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Man proposes to girlfriend atop Lookout Mountain

Being at the right place at the right time sometimes results in the unexpected. That’s exactly what happened Nov. 7, 2017, when my wife and I were waiting to photograph the sunset at Lookout Mountains’ Sunset Rock while returning home from a West Virginia photo adventure.

I was shooting test photos when a couple from Chattanooga walked out onto the rock and sat down — right where I was hoping to get some shots of the Tennessee River snaking around Chattanooga. No problem: I just switched gears and asked them to pose for me. The images show the couple sitting and enjoying the stunning view of the surrounding area.

“Can you take a few more?” the man asked when I thanked them and promised to give them a copy of the image.

There was plenty of time before sunset, so I put the camera to my eye and started shooting.

To see the man — Alex Roberts — get down on one knee and pull out a box containing a diamond ring.

“Will you marry me?” he asked his girlfriend, Bridget Moore.

Bridget was stunned into silence as Alex awaited her answer.

Finally, she shook her head and agreed, and Alex put the ring on her finger.

Bridget finally turned to me and asked, “Did he arrange for you to be here?”

My wife and I explained we were there by sheer coincidence. Be sure to watch the slider above to see the proposal as it happened.

It was a magical moment, and we were so thankful to be part of it. We wish Alex and Bridget many years of happiness.