War veteran’s inspired wedding
Nick and Jamie Orchowski celebrated their wedding on a beautiful May evening with their close friends and family.
By Amy Shanahan, photo courtesy of BrynMaRae Photography
The Castle Pines Connection covered a story in the December 2011 issue about “Homes for Our Troops,” and the recipient of a new home, retired Corporal Nick Orchowski. “Homes for Our Troops” is a nationwide, non-profit organization, which builds specially adapted homes for post-9/11 veterans with disabilities.
Orchowski’s story inspired many people in our community and led to another wonderful event. Orchowski and his wife Jamie were married at the courthouse just four days before he deployed to Iraq in 2004. When Orchowski returned from the war, he was an incomplete quadriplegic. Jamie had always dreamed of having a real wedding, and thanks to the many friends and supporters of Nick and Jamie Orchowski, her dream came true on May 19 at Cielo at Castle Pines.
In January, on Jamie’s 30th birthday, Orchowski got down on his knee and surprised his wife with a wedding invitation, inviting her to start planning her dream wedding. Cielo of Castle Pines stepped up and offered its beautiful venue to the couple at no charge. Within one week, $20,000 worth of good and services had been pledged and donated by complete strangers, many of whom reside or work in the Castle Pines community.
“There were so many reasons to do this for them. Nick and Jamie are an incredible couple to go through what they went through and have the attitude they have,” remarked Roz Schroeder, owner and director of Cielo. “I have a place in my heart for all men and women in the military, and Nick is such an inspiration!”
In addition to Cielo, The Garden Path in the Village at Castle Pines donated flowers for the event. Other vendors from the metro Denver area offered their services free of charge including Mulberries Cake Shop, DJ Dance Trax Productions, and White Willow Studio.
To view Nick’s proposal to Jamie and presentation of the wedding invitation, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfM0RqQaKP8.
