tanisha’s birthday dinner at Ruth Chris in April 2019.

To always love on one another, to never go to bed angry, to communicate and compromise even when it seems hard. Keep 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 close in your hearts and life will be grand, Marriage isn’t easy, but it’s so worth it!

Let me first start out by saying. I love me some JERMAINE! I am a person that it only takes between one & three times to know if I will like you, and boyyy I Love me some MAINE. The way he cares for Tanisha is beyond words! However, what got me is the way he takes care of his kids as well as Tanisha’s boys!!! To have a man genuinely care for you and your children and really care is everything. I knew that the smile that he put on her face when she said his name, and the change I saw in my friend (tears … no more Sister Shaquille Sunflower), I knew they were meant to be together.

We had a versus house at my house and Jermaine was telling Justin songs to play and acting like he wasn’t helping Justin. Tanisha was the DJ, while we went between sessions. It was a good time, and we laughed the entire night.

Their best quality is their beautiful chill attitudes. I know if they are coming somewhere I am up for a good time and some great laughs.

I feel like my friend is back. My fun loving full of life friend is backkkkkk!!!!

Brittney Taylor – Sister/ Maid Of Honor

My big sister Tanisha (Nee-Nee) prayed for me! like, literally! We were raised to be very close.

As a little girl, I always wanted to hang out with her and be just like her. She’s my very first best friend.

I remember Nee-Nee and Jermaine’s first date. She came to my place to get ready because they were meeting close to where I lived. I was so excited for her to go out and have a good time, so I helped with her hair and makeup while asking a bunch of questions all about Jermaine. Fast forward a few months later, they made things official so Jermaine, Nee-Nee, our mom and I went to dinner so that we could meet him in person. I made sure he knew how much I don’t play about my sister (LOL)! 

Jermaine passed his interrogation (LOL) with flying colors. I could see by the way he looked at her that he wasn’t going anywhere, Jermaine has been my bro ever since. 

Keep God first in everything you do, of course! Always keep each other in mind, move as one,

never stop dating each other, keep having fun, and keep it spicy!!

I remember Nee-Nee telling me about how good Jermaine was with her boys and that sealed the deal for me!

I already knew he loved my sister, but to then discover/ see with my own eyes how he loved my nephews, I knew there was no going back.

There are lots to pick from, but Christmas 2021 sticks out. 

My boyfriend and I hosted a Christmas brunch for the family. After eating and opening gifts, we decided to play a few games which included 

a few rounds of competitive karaoke. We split into teams and had a ball! It was funny to see Jermaine and his children get into karaoke with us. It was a family gathering to remember!

I love their teamwork dynamic. They’re always looking out for each other and making this happen for their family, I love that for them!

I have to say, the fact that she now has a partner for life who truly loves her and allows her to unapologetically be herself in my book is the best! 

Janean Crayton

We met at work. I had just had a baby and wanted to get back outside to do something fun. I randomly asked Tanisha if she wanted to go with me to the Kat Williams comedy show. That was our first date, lol.

If my memory serves me correctly, the first time I met Jermaine was at a birthday dinner party for Tanisha. We were at Ruth’s Chris in the inner harbor in Baltimore.

Make memories and document them with lots of videos and pictures. It’s fun to look back on the growth and things you did together and accomplished together. It’s also nice to have when you are annoyed with each other, and memories bring back the smiles.

When I heard all the great things he was doing to step in and love Ayden and Aubry. That’s a big deal. Tanisha has always been super mom, so to see her get to relax and the kids enjoy being with “Maine” told me “That’s a good man Savannah”.

Our group chats are the funniest to me, some of the stuff we talk about and jokes we have going back and forth and hilarious!

I think Tanisha’s best quality is her ability to easily connect and make friends anywhere. People just naturally gravitate towards her. She will dance it up with anyone to a good tune. She’ll take a picture for someone or with them if they ask (even random people). She just has great energy. I notice that Jermaine pays attention to details and listens to people. I remember being at their house for the engagement surprise, and my husband was helping grill the food. Jermaine let him use a pair of grilling gloves and my husband loved them so much. For some reason, he likes to grill and burn himself up. Well, the next week we had an Amazon package at our house with the same pair of grilling gloves that my husband raved about using at his house.

