Kolomiiets Wedding Expenses

In Fall of 2022, in the midst of war, a family of three emigrated from Mariupol, Ukraine to the United States with the help of a faith community based in Iowa City. Mom, Tetiana, and her sons, Artem and Dima, have settled well into life in the US. Just a couple of months ago, Artem's fiance, Olha, arrived!

Artem and Olha were engaged on Christmas Day, 2021, just weeks before war came to Ukraine. They had dreamed of a wedding on the shore of the Sea of Azov, surrounded by their family and close friends. That dream was not to be.

Instead, others have begun to help Artem and Olha to dream a new dream. With the selfless generosity of many Iowa City-area businesses (Heart-to-Heart Bridal, Hands Jewellers, Big Grove Brewery, Soirre Wedding Planning, Holly's Shop for Men (Cedar Rapids)) as well as individuals, a wedding is in the works! Artem and Olha have expressed they desire a "true American wedding" as they embrace their new life.

The couple's main concern was the cost of the wedding. They have nothing to put toward this celebration of their new life together. So, we have set out to ensure that they get to realize the dream of their wedding at no expense to them. Nearly all of the expenses of Artem and Olha's "true American wedding" have been covered by generous donations, except a few. What expenses remain are things we all know well when planning a wedding: Mother of the Groom clothing, Best Man clothing, four pairs of shoes, musicians, decorations, and the like.

By contributing to this fundraiser, we experience what true community is: a coming-together to benefit another human being.