Rachel and Nick’s Arrowvale Campground Wedding | Community at It’s Core
Rachel and Nick’s Arrowvale Campground Wedding was a true classic Port Alberni celebration. Over the years, I’ve come to know Port Alberni weddings as fun-filled, family-fueled gatherings. Neighbors feel like family and community sits at the heart of everything. This wedding was no exception.
For Rachel and Nick, community was the thread that pulled the entire day together. From the bride’s mother sewing all SIX dresses for Rachel and her bridesmaids, to a friend stringing up some seriously impressive tarps at the outdoor reception site, every part of their wedding was touched by helping hands. They actually told me that I was the only hired wedding vendor for the entire event! I felt so honored!
They DIY’d everything, including decorations, the wedding arch, and even the graffiti on the chauffer cars. Add in a buffet of homemade dishes prepared by friends and family, and it became clear this wasn’t just a wedding—it was a shared effort, a celebration of love, and a legendary memory in the making.
Arrowvale Campground Ceremony
Rachel and Nick’s wedding ceremony took place at Arrowvale Campground, a 67-acre campground and working farm set along the Somass River in Port Alberni. With sweeping views of Mount Arrowsmith and Mount Cokely in the distance—two iconic natural landmarks of the Alberni Valley—the setting felt both expansive and deeply rooted in place.
Arrowvale Campground offers no shortage of beautiful backdrops, from its vibrant dahlia garden and pumpkin patch to the horse-filled barn, forested trails, and peaceful river views.The ceremony site itself is a spacious open field anchored by two towering maple trees. Their thick branches form the most perfect natural ceremony arch—an effortlessly beautiful setting for a wedding ceremony.
A Private First Look
Rachel and Nick got ready separately that morning and shared a private first look in the pumpkin patch before the ceremony. From there, we wandered around the property capturing their bride and groom portraits. As a photographer, there’s almost too much to work with at an Arrowvale Campground wedding—from the rustic barn and dahlia fields to the river, and even an old mailbox the couple had specifically requested on their shot list. By scheduling portraits ahead of time, Rachel and Nick were able to spend more quality time with their guests after the ceremony. This approach typically saves anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes—an invaluable stretch of time on a busy wedding day.
Once the ceremony wrapped up, guests jumped in to clear the chairs—stat. Within minutes, the field transformed into a space filled with family catching up, hugs being exchanged, and congratulations flowing freely. We then moved to the Somass River for family and bridal party photos, where the soft tones of the riverbank paired beautifully with the ladies’ color palette.
Upon departure, Rachel and Nick hopped in the old T-Bucket, the very same car they drove to prom together in years earlier, but this time, off to their wedding reception.
West Coast Rangers Gun Range Reception
A shared passion for Rachel and Nick is spending time at the gun range, honing their shooting skills and building community among fellow members. Having their wedding reception at the gun range was especially meaningful to the pair, who spend summers here with family and friends.
After the formalities of dinner and speeches were finished, the newlyweds wanted to kick off their reception with a literal bang-bang. Just as the light was nearly dark for the day, Rachel and Nick took two shotguns and fired rounds into the air. It really was a symbolic, fun, and totally personal touch for the happy couple.
The rest of the evening unfolded exactly as a Port Alberni celebration should: dancing late into the night, gathering around the fire, and soaking up time with the people who matter most. At one point, Rachel and two of her Highland dancing friends took to the floor for a surprise performance—complete with Rachel’s skull socks, which she proudly wore all day long under her boots.
Arrowvale Campground Wedding Photos