Tanisha is Tanisha again. She’s her free self. The person who will dance until the morning. Who loves to go out and be with friends, family, etc.

Dominique Johnson

 I met T through our friend Janean. A girls’ night was planned in D.C. and that’s where I officially met the Brooklyn Babe! She was this vibrant, fun, full of energy soul, with the best legs (I love her Tina Turner legs ❤) She had such a pleasant and welcoming spirit, so we clicked instantly….and the rest is history! 

Soooooo, I kept hearing about “Tanisha’s Boo”, but it took us a while before we officially met, which happened to be during a night out in Fells Point. That’s the first time I witnessed them together as a couple. Jermaine was so attentive to T, and he instantly became my brother!

Never stop being friends! Attack issues, not one another!

I knew they were meant to be together when I learned Jermaine and I shared the same birthday 🥳 we the best!!!!! 

I don’t have one particular funny memory of Jermaine and Tanisha. All I can say is our group thread of text messages will have you in stitches! If you know you know, lol.

Their best quality is their mutual respect for one another. Respect is their invisible strength that will continue to foster their healthy relationship. 

The best thing that has changed since Tanisha has been with Jermaine is her 

  pure happiness!! She’s more relaxed, less stressed and indeed more blessed! 

Fabiola Cadet

Funny enough, we met on a totally random website in 2008 (or 2009). Every day, we would log in and communicate in the comments. Tanisha also invited Janean to join. We then exchanged work emails and later on social media information. Our first face to face happened when Tanisha invited me to celebrate her birthday in DC. We had a grand ole time and she’s been my bff ever since.

Tanisha started to talk about Jermaine in one of our many text marathons. I had a chance to observe the couple’s dynamics when we went out to dinner to celebrate Tanisha’s birthday. 

Always put each other first. 

Hearing how Tanisha talked about Jermaine gave me the feeling that they were in for the long haul. Seeing how Jermaine treats his children and his bonus sons cemented that feeling. 

I absolutely love seeing them together! Them talking about their first day is one of the cutest and funniest stories.

Tanisha is vivacious, a ride or die friend and a fabulous mother! Let’s not forget, the mixxy one in our cre 😃. Jermaine is laid back, confident and passionate about his family.

I can certainly tell that Tanisha has become more confident. Confident in who she is and in what Jermaine brings into her life.

Colleen Rexti

Through her lovely cousin Diannah back in 2010  

Tanisha shared about him upon their initial introduction and first date, and I had hopes already for her. Especially hoping he’s an incredible guy that’ll swoop her right off her feet, because I already knew she’s a gem of a woman that will brighten up his world. Turns out he’s all that and here they are! YAYYYYYYYYY 🙂 

Make efforts to cherish one another. On purpose. Make a ritual out of it so becomes your tradition of how you show one another how much you value each other.

I can’t think of any hahaha!! We’ve shared a whole lot of happy tears moments. So much so that one of us has to tell the other to stop talking about the mushy stuff so we can stop crying! Sheesh. Lol!

She’s an incredible hostess and makes everyone feel loved and welcomed. Even for a casual visit haha. She must get it from her mama (wink). I still remember all of us now bridesmaids and some other of her darling friends, came to one birthday weekend she hosted, and we had an incredible time celebrating her. She made us all feel loved! That’s her gift of altruism she shared with us.

Since they started dating, she feels alive again. Like one who is present to enjoy the fullness of her life and will continue to blossom; especially as they both keep filling each other’s love cup and growing together.

 

May God bless you both and keep you both. May He shine His face on your life, give you peace, nurture the soil of your marriage and make it grow deep, deep roots filled with heavenly nutrients that will yield blessed fruits all of your days. I’m ecstatic for you both and look forward to seeing you grow with love and in love.  

 

Have a Happy and Blessed Marriage!!!!

Taylor Brown

I met Tanisha via my brother, Jermaine. We had talked over the phone some leading up to when she came to visit South Florida that summer. We had a good time. I just felt so bad she almost broke her toe during our family’s hood Olympics. She had a cool and fun vibe, I liked her!

Jermaine asked me which of his matches was cuter, I chose Tanisha, and the rest is history.

