Stranger tracks down mystery couple on Facebook after capturing man's romantic proposal on a Florida beach

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Alabama snapper Heather Swanner was photographing a family at a Seaside, Florida beach about two weeks ago
When she saw a man propose to his girlfriend, she quickly snapped a few frames
Three days later, she posted the pictures on Facebook to find the couple
The images were shared 300 times before the pair, Tae Cho and Lindsey Crouch, got in touch

Published: 21:07 EST, 7 June 2014 | Updated: 21:22 EST, 7 June 2014

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When Tae Cho proposed to his girlfriend Lindsey Crouch on a Florida beach, he thought the moment would be lost forever.

But not only did a kindhearted stranger photograph the romantic proposal, she posted the pictures on Facebook in a bid to find the couple - and it worked.

Now the Knoxville duo have Heather Swanner's perfect shots, along with a handful of grainy smartphone camera images taken by family members.

'I got a call yesterday evening and my friend Marisha was like, you will never believe what I'm seeing on Facebook,' Cho, 28, told News 5.

His 23-year-old fiancee added: 'I looked at it and I was in shock and I started crying. I was in the middle of my friend's kitchen and I was like you guys look at this this is unbelievable. I was freaking out. I was so overjoyed. The shot was perfect.'

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Kind gesture: Photographer Heather Swanner was at a photo shoot in Seaside, Florida when she secretly snapped this mystery couple getting engaged on the beach

Good deed: Heather Swanner recently posted to Facebook the photos she took of a couple (pictured) getting engaged in Florida in the hope she could find them and send them the pictures

Swanner, a professional snapper based in Alabama, was photographing a family on a beach in Seaside, Florida, several weeks ago when she spotted the proposal in action.

'It was such a quick two seconds that I snapped those pictures and turned right back around and started shooting my family,' Swanner told AL.com. 'I honestly didn't even think I had a good shot because I was so far away.'

Swanner said she noticed the couple's family hiding nearby with cameras.

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Fearing she would get caught up in an imminent thunderstorm, Swanner left to finish her shoot without passing on her details to the couple.

But after sorting the proofs three days later, she decided to share the photos on her business' Facebook page to find the couple.

'When I saw them I realized they (the couple) really would probably want to have them,' Swanner told News 5.

Romantic: Tae Cho, 28, proposed to his girlfriend Lindsey Crouch on a beach in Seaside, Florida last month, as their family hid in the dunes snapping pictures with their smartphones

Lovebirds: Knoxville couple Tae Cho and Lindsey Crouch (pictured left and right) plan to wed on September 27

Kindhearted stranger: Photographer Heather Swanner secretly snapped a young couple getting engaged on a Florida beach

The post was shared more than 300 times and, within a few hours, the couple she photographed got in touch with her.

'I post things all the time, but I think it takes something that tugs at people's heart strings to get them to share it,' Swanner said.

The couple, who plan to wed on September 27, said they were overwhelmed to see Swanner's pictures.

Crouch said she had seen Swanner taking the photos, but didn't have time to approach her.

'We saw Heather taking pictures, but in the excitement of everything we were unable to get her contact info,' Crouch said.

'When we realized we didn't get any good pictures we were bummed, but at that point there is not much you can do.'

She said family members, including her mother, were too far away to capture anything but a few distant shots.

'It still is crazy to me that a photographer in Birmingham who happened to capture my engagement put a post online,' Crouch said.

'And somehow through social media and the excitement people had in finding the mystery couple, we were found.'

Swanner gave the couple the photos as a wedding gift.

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klok9, barnet, United Kingdom, moments ago

Very nice, they both look so happy together, wishing them the best for the future. Not all that happy about the photographer putting her logo on the photos making it look like she was working and was on location. She was a passer by that caught a monent, its not your moment to own and take credit unless they contracted you.

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Andy, Manchester, United Kingdom, moments ago

So, moments are only valid if they're caught on camera now? How stupid.

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Delboy02, London, United Kingdom, 34 minutes ago

Well he is pushing above his weight, must have money no doubt lol!

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David St. Mary, Alamon City Texas, 1 hour ago

in that third pic it looks like he's got a giant invisible hot dog, or something, in his mouth

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Casey Janice, Beverly Hills, United States, 1 hour ago

YEEAHHH RIGHHHT~~ so NEITHER had a smartphone with them, especially when the guy planned to propose? I find that REALLY HARD to believe.....this is SO~ MADE UP!

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Dylan, NYC, United States, 1 hour ago

I'm with you, this is an ad. FAKERS!

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Kuno, washington, United States, 13 minutes ago

The story stated their relatives hid in the bushes (so as not to set off the bride) to capture the moment but the pics came out awful... they saw the stranger take pics but in the excitement didn't get her info. Sounds plausable

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mrs.Right, SinCity, United States, 2 hours ago

Aww they are adorable!!! Sweet!

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Dylan, NYC, United States, 1 hour ago

Aww, you are gullible.

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FL Living, Emerald Coast, 2 hours ago

Ah! I love seeing my area in the news. Tourists may not realize this but we (locals) post things like all the time. We tag or send them to our newspapers so they show up on Facebook pages across the Emerald Coast. If you are doing something romantic on the beach or a tourist doing something dumb there is a good chance that there is a pic of you somewhere. That's what happens when a relatively small area gets swarmed with tourists a few months a year. I'm glad that this moment was captured for them. Enjoy your stay and congrats!