At a Glance
- Addison “Addie” Jones, 15, found her parents’ 2003 engagement album and burst into laughter at their quirky poses
- The photos include trampoline jumps and the couple grabbing each other’s heads between their legs
- Erica and Dan Jones plan to recreate the shots during their upcoming Disney anniversary trip
- Why it matters: The funny discovery is bringing the family closer and creating new memories
When Addison “Addie” Jones went hunting for a CD under her parents’ bed earlier this month, she unearthed a 20-year-old time capsule that left her howling with laughter. Tucked beneath dust bunnies was her parents’ forgotten engagement photo album from 2003, filled with poses so wonderfully strange that the 15-year-old couldn’t catch her breath.
The Accidental Discovery
Addie had been rifling through the family’s CD collection downstairs, frustrated that she couldn’t locate the album she wanted. Her father, Dan Jones, 45, suggested she check under the couple’s bed upstairs. That simple direction led to a comedic goldmine.
“We had literally completely forgotten about [it],” Erica Jones, 43, tells News Of Los Angeles. “I don’t even know that I’ve looked at those photos in 15+ years, probably longer.”
The moment Addie cracked open the album, uncontrollable giggles took over. Page after page revealed her parents – then 20 and 22 years old – striking deliberately quirky poses that screamed early-2000s eccentricity.
Spring 2003: Three Locations, Countable Outfits
Shot by a close friend named Stacey, the engagement session unfolded across three Memphis-area spots:
- Erica’s parents’ backyard
- A park adjacent to a police station
- A nearby beach
While a handful of frames look traditional – close-up smiles, linked hands – most jump head-first into oddball territory. In one series the couple bounce on a trampoline, hair flying and mouths wide. Mid-album sits the pièce de résistance: Erica and Dan bending forward, each gripping the other’s head wedged between their legs, barefoot and beaming.
“She was laughing uncontrollably and kept saying, ‘WHY?’ ” Erica remembers.
Forgotten Fashion and Mystery Motivation
Seeing the images again after decades, even Erica and Dan questioned their younger selves’ judgment.
“What were we thinking? Why so many bare feet? Did we take those on several days (there were so many outfit changes!)? Why was I wearing those pants? And lastly, whose idea were some of these photos?” Erica wondered aloud.
She can’t recall whether the couple specifically requested an engagement shoot or if Stacey simply offered, but she does remember wanting “a fun and romantic photo shoot that also showcased our personalities.” Mission accomplished, if by “showcased” she meant “immortalized in hilarity.”
From Film to Viral
Erica recently posted a video of Addie’s breathless reaction on Instagram. Commenters demanded a recreation, and the Joneses agreed. Two tentative plans are now penciled in for “around early March.”
Every year the spouses take an anniversary getaway without the kids. Last year they hit Disneyland; this year they’ll board a Disney cruise plus visit Walt Disney World. They’re hoping to stage updated versions of the trampoline, beach, and yes, even the head-between-legs photos while on vacation.
“I have already been in talks with a photographer friend about recreating the trampoline photos and beach photos, as well as the head between the leg photos,” Erica explains. “Dan is pretty sure he still has at least one of the shirts – I will have to thrift something that will be similar or go a different direction (So regret not keeping those pants! But who knew?).”
Two Decades of Marriage, Three Daughters, One Viral Laugh
Erica and Dan will mark 22 years of marriage on Saturday, Feb. 7. Besides Addie, they share Audrey Jones, 18, and Lexie Jones, 12. All three girls have now seen the legendary album; all three have doubled over laughing.
The family views the photos as both a time stamp and a bonding agent. What started as a routine CD hunt has turned into inside jokes, TikTok soundtrack possibilities, and a soon-to-be modern side-by-side comparison sure to rack up likes.
For now, the original album rests safely back under the bed – no longer forgotten, forever funny, and waiting for its sequel.
