During a surprise proposal on December 24th, an engagement ring slipped into Lake Brienz as Carsen knelt down to ask for his partner’s hand in marriage.

Carsen was distracted by someone on the waterfront shouting congratulations. As he turned to respond, the ring slipped from the box and tumbled into the lake.

Carsen proceeded with the proposal and later posed for a series of photographs.

Emily hoped Carsen could retrieve the lost ring. With the water level unusually low, he ventured into the lake, braving the icy cold. The shimmering reflections on the surface made it nearly impossible to spot anything beneath the water.

I brought them back to my place, offering Carsen a warm drink and a set of my old clothes. Later, we returned to Iseltwald, where he ventured into the water once more, this time armed with my swimming goggles. Despite his efforts, the search proved fruitless. The lakebed, blanketed with countless small rocks, made it nearly impossible to locate the ring—it could be anywhere.

What a day!