How a forgotten wedding album found its way back home
Tania Manuel collecting their photo album and Librarian in Charge, Hawa Williams.
Image: City of Cape Town
In a heartwarming twist worthy of a romance novel, a long-lost wedding album has finally found its way home – thanks to the dedication and detective work of the Strandfontein Library staff.
During a recent clean-up at the library, staff stumbled upon an old wedding album tucked away in a storeroom – a forgotten relic that had been gathering dust for years.
Library staff didn’t know who the owners were, but decided to keep it safe, hoping that the happy couple could be identified. That day finally came.
When the album resurfaced during the tidy-up, the team decided to try again to find its rightful owners. They began showing the photographs to regular patrons, hoping someone might recognise the faces frozen in time. Their efforts paid off when one patron identified the church where the ceremony took place and even remembered the couple’s first names: Nico and Tania Manuel.
Armed with that clue, the librarians contacted the church secretary, who managed to track down Nico. Though he was in another province at the time, he was overjoyed by the news.
Initially planning to surprise his wife with the discovery, Nico couldn’t contain his excitement and told Tania immediately. She wasted no time getting to the library to reclaim their precious memories.
Tania's comment in the comment book at the desk at Strandfontein Library.
Image: City of Cape Town
The couple were over the moon and suspect the album may have been accidentally donated with a box of books more than two decades ago.
Before leaving, Tania penned a heartfelt note in the library’s comments book:
“Thank you to the beautiful people @ Strandfontein Library for holding on to our precious memories. Much appreciated. Love, Nico & Tania.”
City officials praised the staff’s persistence and care. “Library staff went the extra mile not only to hold on to the album, but to make sure it’s returned to its owners two decades later,” said Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
“We’re glad Nico and Tania’s memories of their special day have been returned, and I applaud the staff for going above and beyond to solve the mystery. Who knows… this could even have the makings of a plot for a novel.”
For the Manuels, it’s more than a happy ending – it’s a rediscovery of love, memory, and community spirit. And for the Strandfontein Library team, it’s proof that sometimes, even among the stacks of old books, stories of the heart can find their way back home.