A couple in Iowa recently celebrated a wedding filled with love and childhood memories in Des Moines, Iowa. The weather was pleasant, and they had a very special heirloom at the ceremony – a lemonade stand.
The bride, Lilli Prins, and her siblings had cherished the lemonade stand made by their grandparents, Nancy Wills and Joe Wills, in 2010. The elderly couple, in their 70s, have always adored their grandchildren, who had spent happy times at their Des Moines home.
Lilli became enchanted with the idea of using the lemonade stand at her wedding after her mother suggested it. She eventually decided to offer drinks to the children using this special stand.
On the wedding day of June 2nd, when Lilli’s grandparents arrived and noticed the lemonade stand, they were overwhelmed with emotion.
Lilli recalled seeing her grandfather in tears, hugging his knees, unable to speak. Both she and her grandmother were also in tears, reminiscing about family, love, and childhood joy.
In a text message sent by her grandfather a few weeks after the wedding, he expressed, “When we first saw you from a distance, and then the lemonade stand, our hearts swelled, we knew the significance of the lemonade stand. Your wedding was so beautiful, Lilli, we love you wholeheartedly.”
Lilli sighed, “I am truly fortunate to have my grandparents by my side. I am grateful to share that moment with them, as not many people these days get to experience the blessing of grandparents. It is a precious memory.”
The remainder of the day was also special. As she walked down the aisle, dark clouds dispersed, and sunlight bathed the ceremony venue as the song “You Are My Sunshine” played. For Lilli, affectionately called a ray of sunshine by her husband and parents, it was a deeply touching moment.
Today, the newlyweds reside in Des Moines, not far from Lilli’s childhood home in Urbandale. Lilli works as an event coordinator, while her husband is an entrepreneur.
In the weeks following the wedding, a video about the lemonade stand went viral online, garnering over 1.4 million views, much to Lilli’s excitement. She noted that every comment was positive.
The story of the lemonade stand began in 2010. Joe, who enjoyed woodworking and was retired for ten years, felt his woodworking shop was too idle. Thus, he conceived the idea of building a lemonade stand as a Christmas gift for his grandchildren. He crafted the wooden structure, while his wife made the awning and curtains.
The loving grandparents gifted it to their four grandchildren, Lilli, Sophie, Sam, and Charlie.
Reflecting on what inspired her grandfather to create the special lemonade stand, Lilli shared a recent text message she received from him.
“Lilli, over the years, whenever I see the lemonade stand, I always stop to buy a cup of lemonade. Supporting the children and their first entrepreneurial endeavors as I envisioned makes me feel good. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and the lemonade quenches my thirst. I could see they were having fun, usually with a sense of pride and accomplishment beyond their years. So, why did we make the lemonade stand?
“Well… Christmas is just a few months away. I knew you would enjoy it, and you have many learning opportunities, including work ethics, social skills, responsibility, financial management, product selection, operations, and how to turn sales into profits. Of course, there are decision-making, problem-solving, and learning how to cooperate with siblings. I could go on. It’s a great learning opportunity.”
The Smith family’s children cherished the lemonade stand. Apart from lemonade, they gradually started selling other items like pins and rings.
Lilli recalled, “I always remember thinking, ‘No other kids nearby have such a cool lemonade stand.'”
As someone who values traditional family values, Lilli believes honoring her loved ones is crucial. “My grandparents have poured so much into our lives. We have so many beautiful memories.”
In fact, her creative grandparents played special roles in her wedding and engagement.
Lilli revealed, “In fact, I got engaged in the treehouse built by my grandfather, and my grandmother helped decorate and design the treehouse.”
Currently, the lemonade stand remains at Lilli’s parents’ home, but she believes it will soon come in handy once again.
Lilli shared, “Since using the lemonade stand at our wedding, I can’t wait to let my children experience the joy of their childhood like me.”