Austin proposal goes viral

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An Austin couple has become an internet sensation after a private proposal became very public.

On Wednesday night, after asking his girlfriend to drive near the Capitol, making her believe he needed a ride to his truck, Joel Bush got down on his knee in front of the Capitol and asked Jennifer Orr to marry him. She said yes, but while they thought they were alone, they weren't.

Photographer Patrick Lu was riding his bicycle on the grounds at the time and captured the entire moment on camera, but he didn't say anything at the time.

“I was really far away, and I needed to get closer without disturbing them, and I just sort of slowly went up and got as close as I could and took some pictures,” Lu said. “Basically, the way I take pictures these days is that people don’t know I’m taking them.”

Instead he went online to the website, Reddit , and posted a question: "Did any of you propose at the capital last night?"

Mashable.com reported that Lu's post became one of the most clicked on in the Austin subcategory on Reddit with 1,600 votes.

While many on the web site suggested ways to find the couple luck ended up helping more. Bush happened upon the post Friday and tweeted about the happy moment.

"WHAT THE WHAT!" wrote Bush on Twitter . "Thank You, Internet."

The story has become a hit around the world. It was the front-page story on Mashable.com Friday also appearing in the London Daily-Mail.

Bush told KXAN he has been very busy after the viral proposal. His Twitter feed proved it. Dozens of users congratulated him after the sudden notoriety.

Lu told Mashable he had a feeling the man in the photo was a local based on his outfit: flip flops and jeans. You can follow Patrick Lu on Twitter by clicking here .

The couple wanted to invite Lu to their nuptuals. Lu said he won’t be a photographer for the wedding, but he is happy to be a guest.

Bush told KXAN he has big plans for his new fianc é. The couple will fly to Paris, France, on Saturday for a week-long trip.