[Epoch Times September 25, 2024](Reported by Deborah George/Translated by Epoch Times reporter Ai Chen) An Iowa couple held a wedding full of love and childhood memories in Des Moines. The weather was pleasant that day, and there was also a very special heirloom: a lemonade stand.
The lemonade stand that bride Lilli Prins and her siblings have treasured for years was crafted by her grandparents, Nancy and Joe Wills, in 2010. The Wills, both in their 70s, have long doted on their grandchildren, who spent happy hours at their grandparents’ home in Des Moines.
Lily became enamored with the idea after hearing her mother talk about possibly using a lemonade stand at a wedding, and ended up using the stand to serve drinks to the kids.
Lily with her grandparents at the World Food Prize Laureates Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 2, 2024. (Courtesy of Laura Wells Photography)
Lily Prince, 23, and her husband Alexander Prince, 28. (Provided by Laura Wells Photography)
Left: Lily (right) and her siblings as children. (Provided by Lily Prince); Right: Lily and her siblings on their wedding day. (Provided by Laura Wells Photography)
“My dad and my brothers were kind enough to truck the lemonade stand to the wedding a few days before the wedding, and we put it in the basement the day before the wedding so we could roll it out right away on the day of the wedding,” Lily told The Epoch Times.
When Lily’s grandparents arrived at the wedding on June 2 and noticed the lemonade stand, they were thrilled.
The bride recalled that she saw her grandfather bent over, holding his knees, and crying. She and her grandmother also burst into tears, recalling the love, love and happiness of childhood.
Lily said she and her siblings had a deep bond with their grandparents. (Courtesy of Laura Wells Photography)
Lily walked down the red carpet to the accompaniment of the famous song “You Are My Sunshine”. (Provided by Laura Wells Photography)
“When we first saw you in the distance and then the lemonade stand, our hearts were overwhelmed and we knew right then what the lemonade stand meant,” Lily’s grandfather wrote to her in a text message a few weeks after the wedding. “Your wedding was so beautiful Lily and we love you with all our hearts.”
Lily exclaimed, “I’m really lucky because I still have my grandparents around. I’m really grateful that I got to share that moment with them because I feel like not many people get the gift of grandparents these days. So, it’s really a precious memory.”
The lemonade stand was handmade by Lily’s grandfather, a woodworker, and grandmother, an accomplished seamstress and artist. (Courtesy of Laura Wells Photography)
Lily shared that the rest of the day was just as special. As she walked down the aisle, the clouds in the sky immediately parted, and as the song “You Are My Sunshine” played, the sun filled the ceremony. It was a deeply moving moment for Lily, who is affectionately called a ray of sunshine by her husband and parents.
Today, the newlyweds live in Des Moines, not far from Lily, an events coordinator, and her husband, an entrepreneur, as a child in Urbandale.
A few weeks after the wedding, a video of the lemonade stand (clickhereThe video went viral online, with more than 1.4 million views, which made Lily very excited. She said every comment was positive.
Gift of Love
The story of the lemonade stand began in 2010. Joe, who loved woodworking and had been retired for 10 years, felt that his woodshop was too empty, so he came up with the idea of building a lemonade stand as a Christmas gift for his grandchildren. He built the wooden structure, while his wife made the awning and curtains.
The loving grandparents gave it to their four grandchildren, Lily, Sophie, Sam and Charlie.
Lily (center) with her grandfather, sister Sophie and brother Sam. (Provided by Lily Prince)
(From left to right) Sophie, Sam, Charlie and Lily. (Courtesy of Laura Wells Photography)
Lily revealed that incorporating a lemonade stand into the wedding was the perfect way to honor her grandparents. (Courtesy of Laura Wells Photography)
Reflecting on what inspired her grandfather to create this special lemonade stand, Lily shared with The Epoch Times a text message she recently received from him.
“Lily, for years, whenever I saw a lemonade stand, I would stop and buy a lemonade. It made me feel good to support the kids and what I imagined to be their first business venture, the kids’ enthusiasm was infectious, and the lemonade quenched my thirst. I could tell they were having a blast, and there was usually a sense of pride and accomplishment that transcended their years. So, why did we create a lemonade stand?
“Well… Christmas is just a few months away. I know you will enjoy it and you will have many opportunities to learn about work ethic, social skills, responsibility, managing finances, product selection, how to run a business and how to turn sales into profits. And of course, decision making, problem solving, and learning how to work with your brothers and sisters. I could go on and on. It’s a great learning opportunity.”
Lily and her grandfather. (Provided by Lily Prince)
The Smith children cherished the lemonade stand so much that they gradually began selling other items in addition to lemonade, such as brooches and rings.
“I always remember thinking, ‘There’s no other kid around here with a lemonade stand this cool,'” Lily recalled.
As someone who cherishes traditional family values, Lily believes it is important to pay tribute to loved ones like hers. “My grandparents gave so much to our lives. We have so many great memories.”
Lily with her grandparents. (Provided by Lily Prince)
Lily (center) with her husband, parents, grandparents and siblings on her wedding day. (Courtesy of Laura Wells Photography)
In fact, her creative grandparents played a special role in both her wedding and her engagement.
Lily revealed, “I actually got engaged in a tree house that my grandfather built and my grandmother helped decorate and design.”
Today, the lemonade stand remains at Lily’s parents’ home, but she’s sure it’ll be put to use again soon.
Lily shared, “Ever since we used a lemonade stand at our wedding, I couldn’t wait for my kids to experience the same childhood fun that I did.”
Editor in charge: Han Yu#
