Jilted Bride Savors Her 15 Minutes of Fame

NEW YORK â€”  She waited in vain at a church for a groom who never showed up. Then she poured out her heart on newspapers and television shows.

Nicole Contos’ tale of unrequited love is winning some sympathy, but also some scorn--including criticism from her wandering fiance, who is apparently enjoying their Tahitian honeymoon alone.

Contos was literally left at the altar last month before 250 guests. The 27-year-old schoolteacher went ahead with the reception, estimated to have cost more than $65,000, and even danced--then went public with her story.

Once the tale of love gone wrong became front-page news, Contos was fielding calls from Sally Jessy Raphael and Jay Leno. She said yes when the “Today� show called, and started her day Tuesday by sitting down with Katie Couric.

“Have you considered castration as an option?� Couric inquired.

“No,� Contos replied, a smile frozen on her face.

That may make it easier for Tasos Michael to enjoy his stay at the Tahiti hotel where he and his bride had planned to honeymoon. He bolted alone to the posh 30-acre resort.

Michael, 35, was unimpressed by his ex-fiance’s sudden fame.

“She really seems to be enjoying herself,� he told the New York Daily News. “Maybe someday she’ll have her own talk show and we can all say we knew her when.�

This is not how Contos planned things--and she spent a lot of time planning things. The last eight months were devoted to making a perfect wedding day.

Flowers were flown in from France. Invitations went out to guests from Greece, Israel, Japan. The ritzy Essex House was set up for 250 guests at $175 a plate--a $43,750 tab. Throw in the cost of the band, and the dress, and the Rolls-Royce rental, and the cake, and the photographs, and . . . well, you can understand why Contos decided to hold her reception sans groom.

Michael has refused to call his jilted fiancee. She says she’s still in love and would give him another chance, but he rejected the idea.

“I’m totally comfortable with my decision,� he told the Daily News. “Tahiti is one of the few places in the world where I’ve never been, so I shall enjoy my stay here and relax as best I can.