Wedding album mystery solved after two decades

A forgotten wedding album has finally been reunited with its owners after spending more than twenty years in the Strandfontein Library storeroom.

During a recent tidy-up session, library staff discovered the album, which had been safely stored for years after no one came forward to claim it. Unsure of who the couple was, the staff had hoped that one day the mystery would be solved – and that moment finally arrived.

When the album resurfaced, staff began showing its photographs to regular patrons. One visitor recognised the church where the wedding took place and even remembered the couple's first names, Nico Manuel and Tania Manuel.

With this new clue, the library contacted the church secretary, who managed to trace Nico. Although he was living in another province at the time, he was overjoyed by the news.

In the library’s comment book, Tania wrote: “Thank you to the beautiful people at Strandfontein Library for holding on to our precious memories. Much appreciated. Love, Nico & Tania.”

Nico initially wanted to surprise his wife by collecting it later, but couldn’t contain his excitement and told Tania immediately. She hurried to the library to retrieve their long-lost treasure.

The couple was overwhelmed with gratitude, explaining that the album must have accidentally ended up among a box of books they donated over twenty years ago.

Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, praised the staff’s dedication.

“They went the extra mile to make sure the album was returned to its owners two decades later. We’re glad Nico and Tania’s memories of their special day are back where they belong. Who knows, this could even inspire a novel,” she said.