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When Patrick Mauldin saw the stunning beauty of Tintern Abbey, he knew it was the place where he’d propose to the love of his life.

So, nearly 5,000 miles away from their homes in Texas, he dropped down on one knee and popped the question to his girlfriend, Savannah Pratka.

Texas A&M graduate Savannah had no idea what was coming... or that Patrick had even gone so far as to arrange a photographer to be in place to mark the occasion.

He and photographer Clare Adams even spent the minutes before the engagement secretly - if not a little frantically - telling the tourists to try and keep part of the abbey clear so he could propose.

Photographer Clare, of LoveSeen Photography, who took these beautiful pictures, said: “For a while it was tricky, as we had issues with where he wanted to propose in the venue.

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“They had it set-up for a concert and so it almost didn’t go ahead, but after lots of negotiations and changes the plan was ready to set into motion.”

The couple, who have been together since January 2013 and who live and work in Texan capital Austin, were in the UK for a friend’s wedding.

While looking for places to visit, they came across Tintern Abbey - famous for its Wordsworth connections as well as its historic and natural beauty - and Patrick decided this was the place he’d ask Savannah to marry him.

Clare said: “Once he was in the UK we had very little contact and needed to stay discreet so that Savanna didn’t catch on.

“So on the day of the proposal he texted me what they were wearing and what time they expected to arrive and I replied with what I was wearing too, so we wouldn’t miss one another.

“I arrived in plenty of time and laid rose petals in the area in front of the famous, vast picturesque window of the Abbey to indicate to him where he should stand.

“Georgia Boy Choir were practising for their Welsh tour and agreed to sing immediately after the proposal which was such a lovely gesture.

“I whispered to all the tourists who were curiously gathering around the trail of rose petals to keep the area clear at 2pm and so word spread and a very obedient audience attempted to ‘act natural’ when they arrived.

“The atmosphere was electric, hearts were thumping out of chests.”

Georgia Boy Choir are performing on Wednesday night at 7.30pm at Shrewsbury Abbey and on Friday at 7pm in Ludlow.

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