When Sarah Cummins and her then fiance sadly decided to call off their wedding, the heart-broken bride-to-be not only had to inform her relatives and friends that the wedding was off, she also had to figure out what to do about the wedding reception. The couple had signed a non-refundable contract with the Ritz Charles in Carmel, a suburb north of Indianapolis, for a reception that included a formal sit down dinner for 170 guests.
Then she did something amazing. Cummins contacted homeless shelters in the area and invited others to come and enjoy the reception dinner that she and her fiance had planned for over two years.
Cummins and her mom spent Saturday at the hotel, rearranging the reception area in preparation of the party. Gone were the head table where the bride and groom would sit, the gift table and cake table.
On Saturday night, Cummins and her mom, along with several of her bridesmaids, were there to personally welcome their guests. The gourmet dinner included bourbon-glazed meatballs, roasted garlic bruschetta, chicken breast with artichoke and wedding cake.
As for her what will happen to her wedding dress though, Cummins says, “It’s too painful to think about.”