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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Canceled $30K wedding becomes dinner for Indiana homeless

Janice Williamson-Cox, from Dayspring, left, hugs Sarah Cummins as she and others arrive at the Ritz Charles to enjoy a reception, Saturday, July 15, 2017. Cummins called off her wedding which was supposed to be this day. She decided to bring purpose to the couple's pain by inviting area homeless to enjoy the reception. (Kelly Wilkinson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)
Janice Williamson-Cox, from Dayspring, left, hugs Sarah Cummins as she and others arrive at the Ritz Charles to enjoy a reception, Saturday, July 15, 2017. Cummins called off her wedding which was supposed to be this day. She decided to bring purpose to the couple's pain by inviting area homeless to enjoy the reception. (Kelly Wilkinson/The Indianapolis Star via AP) Janice Williamson-Cox, from Dayspring, left, hugs Sarah Cummins as she and others arrive at the Ritz Charles to enjoy a reception, Saturday, July 15, 2017. Cummins called off her wedding which was supposed to be this day. She decided to bring purpose to the couple's pain by inviting area homeless to enjoy the reception. (Kelly Wilkinson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – An Indiana woman didn’t want her canceled $30,000 wedding to go to waste, so she threw a dinner party for the homeless.

A bus pulled up to the swanky event center on Saturday that Sarah Cummins had booked for the reception in Carmel, a suburb north of Indianapolis. About a dozen veterans from a local organization were among the guests who dined on bourbon-glazed meatballs, roasted garlic bruschetta and wedding cake.

Cummins told the Indianapolis Star that she and her fiance called off the wedding a week ago. She declined to give a reason, but she said they were left with a nonrefundable contract for the Ritz Charles in Carmel and a plated dinner for 170 guests.

“For me, it was an opportunity to let these people know they deserved to be at a place like this just as much as everyone else does,” Cummins said.

Cummins said she decided that rather than throw away the food she would bring some purpose to the event and contacted area homeless shelters. She cheerfully greeted and welcomed her guests when they arrived Saturday.