A couple tasks their pup to record their beachside proposal – what he captured will be ‘treasured forever’

Engagements are often filled with joy and surprises, but one Australian couple’s proposal took a delightful turn when their dog unexpectedly stole the spotlight. A heartwarming video captures a golden retriever’s role as an unintentional photographer during his owner's proposal, per Newsweek. Shared on TikTok by @emily.gward, the footage quickly became a favorite among people, accumulating over 900k views and counting, as one couldn't get enough of the adorable moment.

On July 4, 27-year-olds Emily Ward, a paramedic, and her now-fiancé Jacob Oxlade set out for an intimate sunset walk at Horseshoe Bay in Brisbane, Australia, with their dog, Murphy. Ward was unaware that Jacob had secretly planned a proposal during their stroll. "We went for a walk as the sun set, and that's when Jacob proposed," Ward recalled. "It was quiet, thoughtful, and perfect—I couldn't have dreamed it better." The couple had been together since they were 14, and the proposal, simple yet meaningful, was everything Ward had hoped for, just the two of them, "and Murphy of course".

The real surprise came when Murphy, wearing a GoPro attached to his back, played a key role in the moment. As soon as Ward started jumping excitedly after Jacob’s proposal, Murphy couldn’t contain his joy and immediately got the zoomies. Murphy's impromptu energy even made him run past his owners and towards a boat on the beach. Looking back at the precious moment, Emily said it's something she would "treasure forever".  She further added, "I couldn't have imagined anything more special, and I feel incredibly lucky to have a partner who knows me so well. That video is a keepsake I'll always hold close. I never would've pictured something like that for myself, but now I can't imagine it any other way."

The popular clip prompted social media users to suggest that Murphy should film the wedding, a role he’ll certainly play when the time comes. One user, @treerose21, wrote, "This is a cinematic experience. Camera work 100/10. Good boy 1000/10." @becandbumble commented, "He’s watched their whole love story… that zoomie was his standing ovation." @keepingupwithkirsty joked, "Does your cameraman take bookings? Better than most human ones." Adding to the above comments, @timeforhealing wrote, "This is the most perfect proposal footage I have ever seen! Genius! Even his happy zoomies with mum's excitement and lying down with the sunset hug! Give him an Oscar."

Ward, who never imagined wanting a wedding, now looks forward to Murphy walking down the aisle as part of their special day. The owner shared, "Every couple has their own path, and ours led us to this time and this proposal. We both come from families where marriage didn't always work out, and that shaped our thinking early on. But as we've grown up together, we've realized we're not our parents. We're us, and I wouldn't change anything about our story." 

For more wholesome dog content, follow @emily.gward on her TikTok account.