Man Goes Viral After Proposing to Girlfriend at Friend's Wedding: See the Bride's Stunned Reaction (Exclusive)

• Josh Stepherson proposed to Alyssa Fowler at a friend's wedding on Dec. 12, 2023 — without getting the bride and groom's permission beforehand

• The couple's proposal video recently went viral on TikTok, and was met with criticism. The engagement sparked debate on whether or not it's wrong to propose at someone else's wedding

• "It all happened very organically and it was a beautiful proposal," Fowler tells PEOPLE. "We appreciate everyone’s concerns, but we are happy with everything that happened"

An engagement that's gone viral on TikTok has ignited debate on whether or not it's appropriate to propose at someone else's wedding.

In an "in the moment decision," Josh Stepherson, 24, proposed to Alyssa Fowler, 23, at their friends' wedding reception on Dec. 12, 2023, in Riverside, California. To follow the "a moment that felt like Hozier's yell" TikTok trend — in which people post special moments from their life to the tune of Noah Kahan's "Northern Attitude (with Hozier)" — Fowler shared a video of their proposal. But she never anticipated the clip to spark such divisive reactions.

"I did not expect my TikTok to get nearly as much attention as it is," says Fowler, who posted the video on March 10. The footage has since amassed more than 600,000 views.

In the video, the bride gasps as Stepherson gets down on one knee and pops the question. Although the footage nor its caption specified that Stepherson didn't get permission from the couple before proposing, viewers could infer that's what happened based on the bride's shocked expression and mouthing while waving her hands, "It's okay!"

"I did think that it may be disliked by those who don’t know the situation, but wasn’t expecting so many to have something to say about it," Fowler tells PEOPLE.

Fowler deactivated comments on her video after receiving backlash for her fiancé's decision. In one critical reaction video, a TikToker called the move "f----- up" and "disrespectful." Many other commenters argued that a wedding proposal steals attention away from the bride and groom.

"The bride and groom did not know because it was not planned to happen there!" Fowler clarifies. "We do acknowledge that it would have been more appropriate for Josh to have asked beforehand, but it was an in the moment decision. They were both very happy for us."

Fowler notes that in the video the groom throws up his hands in excitement and begins cheering for them. The bride and groom also congratulated and lovingly hugged the couple.

Related: Woman Slips Note with Engagement Ring Desires into Boyfriend’s Sandwich. He Saves It for Proposal 1 Year Later (Exclusive)

Fowler and Stepherson — who began dating in 2021 — were helping to clean up the wedding at the end of the night when the bride remembered she hadn't done her bouquet toss yet.

"She asked all the single guests (female and male) that were still present to get together so she could do one. When she tossed the bouquet, Josh caught it," Fowler recalls. "In that moment, he decided he would get down on one knee and ask me to marry him."

Stepherson was originally planning on proposing the night before, so he happened to have the engagement ring on him in his wallet.

"I was obviously over the moon that he was asking me to marry him, but also realized that we were at someone’s wedding and immediately made sure the bride was okay with what was happening!" Fowler says. "I asked her, 'Did he ask you? Is this ok?' To which she responded, 'No he didn’t but it’s okay! Say yes!' All guests that I have spoken to since have said the timing couldn’t have been better, and everything played out perfectly."

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Fowler understands why some people don't support proposals taking place at weddings, but encourages people to keep an open mind when they don't know the full story.

"I get it, it’s not typically acceptable! However, it all happened very organically and it was a beautiful proposal," she says. "We appreciate everyone’s concerns, but we are happy with everything that happened."

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