Stay young and have fun with it!

When Jermaine started visiting back home more.

They still date each other

I see she makes a great girl mom… cough cough lol

Diannah Sparks

I’ve known Tanisha as long as I’ve known myself.  We’re cousin-sisters (parents are siblings), whose moms were pregnant at the same time, born 2 months apart. We lost all the photo evidence of us as babies but were on this journey from the womb to the tomb!

 

It all started with a phone call that went like this: “Remember that guy I met, my ‘friend’ Jermaine?” 

Maybe two pieces:

A: Always remember that no matter what problems, issues, conflict, etc. arise, it’s always US against the problem, never each other. 

B: Always remember your WHY: why you made it this far, why you chose your partner, why you fell in love, etc.

Too many to choose! One has to be between prank calling our grandmothers & older relatives, getting kicked out of class almost every day for laughing/rapping, or arguing as 9-year-olds over which one of us would be T-Boz in our TLC group. She argued that it should be her because she had “the right voice”. We had a sing-off, she won and

I had to be Left-Eye 😂

Tanisha’s best quality is her passion: no matter WHAT it is, family, love, work, friendship, a hobby, a party, a heated debate, a sports game, a dish for an event, she is going to be driven, fully committed, and not only give it her all, but her BEST!

Samyah Briston

I met Neesh through the phone over our multitude of FaceTime calls, but I finally met her in person at my mom’s wedding. 

I was introduced to my dad and Neesh as a couple through the phone, but I got to learn all the details during my Maryland visit for spring break. 

One piece of advice that I have for them is to continue to make each other laugh because it’s a beautiful sight to see. 

 I knew they were meant to be together when they started to banter like a married couple and when I really acknowledged that Neesh is really my “otha motha” *fake NY accent*

 My funniest memory of my dad and Neesh would be New Year’s Eve when my dad gave her a lap dance and when we all shared a bed in the hotel. 

Their best quality is being able to communicate and make each other laugh. 

The best thing that has changed about Neesh is that she’s stepped into her stepmother role and is doing a damn good job at it. Yes, it takes time, trust, and respect for this to occur, but she has finally stepped into this role for me and I enjoy talking to her about any and everything like I would my mom. 

Jade Briston – Junior Bride

I met Tanisha when we went to brunch together, and she asked us about ourselves and our interests. It was nice getting to know her. She talked to me and understood me as a person so that now we have a relationship. And I know I can talk to her about everything and anything.

My funniest memory was when we were at the house, we were all play fighting, messing around with the boys, and just enjoying each other’s company. I think we all have a good relationship as a family, and I hope we can build on it more as we grow.

GROOMSMEN

Jaylin Briston – Son/Best Man

I am literally the product of this man.

We went to Sunset Cove for lunch. Jade and I interrogated Tanisha.

Don’t give up on each other.

When my father quit a game of Madden to do what she needed (even though he was losing like usual).

He has gotten worse at Madden, so I practically win every game!

Ephraim Moorer – Best Man

Jermaine’s grandma and my grandparents stayed across the street from each other. We’ve been best friends since we were able to cross a street (4-5 years old)!!!

Via phone/FaceTime. Jermaine and Neesh called my wife and I as a pre-introduction a few months prior to our wedding. We officially met Neesh a day prior to our wedding (July 12, 2019).

Create and follow your own wave. What others may do may not work for you and that’s okay. Do what works for you. Don’t look to your left or right, look straight ahead and run your own race!!!

When Jermaine and Neesh came to visit May 2021 for a weekend.

May 2021 Jermaine and Neesh came to West Palm Beach (Florida) for Neesh’s birthday weekend. My wife and I took them out for the night to the Bamboo Room. Let’s just say Que had to help Jermaine who was vomiting in our hedges, and I had to assist Neesh upstairs, lol. EPIC NIGHT!!!

Their best quality is their unselfishness and giving hearts! They give their everything…individually and collectively!

Lol, he smiles more. He visits more. And he’s gained some weight, lol. All signs of a happy man!!!

Steph Stokes

We met as freshman in college, in 2000 – UCF SOAR Program

Jermaine sent me a pic of his new “lady friend” and let me know that Tanisha was a cool person, and they connected on a different level.

