An Indiana Woman spent $30,000 to plan her dream wedding (which she spent 2 years to save), it was supposed to be the happiest day of her life…

Then things didn’t go as planned when the couple canceled the wedding a week before the grand event and Sarah Cummins (the supposed to be bride) was completely heartbroken (the details to why the wedding was canceled have been kept confidential).

And it gets worse: the $30,000 reception was non-refundable… but the strong-willed Sarah didn’t want to let things keep her down and she surely didn’t want the reception to go to waste.

I called everyone, canceled, apologized, cried, called vendors, cried some more and then I started feeling really sick about just throwing away all the food I ordered for the reception, Sarah said.

So Sarah called her ex-fiancé and they decided to have the reception be enjoyed by the homeless people in the Carmel, Indianapolis. The reception hosted by Ritz Charles in Carmel was plated for 170 guests, which was instead enjoyed by Sarah, some of her friends and family… and the homeless people they invited.

Saving the event was a complete success. The new guests arrived in several buses. And they certainly made themselves worthy of the event, they wore semi-formal clothes that were donated by local tailors and clothing stores (who were moved by Sarah’s story).

Sarah welcomed her guest with a smile and the guests repaid her kindness with friendliness and good manners (you would think it was a normal wedding reception).

Everyone enjoyed a delicious menu that included bourbon-glazed meatballs, goat cheese and roasted garlic bruschetta, chicken breast with artichokes and Chardonnay cream sauce. They even shared the wedding cake.

Out of 7 of Cummin’s bridesmaids, 3 helped with the event. Sarah’s mother and aunts also helped in making the event a success. 

Although it was unfortunate that Sarah’s wedding was canceled, the event certainly helped bring back Sarah’s smile. She didn’t regret her decision in giving the reception to the homeless.

I will at least have some kind of happy memory to pull from, Sarah said.

What’s left is the wedding dress which Sarah hasn’t decided what to do with it yet, she says she doesn’t want to think about as it’s too painful for her.