Bride-to-be calls off wedding, invites homeless to reception

A Bride-to-be, 25-year-old Purdue University pharmacy student, Sarah Cummins who was supposed to get married this weekend, cancelled her wedding and invited the homeless to enjoy her reception.
The student who had been planning her dream wedding for two years, by working overtime to save for the $30,000 extravaganza, called it off this week (but did not say why) and was left with a broken heart and a nonrefundable contract for a venue and a plated dinner for 170 guests which was slated, tonight, Saturday night at the Ritz Charles in Carmel, that she had already paid for.

She said:

"It was really devastating to me. 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."

But rather than let her money go to waste, she worked with an event planner at the Ritz Charles to re-arrange the reception area, then started contacting homeless shelters in Indianapolis and Noblesville and invited all of them to her reception party.
She said:

"We’re doing all the same stuff, just arranging the tables differently, so there's no head table for the bridal party, no cake table or gift table".

She and her mother will arrive early Saturday to set up the centerpieces they designed themselves — gold Eiffel Tower vases with roses.  The dinner took place in the hotel's garden pavilion because Cummins said she always wanted an outdoor wedding but didn't want to risk the weather.

On the menu are bourbon-glazed meatballs, goat cheese and roasted garlic bruschetta, chicken breast with artichokes and Chardonnay cream sauce and, the wedding cake.

Cummins has arranged for two buses to pick up shelter residents and families late Saturday afternoon to take them to the Ritz Charles. She's hoping for about 150 people, but there's no definite number yet.

Obviously, this isn't the first time weddings have been canceled on short notice, event planner, LaDow said.

"Some people throw parties, some completely walk away, but none has ever done anything this charitable," she said of Cummins. "It is very honorable of her."

Cummins herself said she doesn't feel particularly generous. She said:

"I will at least have some kind of happy memory to pull from". "I've worked so many weekends and so much overtime to pay for this, I wanted to make sure it would be the perfect wedding."

And she's still excited to see what it looks like, after two years of planning. Plus, it's been a nice distraction instead of sitting around crying, she said.

If she can keep her emotions in check, she plans to stay for the dinner with her mom and at least two bridesmaids. When it's over, Cummins said she's leaving on her honeymoon Sunday to the Dominican Republic — alone — before returning for classes at Purdue.
She added:

"I'm going by myself. I'm nervous, but I feel like it will be really good strength-building for me. I want that time alone."

Source: USA TODAY