Carol and Willie Fowler found out 40 days before the big day that their daughter Tamara's wedding was off.
They comforted their daughter as best the could but couldn't help but wonder, 'What on earth are we going to do about the venue, the food and the entertainment?' Most of it had already been paid for and anything else they cancelled would see them lose their deposits. They had been expecting 200 guests to attend, all of whom had to be informed that the nuptials were off.
Carol and Willie started to pray.
It was Willie who came up with the idea to turn their daughter's misfortune into something good. Instead of cancelling the event they'd go ahead with it, and invited 200 homeless people to attend.
Carol Fowler explained their decision to Here & Now, saying, "Forty days prior to the wedding ... we were made aware that there would no longer be a wedding. [Donating the reception] was my husband's idea. We prayed about it. And when he woke up the next morning, he said, 'we're going to call Hosea Feed the Hungry and ask if we can donate it to the needy.' I immediately looked up the number and called and spoke with Mrs. Elisabeth Omilami, and in doing so, we partnered. And it was such a wonderful feeling just to partner with them."
They called the event the 'The First Annual Fowler Family Celebration of Love'.
Many of the homeless thought it was a prank, however staff at Hosea Feed the Hungry managed to convince them it was a legitimate offer and they agreed to attend.
Let's hope this time it doesn't come at their daughter's expense.
As for Tamara, Carol says her daughter is doing as well as can be expected. "We're very pleased that she's handling it so well." Tamara even attended what would have been her own reception, taking comfort in the excitement and gratitude shown by their guests. Her mum said, "She was also very delighted to see and know that others had an opportunity to enjoy something, rather than just allow it to go to waste."
All images courtesy of Hosea Feed the Hungry
What would you say to this bride if you could to comfort her, aside from, 'Plenty more fish in the sea'?
The most awkward wedding pictures out there? We've got them! From posing in front of a potty to the ugliest bridesmaid dresses ever--we're loving these cringe-worthy shots
Hats Off...
...right now. Please. Take those hats off immediately.
Laying Out
I know. The bride is laying in the grass. That’s weird. But... that guy's hands? The position...
Not All Black and White
We’re going to assume this was some sort of party to keep from feeling very sad about this photo.
Age is Only a Number
But Timmy is only 5 so it's time to give up.
Bear Witness
Honey, act natural... God knows why but we are literally posing with a bear.
Heartbreaker
He said he passed out from her beauty but it was really his future father-in-law that scared him into the hospital.
Let Me Mullet Over...
Nature's Finest
Jim was training to become a cop and he thought the wedding photo was the ideal time to practice his pat-down.
Fashion Emergency
"The bigger the sleeves, the longer the marriage.” That's a saying, right? ...Guys?
Gun Control
I know it's hard to ignore the guns but why is she sitting on hay? Isn't that extremely scratchy?
Renaissance Festival or Real Life?
Real life. Because life hates me.
Strike a Pose
“Pose with your bouquets all around her head, it’ll look great!” said the photographer at his last
Clean Start
What? But... why?
Duty Calls
But seriously dude, can't the call wait? Not a great start to a life together...
Apple of My Eye
Johnny Appleseed was thankful for his tiny bride.
Surprise Wedding
You may kiss the bride... as everyone stares in complete awe.
Ma'tier'ony
Everyone was in 'tiers' over the bridesmaids' dresses.
Say Cheese
The photographer said "say cheese," not "contort your face until it hurts."
Brideshead Revisited
You were always on my mind, you were always on my mind.
Looking to the Past
In this case we wish it was a man in the mirror...
Bridal Potty
Life moves fast, it's time to stop and smell the... port-a-potty?
Lap Bride
He loved her not inspite of, but because of her narcolepsy.
Mrs. Claus' Bridemaids
That's one way to make sure no one is prettier than you on your special day.
Camouflage Catastrophe
What? What's awkward about this one? I just see a pretty forest. (P.S., I'm a deer.)
I'm Lovin' It
The Hamburgler de-masked.
Chest Cold
They told him that he could be anything he wanted so he became a placemat.
Cowboy
You can't see it but that's also where he branded her.
Curtain Call
"Nobody sews her bridemaid's dress like Maria!"
Boob Tube
This was Bob's first and only TV appearance
Smack 'Dat
'I do' take this man to be my lawfully wedded bricklayer.
In Hiding...
...from a tasteful wedding photographer.
I'll Be There for You
I now pronounce you man and lethargic wife.
Tickets to the Gun Show
She named her biceps "I" and "Do."
Something Borrowed, Something Grass-Stained
'Til death do us part.
Longest Yawn
You can't see the best man throwing skittles from the second row.
Dawn of the Red
Less Buckingham Palace, more Knights of Columbus.
Shotgun Wedding
I don't know what's more frightening -- the gun, the bridesmaids' dresses or the dead look in the flow
The Importance of Cropping
"Dude, do you think we should move?"
The Stand Out
No one knew who he was but it felt weird to ask him to leave.
The Cover Up
They're covering their rehearsal dinner hickeys.
Le Chair
“No, no, you don’t sit in the chair, you stand behind the chair,” said only one photo
Tree of Life
You know! The classic "let's all stand in a tree" pose.
Window Pains
The in-laws: haunting your dreams one wedding photo at a time.