An Indiana woman didn't want her cancelled $30,000 wedding to go to waste, so she threw a party for the homeless.

A bus pulled up to the swanky event centre on Saturday that Sarah Cummins had booked for the reception in Carmel, a suburb just 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 fiancé called off the wedding a week ago. She declined to give a reason, but said they were left with a non-refundable contract for the Ritz Charles in Carmel and a plated dinner for 170 guests.

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 to attend the Saturday party.

Janice Williamson-Cox, from Dayspring homeless centre, left, hugs Cummins as she and others arrive at the Ritz Charles to enjoy the reception. (Kelly Wilkinson/Associated Press)

"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.

Several local businesses and residents donated suits, dresses and other items for the guests to wear.

Charlie Allen, who's spent three months at a homeless mission, received a donated jacket.

"I didn't have a sport coat," he said, tugging gently at the lapels. "I think I look pretty nice in it."

Like other guests, Allen said he was grateful for the invitation.

"For a lot of us, this is a good time to show us what we can have," he said. "Or to remind us what we had."

Katelin Decraene, center, serves salads to Trishell Crawford and her daughter Jacqueline Crawford. (Kelly Wilkinson/Associated Press)

Three of Cummins's seven bridesmaids, along with her mother and aunts, came to support her at the event. Guests also dined on chicken breast with artichokes and Chardonnay cream sauce.

Cummins, a 25-year-old Purdue University pharmacy student, said her ex-fiancé, Logan Araujo, footed most of the bill for the wedding contract, with Cummins and her parents, along with one of Araujo's family friends, paying the rest. Cummins said that when she approached Araujo about donating the dinner, he agreed to what he believed was a selfless way to handle the situation.

But Cummins said she is not sure yet what she will do with the wedding dress.

"It's too painful to think about."