Try not to cry at this surprise proposal

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography18 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride) — Photo by Tara Arseven Photography

We're huge suckers for surprise proposals! So when Tara Arseven Photography shared Leslie and Mel's beautifully orchestrated production of a surprise proposal, we squealed, happy cried, and everything in between. It starts with a seemingly innocent mother/daughter photoshoot and…We'll let Tara describe it for your herself.

Leslie gave Mel a “gift” of a mother/daughter weekend at their favorite vacation spot at Broken Bow in Oklahoma. Mel was so hyped to spend a weekend at the cabins with her daughter Kelsey who lives in LA, as they hadn’t seen each other for a long time due to Covid.
My job as “the family photographer” was to start the session at Mel and Kelsey’s cabin, do the “mother/daughter session” and then find a way to lure Mel to the cabin where everyone was hiding for the surprise proposal.
Tara Arseven Photography

Ready to see how Tara helped pull off this epic surprise proposal?

Let's start with Kelsey and Mel's mother/daughter photoshoot!

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography2 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography3 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography7 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Just look at how much fun these two are having! And Mel doesn't suspect a thing!

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography8 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography9 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Phase 2 of the surprise proposal: Kelsey brings her mom to a cabin where her loved ones are hiding out!

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography10 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography11 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Now the moment we've all been waiting for: Leslie's surprise proposal!

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography12 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography13 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography14 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography15 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Mel's reaction to the ring is so endearing!

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography17 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography22 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Now off to the surprise proposal party!

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography23 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography24 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography25 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography26 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography27 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography28 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography29 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography30 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography31 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Who doesn't love sweet matching t-shirts to top off this surprise proposal?

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography32 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Try not to cry surprise proposal Photos by Tara Arseven Photography33 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Vendors behind this surprise proposal:

Photographer: Tara Arseven Photography

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Tara Arseven Photography

About the Author: Suki

@2buckchuckbride

By day, Suki teaches screenwriting and sketch comedy. By night, she's the Assistant Editor and Social Media Manager of Offbeat Wed. She loves exploring the intersections of diversity, culture, and money in the wedding industry on her IG account @2buckchuckbride. In between crying over strangers' wedding photos and making herself laugh, she likes to pretends she's a sommelier.

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