Woman turns cancelled wedding into ‘fairy-tale’ lunch for deprived children

'I cannot be the princess of my wedding day, but I can give the kids a fairy tale'

Yiru Sun a Princeton graduate who grew up in provincial circumstances in China (CBS New York )

A woman who cancelled her wedding over a prenuptial dispute has used the failed ceremony as a chance to put on a special lunch for underprivileged children.

Yiru Sun, who lives in New York, was due to get married on Saturday with a glamorous wedding reception planned at Harold Pratt House in the city’s wealthy Upper East Side.

However, the marriage fell through two months ago after she refused to sign a prenuptial agreement with her former betrothed.

Ms Sun and her guests at the luncheon (CBS New York)

The break-up left Ms Sun with an $8,000 non-refundable deposit for the reception venue and catering. Rather than let the ceremony go to waste, Ms Sun transformed the reception into a pre-Mother’s Day lunch for children from deprived backgrounds.

Sixty children, chosen with help from the Salvation Army and the charity Inwood House, were invited to the lunch, where they were treated to face painting, balloons and ice-lollies.

Ms Sun, a Princeton graduate who works as an insurance executive, told the New York Post: “I should have been the bride. It was cancelled.

“Initially I felt frustrated. Three weeks later, I woke up with this idea.

“I cannot be the princess of my wedding day, but I can give the kids a fairy tale.”


 Guests eating at the luncheon 
 (CBS New York)

Ms Sun, who is a single mother and grew up in provincial circumstances in China, told her guests that single parents and their children can face difficulties in life and still do great things.

William Natal, a 19-year-old guest at the luncheon, told CBS New York: “I thought it was an incredibly selfless act. Just to turn around and do something that helps others is an amazing show of character.”

“I feel special,” said six-year-old guest Michaela.