Two Years After Their Break Up, This Couple Said 'I Do'
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."
Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Blot!
To keep up with the couple and their newlywed bliss, follow them on Instagram @thainamadere and @blottedinq.
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.
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We all love that Beyoncé's recent foray into country music has turned the world's attention back to the impact of Black legends and icons who were foremothers of the genre. All of the buzz around the superstar's take on country music (along with the fab TikToks of Black women getting their country glam on to prep for a possible country music tour), brings to the forefront stories of the amazing impact of women like Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Elizabeth Cotton, and Linda Martell. These women laid the groundwork for folk, country, and rock music way before any of us reached our mother's wombs.
I've loved country music since childhood and would rock, sway, and sing along to songs by The Neville Brothers, Patsy Cline, and Elvis. (Yep, I loved me some Elvis, honey. It was an admiration I inherited from my mom.). Back in the day, my friends and I would all enjoy the country music songs played at a popular hangout spot, the local skating rink. The DJ would go from 69 Boys, Brandy, and Usher to Billy Ray Cyrus ("Achy Breaky Heart), Dolly Parton ("9-to-5" and "I Will Always Love You,") and Shania Twain ("Man! I Feel Like A Woman.") Country music has always been part of my life's soundtrack.
Since it's Women's History Month, what a perfect time to highlight some of the other Black women who have been standing it the gap for years, doing this country music thing, and doing it well. Here are a few to add to your playlists this month and beyond.
The Boykin Sisters AKA The BoykinZ
Sisters Nylan, Nytere, Anale, and Alona took the country music world by storm on TikTok, drawing more than 480,000 followers and 10 million likes for their soulful country music swag. They've performed with Shania Twain on the Country Music Awards, appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and have recorded with legendary country music producer Nathan Chapman. Each brings their own unique flavor to the group, from style to music abilities.
Rissi Palmer
She released her self-titled debut album with hit singles, “Country Girl,” “Hold On To Me,” and “No Air,” and has since performed at The White House, New York's Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry. She’s also shared stages with country and pop music heavy-hitters including The Eagles, Charley Crockett, and Taylor Swift. Taking things to the advocacy level, she launched her own radio show Color Me Country with Rissi Palmer on Apple Music Country and created the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund to support newbie country artists of color to reach their entertainment industry dreams.
C Brandon / Contributor/Getty Images
Yola
A U.K.-bred country music artist, this singer and actress was nominated for multiple Grammys for her 2019 debut album, Walk Through Fire, including Best Americana Album. Her 2021 album, Stand For Myself, mixes country and soul with intriguing and relatable visuals. She also magnificently starred as Rosetta Thorpe in the 2023 Elvis biopic, a film whose soundtrack was an American Music Award winner.
Mickey Guyton
A modern-day pioneer in her own right, Mickey Guyton was the first Black woman to be nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance category at the Grammy Awards in 2021, and, that same year, she became the first Black woman to co-host the Academy of Country Music Awards. Her song, “Black Like Me,” released in the wake of the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, added more to her legacy of being a leader and advocate in country music.
Brittney Spencer
This newbie artist in the game has given us strong previews of her talent, releasing two EPs and receiving Country Music Awards and Country Music Television award nominations. Elektra signed her to a deal in 2022, and this year, she released her debut album, My Stupid Life, which has been described by one Rolling Stone reviewer as “one of the most convincing country statements in a while.”
Reyna Roberts
The self-proclaimed "Princess of Outlaw Country," is serving soul, sass, and style with her music, with a debut album titled, Bad Girl Bible, Volume 1, sparking intrigue and fan support. Her more than 300,000 followers on IG rally behind her, as she campaigns for big-ticket performances that we are sure, will be in her future.
Chapel Heart
Sisters Danica and Devynn Hart have joined musical forces with cousin Trea Swindle as a country music trio, and found early viral success performing on “America’s Got Talent.” In 2021 the group was inducted into Country Music Television’s “Next Women of Country,” and they’ve been honored as “International Group of the Year” as well as “International Song of the Year” for the single “You Can Have Him Jolene” in Scotland. They have been nominated for several British CMAs including “Group of the Year” and “Album of the Year” for their second album release The Girls Are Back In Town.
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Featured image by Emma McIntyre / Staff/Getty Images