Couple donates wedding day food to shelter, spends day serving the homeless

Melanie and Tyler Tapajna served dozens of women and children while they were still dressed in their wedding attire.

Many people spend a lot of time and money planning their perfect wedding, but countless couples have been forced to delay or cancel grand festivities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

When Tyler and Melanie Tapajna of Parma, Ohio, realized they wouldn't be able to host dozens of guests at their planned nuptials this summer, they canceled their formal reception and decided to put the money they'd spent on food to good use.

On July 1, after months of planning, the Tapajnas came to the conclusion that a big wedding during a pandemic was not for them. They were nervous about hosting 150 people at their original venue, The Lodge at Allardale, which was open — but only under very strict regulations.

Tapajna and her then fiancé decided to plan an intimate ceremony for family and close friends on Aug. 15. They had already pre-ordered food from their favorite local food truck and caterer, Betty's Bomb Ass Burgers, but instead of getting a full refund, they decided to do something unique.

The Tapajnas contacted Laura's Home, a nonprofit that feeds and houses homeless women and children in Cleveland, and asked for permission to donate prepared food. Lena Brown, who owns Betty's, then worked directly with the kitchen manager at Laura's Home to figure out how best to serve the food on her menu in a cafeteria-style kitchen.