ABC30 Insiders help Madera newlyweds reunite with lost wedding photos

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- ABC30 Insiders came to the rescue on Facebook after an ironic discovery by a bride-to-be. The woman found a flash drive with wedding photos and videos. The couple was tracked down so they could recover their digital mementos.

Action News reporter Rick Montanez posted snapshots from the wedding video on Facebook. Within 15 minutes ABC30 Insiders began tagging Claudia and Israel Aldape, newlyweds from Madera.

The video and photo booth images from their special day were all stored on a one-inch flash drive. Jode Mayer found the drive Tuesday outside the Cheesecake Factory at Fashion Fair Mall in Northeast Fresno.

"As we were running out I was like 'OK I'm going to grab this and see if I can find out who it belongs to or get information off there that I can look them up on Facebook or something,'" Mayer said.

Mayer is from Coalinga. She showed Action News the videos in hopes someone watching this recognized Israel and Claudia. She didn't expect for the couple to be tagged on the Facebook post in a matter of minutes.

Israel and Claudia didn't expect to see the images online or even on TV. "I saw the pictures you posted and I was like we have pictures," Israel said. "That's when I asked her where the pictures are at."

"I had it on my keys so I wouldn't lose it," Claudia said.

Mayer was in Fresno Tuesday planning her upcoming April wedding. The lost memories created a personal mission to find the newlyweds. "It immediately just hit me in the heart and I said I just have to make sure they have these," Mayer said. "What if it is the only copy?"

The Aldapes are grateful to get their memories back.

"It's great that people actually do that," Claudia said. "You hear about it, and it's great, it's nice. To actually have it happen and people are kind enough. She could have erased it and used that drive for anything. It's just cool she said they should have this back. So thank you."

The flash drive has more than 200 photos and five videos showing a speech by the bride and groom, and their first dance. All of the special moments that Mayer is relieved to know are finding their way back to the people who created them.