We were introduced to Samuel Blot and Thaina Madere two years ago when their proposal story struck a chord with us.
After meeting time and time again, Sam pursued Thaina, and although it wasn't love at first sight for Thaina, she eventually fell for him. Over time, the love they felt grew, but would eventually prove to not be enough and the couple broke up.
It wouldn't take Sam long to realize Thaina was his one, though. For nine months, he prayed, he bided his time, he fasted, and most of all, he worked to become the man that Thaina needed him to be and the man that she deserved. He courted her thoroughly for a second time and nine months later, he proposed. "I knew that forever was what I wanted to be for her, and I knew I couldn't settle for anything less. It wasn't instant, but I won her back – and I've felt like I won the lottery every day since," he said.
When the time came to propose to her in that beautiful garden setting, he had no doubts the love of his life would say "yes."
A little over a year later, they made their commitment official under the eyes of God and surrounded by family and friends on November 5, 2017. From "She Said Yes" to "I Do," we're happy to join the Blots as they tie the knot and embark on their journey to forever. Read on as the bride and groom share some of the key elements that made their big day truly special.
Here & Now
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"We had gone through so much up to that point, saying 'I do' wasn't really a leap, it was a confirmation of what we already knew. When you go through the moments in our relationship, when it is time to say 'I do,' we knew that it was a promise already paid for in hugs, sweat, and tears," she said.
The Sweetest Thing
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"It's hard to pick [a favorite memory] but the morning of the wedding I woke up feeling so much peace and so sure that I was exactly where I needed to be," Thaina said. "I thought I would be stressed because it was the day of and I still hadn't written my vows, but all of the anxiousness of wedding prep ceased to exist because at that point, nothing else mattered but that I was hours away from becoming one with my man."
From This Moment On
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"The most memorable moment [for me that day] was when I first saw her turn the corner to walk down the aisle," Sam recalled. "I knew she would be beautiful, but I could never imagine how beautiful. When I saw her, though I knew before, I was reminded that this is my wife; my forever. As she walked down the aisle, I knew there would be tears, but as a man who rarely cries I was surprised to find I had more than enough for the both of us."
Always & Forever
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"We feel that even though we've been in love for years, marriage is the beginning of our great journey," Thaina shared. "So far, we have already had moments where we can't believe the blessings we have received, and we're only in the first few months! Living with your best friend has been as amazing as it sounds. We banter back and forth, get on each other's nerves, squabble over leaving the seat up, and learn about all kinds of strange habits; but as Sam always says, 'That day marked the first day in a long line of the best days of my life.'"
Click through the gallery below for behind-the-scene photos and intimate details that made their wedding amazing.
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"We got married at Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla, San Diego. We wanted a beach wedding but didn't like the idea of toes in the sand so the cliffside lawn wedding was our happy medium. We also loved that the glass doors behind the lawn area of our ceremony slid open for an indoor/outdoor reception. I just knew that dancing the night away accompanied by views and sounds of the waves would be magical."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"The theme of our wedding was Modern, Natural, and Geometric. Shapes played heavily in our choices for decor. We had glass terrariums, a honeycomb altar, Geode cake and cupcakes, and long cylinder floating candle holders. The bridesmaids wore jumpsuits and groomsmen wore carbon fiber hexagonal ties while Sam's tie was gold leaf laid under hexagonal glass."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"We wanted the details to be a representation of things we love but still wanted it to be elegant, so we opted for clear chiavari chairs so that the attention could remain on the altar and ocean. All of the florals in our reception area and all of the desert except for the center of our cake were white to balance out all of the greenery, geometric décor, and gold details."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"I had two Maids of Honor and Sam had two Best Men. I owe my rock and sister, Patrice, everything for her endless supply of support. Patrice and Kendra, my childhood best friend, really made sure the process of planning didn't overwhelm me."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"I wore a fit and flare, subtle ombre baby pink to off white tulle and organza gown by Matthew Christopher for the ceremony. It had an illusion corset back encrusted in Swarovski crystals and sequins. It sparkled but the details weren't loud."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"I wanted to make sure that I picked something that I wouldn't be embarrassed about 30 years from now so even though I'm not traditional, I didn't want my dress to be trendy. The only alteration I requested was a custom neckline. It was elegant but still had details that felt like me."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"Sam requested that I stay out of his choice of clothing for him and his groomsmen outside of color choice. Sam worked with style consultant and friend, The Sharper Me, for his Groom's look. He wore a Velvet Wine Smoking Jacket, White Shirt, Gold Hex Tie, Black pants, and Black embroidered velvet loafers. He's come a long way with his choice of clothing (laughs). I loved his look!"
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"Our bouquets were loose and unstructured with olive branches, quicksand roses, orchids, proteas, wine colored flowers and gold sprayed succulents. The boutonnieres were air plants with navy accents and gold seeded eucalyptus. In lieu of flower petals, our flower girls wore flower crowns and walked the aisle with balloons that read 'Hey, Uncle Sam' and 'Here comes your Bride!' Our florist, Petals and Lace Designs, along with our planner Sandra Nicole Designs, did an amazing job bringing our vision to life."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"The men wore Navy suits, white shirts, carbon fiber hex ties and Black shoes."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"The ladies work Dark Navy Satin Bandeau Jumpsuits with a cape overlay, burgundy lipstick, asymmetrical gold jewelry, and gold shoes."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"We opted for live music for our ceremony. My bridal party walked down to 'Our Song' written and performed by Jason Sellers. I walked down the aisle to "Let Me Be Your Everything" by my dear friend and artist, Melanin."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
"I just had to keep in mind that it's our wedding and had permission to break any tradition we'd like to. We are both far from traditional people but would question if it was okay to include or not include certain things. For instance, we knew we weren't a jumping the broom, pouring of the sand, lighting the candle type of couple but family is such a huge part of our lives, so we requested them to come up to the altar and lay hands over us in prayer during the ceremony instead."
Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
Bride: Thaina M. Blot
Groom: Samuel Blot
Venue: Scripps Seaside Forum
Catering: The French Gourmet
Cake and Desserts: Mix Bake Decorate
Wedding Planner: Sandra Nicole Designs
Florist: Petals and Lace Designs
Videographer: Daniel Lee
Photographers: Jonathan Adjahoe and Ned Magdaleno
Musicians: Riva Precil, Monvelyno Alexis, Jason Sellers, Melanin (Whitney Andrews)
Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher
Reception Jumpsuit: Jaime Elyse
Style Consultant: The Sharper Me
Men's Ties: Hex Tie
Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Blot!
To keep up with the couple and their newlywed bliss, follow them on Instagram @thainamadere and @blottedinq.
RELATED
Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
___
Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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And so, since this is the time of year when catching a cold (and/or the flu) is common, let’s talk about the impact that sleep (and again, a lack thereof) has on your immune system. That way, you can remain as healthy as possible during the fall and winter seasons.
1. Less Sleep Means More Colds
GiphyLike I stated in the intro, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard somewhere that the fall and winter are the seasons when people are most susceptible to catching a cold or coming down with the flu. And that’s exactly why I thought I would start this all off by sharing the fact that some studies reveal that if you get less than six hours of sleep, on a consistent basis, you end up making yourself more vulnerable to coming down with both. In fact, some research says that only 18 percent of people who get six-plus hours of rest caught a cold while almost 40 percent who got less than that did.
The logic behind it all is sleep gives your body time to build up the proteins and cells (like cytokines and T-cells) that you need to fight off certain viruses. So, if nothing bothers you more than having a stuffy nose or stubborn cough when it’s cold outside, getting more sleep is one way to prevent that from happening to you.
2. Less Sleep Means More Allergy Symptoms
GiphyAt the end of the day, an allergy is basically what transpires whenever your immune system “overreacts” to something that other people’s systems do not. And since sleep is what helps to keep your immune system nice and strong — well, I’m sure you get how less allergy-related symptoms and more sleep go hand in hand. Also, since sleep helps to decrease bodily inflammation (more on that in a bit) and inflammation can also intensify allergy symptoms, that’s just one more reason to get as much shut-eye as possible.
3. Less Sleep Means Potential Diabetes and Heart Disease
GiphyDid you know that in 2024, Black women were diagnosed with diabetes 24 percent more than any other adult demographic. Also, it continues to be a reality that heart disease is the leading cause of death for Black women. These two sobering statistics alone should be enough of an incentive to do whatever you can to keep the risk of diabetes and heart disease way down.
One way to do that is by getting more sleep. Aside from the fact that sleep strengthens your immune system to where it is easier for you to fight off illness and diseases, sleep can keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy space; plus, when it comes to your heart, it gives it, along with your arteries and blood vessels a break.
4. Less Sleep Means Less Time for Your Body to Push “Reset”
GiphyIf you really stopped to consider all that your body goes through during the day (you can read some about that here), you definitely would respect it enough to do your best to thank it by giving it no less than six hours of sleep, each and every night. Sleep is what helps to slow your brain and body down so they are able to “refuel” for the next day. After all, how can your body prevent you from getting sick if your immune system is too worn out to fight ailments off? Exactly.
5. More Sleep Helps You to Fight Off Infections
GiphySpeaking of, in order for your body to fight off infections, there are certain cells and antibodies within you that need to be healthy and strong — one way that they get and stay that way is by you getting a good amount of sleep. For instance, remember when I touched on cytokines earlier? Well, the same way that they help to prevent colds, they also help to prevent infections too. And since sleep lowers your cortisol (stress) levels, rest gives your body the time and space to build up an army that can fight off free radicals and other health-related challenges while you are awake.
6. More Sleep Lowers Bodily Inflammation
GiphyWhenever a health-related issue is mentioned on this platform, inflammation is something that is mentioned quite a bit. Probably the easiest way to explain inflammation is it’s how your body responds/reacts whenever something is happening to your body that shouldn’t be, whether it’s an illness, an injury, a germ or something that you may be allergic to.
If you happen to have chronic inflammation, some symptoms that are associated with that include fatigue, stiff joints, skin rashes, weight gain and moodiness.
The interesting thing about all of this is if you aren’t getting enough rest, you could be triggering inflammation in your body. That’s because studies reveal that a lack of sleep can elevate molecules that are associated with inflammation. So, if you don’t want inflammation to increase within your system, you should definitely catch more zzz’s.
7. More Sleep Regulates Hormones
GiphyWhen it comes to hormones like serotonin, estrogen and cortisol, believe it or not, they play a role in how your immune system acts and overreacts. That’s because, if your hormones are out of balance, that can cause your immune system to work harder than it actually should and that can make you more vulnerable to sickness. One way to keep your hormones leveled out? SLEEP.
That’s because sleep gives your body the opportunity to rest, repair and restore your hormone levels. On the other hand, when you are sleep deprived, that can put/keep your hormones on the ultimate roller coaster ride. #notgood
8. More Sleep Strengthens Vaccines
flu shot GIF - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphyIf you’re someone who is good for getting some sort of vaccine around this time of the year, make sure that you rest up before and after getting your shots. Not only does adequate rest before a vaccination help your immune system to be better receptive to your shots but sleep also helps your body to build up enough antibodies to make your vaccinations effective after getting them. Because if you’re gonna get pricked, shouldn’t it be worth it? My thoughts exactly.
Get some freakin’ sleep! Your immune system depends on it.
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