Former exchange student stuns his long-distance girlfriend by flying 4,500 miles to photobomb her prom pictures as a romantic surprise
- Oeds de Boer, 20, flew from Netherlands to surprise Marybel Lindsey in Nashville
- His American girlfriend, 18, was graduating from her high school where they met
- Romantic former exchange student made sign to photobomb Marybel's pictures
Long-distance relationships can be hard, especially when you live on the other side of the world.
But this former exchange student gave an American high school senior a promposal she'll never forget by flying 4,500 miles to photobomb her photos with friends.
Marybel Lindsey, 18, was left in a state of shock when she turned around to see Oeds de Boer, 20, holding a cardboard sign asking her to prom.
The student had been completely unaware her boyfriend would be surprising her in Nashville, Tennessee, from his native Netherlands.
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Oeds de Boer, 20, surprised his long distance girlfriend Marybel Lindsey, 18, pictured together, at her prom in Nashville, Tennessee, after flying 4,500 miles from the Netherlands to surprise her
The former foreign exchange student, pictured, stood on a bridge with a sign saying 'sorry I was late there was traffic ... prom?' to surprise his unsuspecting girlfriend
Oeds, from Friesland, met Marybel while he was an exchange student and she a freshman at McGavock High School and the pair have been in a long-distance relationship ever since.
To surprise Marybel, Oeds dressed in an all-white tux and stood on a bridge behind her and her friends while they posed for a prom photo.
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He then waited for Marybel to be shown the photo with him in the background holding the sign which read: 'Sorry I was late there was traffic ... prom?'
It took a few seconds for Marybel to realise what had happened, but she then turned around in shock to see her romantic boyfriend standing there.
Marybel, pictured, was shocked to see Oeds and it took her a few seconds to realise it was really him
Oeds, pictured top left with his sign, stood on a bridge behind his girlfriend, (wearing purple), and her pals while they had prom pictures taken
The couple, pictured together after the surprise, met while he was an exchange student and she was a freshman at McGavock High School in Nashville, Tennessee
Marybel was seen overcome with emotion on a video of the surprise and she cannot wait to be reunited with her boyfriend, who has to walk across a bridge to her.
The whole plan for the May 3 surprise had to be kept under wraps by Marybel's family and friends, with her mother, Melissa Lindsey, playing a key part.
Melissa said: 'I knew this was going to be the most romantic night of her life so far, so in that way it was easy not to tell.
Marybel was extremely happy to see Oeds, pictured together, and quickly raced towards him
Marybel's mother Melissa helped plan the surprise for her 18-year-old daughter. Marybel and Oeds are pictured left at school prom in freshman year and right after the surprise this year
Marybel's mother Melissa said she always expected that her daughter and Oeds, pictured together after the surprise promposal in Nashville, had 'something special'
'I was emotional - I've always suspected these two had something special, he makes her so happy and to see her at the height of that happiness was really heartwarming to me.'
The couple hope to stay together with Marybel considering starting her college education in the United States and finishing her studies in the Netherlands.
Marybel said: 'I hope people see this story and know that if you have something that's worth keeping, a relationship that makes you so happy and is healthy for both of you, you have to make an effort to keep it alive.
Marybel said she hopes her story will show people that if 'you something that's worth keeping, you have to make an effort to keep it alive' even if you live on different sides of the world
Marybel, pictured with Oeds in a picture from their freshman prom while he was on foreign exchange in America, said she hopes everyone 'gets an Oeds in their lifetime'
'The best things in life are worth working hard for, even if you have bad days.
'In the end, when you've overcome your obstacles, you'll be so glad that you fought so hard in the first place.
'I am very blessed to have this loving community around me. I am especially thankful that I have Oeds, and I hope everyone else gets their Oeds in their lifetime.'
Since becoming a couple Oeds and Marybel, pictured together, have enjoyed a trip to Paris
The couple, pictured left and right during freshman year of high school, hope to stay together with Marybel considering starting her college education in the United States
Oeds and Marybel have been together since freshman year of school and are pictured during a trip to Paris together