Advice- Don’t become complacent in the relationship, strive to challenge each other, and evolve together.

I knew this, the first time I heard Tanisha put Jermaine in his place verbally! I knew right then they were a perfect match for each other. They both match each other’s energy. And they both keep that same energy with each other at all times.

Funniest memories for me are ongoing, as Tanisha is told more stories of our “college day stories” …seeing her facial expressions is probably the funniest!

Best quality is their devotion to carving out fun time for themselves. They both lead very busy lives, but always make sure they claim their time is dedicated to each other.

Best thing that has changed about Jermaine is his patience. He’s always been a patient guy, but I’ve seen him become more intentional and thoroughly assess a situation before reacting.

Robert Davis

Through his aunt Felicia.

Jermaine introduced Tanisha to me at the barbershop.

KEEP people out of your business!

 After a family gathering on vacation in Florida.

The wrestling match outside of my father-in-law’s house.

Their personalities

Isaiah Taylor

The first time I met Jermaine was at the bowling alley. Nee-Nee kept telling me about him! So, when I came to visit the family went out together.

Real sustainable love is not a feeling but is rather a choice that you must make daily. Feelings come and go but choosing to love (especially when you do not feel like it) will make this marriage last forever.

-They both are light-skin and who could understand a light-skin more than a light-skin, lol!

-They are both some of the most genuine & caring people I have ever known.

My favorite memory is from Christmas in 2021 when we played karaoke and Jermaine nearly broke the microphone trying to hit a note that was way out of his range, lol!

Their best quality is that they are both incredibly gifted at parenting their children and competing.

If you know my sister Tanisha, you should know that she does not like being wrong and she must have the last word. With that being- said she can be the most selfless person I know but you must pick and choose your battles and Jermaine has mastered the ability of knowing which battles to pick and choose. He is a patient man!

Justin Downs

I met Jermaine like 3 years ago, at Tee‘s dinner party, at Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Well, Tanisha had been missing in action (MIA) for a very long time. See, her and my wife, The ‘Matron Of Honor’ are good, good girlfriends. And she was not being her usual self (if you know, you know…Naji Rumba), but then came out of the darkness into the marvelous light. Come to find out, it was because she had finally found her happiness…Jermaine.

Keep God first, and you can’t go wrong. 1 Corinthians 13:2-7 “Love is patient, love is kind…”

I was able to witness the way that they both blended their families. To see the way he loves her sons, and the way she loves on his children is rare! A lot of people fail to realize that when you marry someone with kids, you marry the kids too! They did it so effortlessly, they definitely understood the assignment!

Lol, it’s so many, but the funniest moment was when he told her they had to be to a concert at a certain time. But it was different from the actual time, because his soon-to-be-wife is always late for an event. They ended up being late for the fake time, but was actually on time for the actual concert, so it worked out!

Their energy! When they are around it’s always the same, no switch in their blood! The genuineness for each other, and their friends is the reason me and my wife love to call them our friends 

I only know this, Jermaine. From day one he’s been mad cool, funny, genuine, and an all-around good guy. Now he has changed her!!! Tanisha is back to the Tee I once knew! My sis comes around now but is still late to any event. But she’s gonna show up with a smile that proves to the world she has found her one…her happiness. Love yall!!!

Wayne Crayton

I met Jermaine at Tanisha’s birthday dinner. We had an amazing time and both my bro Justin, and I said he was an amazing fit for Tanisha.  

Funny story…Tanisha’s birthday dinner was the same day I met them as a couple. It was a coming out party for Tanisha.

Keep God first and continue to find ways to show up for each other.

When we started having date nights together. You could see how Tanisha glowed from afar. My bro Jermaine breathed new life into Tanisha, and I was overjoyed. Because she deserved it.

When we had our ‘Verzuz” battle. They was ready for war, lol.

That they both are amazing people with huge hearts.

I see Jermaine has really been an amazing father figure to the boys, and a support system to all of her friends, including the Golden Girls.

Ayden Perry - Ring Bearer

When we don’t do anything (sung like Bruno Mars “Lazy Song”)

Aubry Perry – Ring Bearer

Because he is my favorite dad.

When I was little, and he got me those Icees.