Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show delivered one of the most unexpected moments in NFL history.
A couple getting married on stage wasn’t just theatrical flair—it was completely real.
Thomas and Eleisa exchanged vows in front of millions of viewers, but their love story actually began with a windswept proposal on Oregon’s rugged coastline.
The connection between a Portland wedding photographer, an engaged California couple, and one of music’s biggest superstars created television magic that nobody saw coming.
From Oregon Coast to Super Bowl Stage
Portland wedding photographer Nate Meeds received an email in 2024 from Tommy about capturing a special Pacific Northwest moment. Tommy was planning to propose to Elly, and he wanted professional documentation of the life-changing question.
They chose Ecola State Park for the proposal shoot. Meeds, who’s been shooting weddings full-time for seven years, employed classic proposal photography tactics to capture authentic emotion.
I hid in the bushes and photographed as he popped the question. And then we went for a walk on the beach and took some pictures together.
Mother Nature wasn’t particularly cooperative that October day. Wind whipped across the coastline, creating challenging photography conditions but memorable moments nonetheless.
It was just the windiest day at the Oregon coast, as we know it can be. And there was just hair going everywhere, you know, October at the coast. And it was cold, but they were the sweetest couple.
Recognition During Super Bowl Party
Fast forward roughly eighteen months. Meeds was hosting a Super Bowl party when Bad Bunny’s halftime performance began delivering surprises.
Suddenly, a couple appeared on stage for what seemed like a wedding ceremony. Recognition hit Meeds like lightning.
All of a sudden a couple pops up and is getting married, and I go, ‘oh, I know those guys!’ I photographed their proposal like a year-and-a-half ago. And so, it was just kind of a shocking moment.
The photographer couldn’t believe his eyes. Couples he’d worked with don’t typically end up getting married during the most-watched entertainment event in America.
I’m not sure I’ve ever been more surprised in my life than to see a couple that I photographed before, getting married on the biggest stage.
How Bad Bunny Became Part of Their Wedding
According to Bad Bunny’s representative speaking with ABC News, Thomas and Eleisa had extended a wedding invitation to the Puerto Rican superstar. His response flipped conventional wedding planning on its head.
Instead of attending their wedding, he invited them to get married during his halftime performance.
The ceremony happened approximately five minutes into Bad Bunny’s set at Levi’s Stadium. An officiant officially declared them married while dancers and musicians created a spectacular backdrop.
After sharing their first kiss as husband and wife, Thomas and Eleisa danced with Bad Bunny during “Baile Inolvidable”—which translates to “Unforgettable Dance.” The song choice couldn’t have been more fitting for their once-in-a-lifetime wedding moment.
Photographer Reconnects With Newlyweds
Meeds reached out to Tommy after the halftime show to offer congratulations. The newlywed responded with characteristic warmth, according to the photographer who remembered them fondly from their engagement shoot.
Super kind, super fun. Obviously extremely excited to be getting engaged.
Star-Studded Halftime Performances
Thomas and Eleisa’s wedding wasn’t the only surprise during Bad Bunny’s halftime show. After the couple stepped aside, Lady Gaga joined the performance.
She performed part of “Die With a Smile” alongside Los Sobrinos, a Puerto Rican salsa band featured on Bad Bunny’s latest album and concert residency. The collaboration showcased Latin music’s diversity and cultural richness on football’s biggest stage.
Wedding Photography Meets Pop Culture History
For wedding photographers, capturing proposals represents some of the most emotionally charged work they do. Hiding in bushes, coordinating with nervous proposers, and documenting raw reactions creates lasting memories for couples.
Rarely does that work connect to moments of massive pop culture significance. Meeds documented an intimate Oregon coast proposal that eventually led to a wedding ceremony viewed by over 100 million people.
The journey from windswept beaches to stadium spectacle illustrates how unpredictable love stories can be. Thomas and Eleisa’s relationship began with private moments on Pacific Northwest shores and culminated with arguably the most public wedding ceremony in television history.
Their story reminds us that romance doesn’t follow predictable paths. Sometimes it starts with cold October winds whipping through your hair on an Oregon beach, and sometimes it ends with dancing alongside international music superstars while millions watch from home.