Although a California bride was jilted at the altar, her parents decided not to waste all the preparations they already made for the big day and turned it into a day of happiness once again, especially for the homeless community of Sacramento.
Although the wedding was cancelled, Kari Duane and her husband still invited homeless guests to attend what was supposed to be their daughter's wedding banquet at the Sacramento's Citizen Hotel.
Reportedly, the groom called off the wedding on Monday.
The 120 homeless men, women and children enjoyed the same four-star restaurant menu that the wedding guests were supposed to have feasted on. The meal took place in the hotel's restaurant which overlooked the city skyline.
The hotel reservations and food for the wedding cost the Duanes $35,000 dollars, which was not refundable. So even if the day was one of heartache for their daughter, it made sense for them to turn it around by giving some happiness to the community instead.
"When I found out Monday that the wedding would not be taking place, it just seemed like, of course this would be something that we would do to give back," Kari Duane said.
The homeless population in Sacramento are up to 2,600 people, according to volunteer counts. The ones who were able to enjoy a full meal at the restaurant with the Duanes even included some newborns.
"When you're going through a hard time and struggle, for you to get out to do something different and with your family, it was really a blessing," said Rashad Abdullah who was able to enjoy the evening with his family on a very rare night out together.
The guests were very appreciative of the Duanes' invitation to let them enjoy the meal, especially after they found out that the wedding was canceled.
"I think it's very generous, actually. To lose out on something so important to yourself and then give it to someone else is really giving," said Erika Craycraft, a homeless woman who thanked the Duanes for their generosity.
To help heal her broken heart, the Duanes daughter stayed home instead of attending the event. The non-refundable honeymoon, which was supposed to be enjoyed by the newlyweds, will instead be a mother-daughter bonding trip in Belize.
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