When Ashley Migliaccio and her husband James exchanged vows this past October, the setting for their wedding was more than just picturesque, it was profoundly personal. Hidden Acres Family Campground in Preston, Connecticut, a place steeped in Ashley’s family history, also played a central role in the couple’s love story.
For Ashley, life has always revolved around Hidden Acres Family Campground, where she has grown up as a third-generation owner and operator. Her earliest memories are filled with nostalgia, playing in the “triangle” area of the campground with her siblings, while their parents kept a watchful eye. The “triangle” being the area between the camp office, her grandmother’s campsite, and the playground. Ashley’s grandparents began the Hidden Acres legacy after a serendipitous visit by her uncle, Tom, led them to purchase the property, despite its weathered condition. They poured their hearts into revitalizing it, teaching themselves every step of the way. After her grandparents stepped away following 20 years of ownership, Ashley’s parents took the park to new heights. Now, Ashley continues to lead with the values passed down to her from years of family experience.
And now for Ashley and James love story. “We actually met at the campground,” Ashley shared. “We were middle schoolers at the time. James was a seasonal guest here for two summers. Those were the only summers I kept a diary, and I wrote about him then.” Though life took them in different directions after those early days, fate had other plans. Eight years later, the two reconnected, and, as Ashley put it, “We’ve never stopped hanging out since.”
Deciding to marry at Hidden Acres felt like a natural choice for the couple. “We met here, and it just made sense. It was a no-brainer,” Ashley explained. The couple selected what Ashley described as “the most beautiful area of the campground” for their ceremony, a site usually booked during the busy season. “It’s always been my dream, and James was completely on board. Even after we got engaged, I gave him the option to choose another venue, but he said, ‘No, this makes sense. It’s perfect.’”
Wedding planning unfolded with a family-first approach. “Every single one of my family members was involved. It was a full DIY effort,” Ashley said. Her dad insisted on building the arbor, while her mom played an instrumental role in organizing vendors. Ashley’s siblings pitched in too, with her brother delivering a heartfelt reading during the ceremony and her sister standing by her side as maid of honor.
Ashley’s background in campground event planning helped streamline the process. “We got engaged in January and knew we wanted to get married the weekend after the campground closed. By May, we had all our vendors booked, knowing the summer would be too hectic. It worked out perfectly.”
The day was filled with deeply personal touches. James’s cousin officiated the ceremony, adding an intimate and easy atmosphere. “He did such a good job,” Ashley said. Her brother surprised everyone by reading a passage from her 2008 diary, recounting her early thoughts about James. “It was cringy but so good,” Ashley laughed. The passage in question? “…I knew he was going to pop the question, but then JARED had to show up and ruin it.” He went on to say “this journal stated countless occasions where James was going to pop the question, but never did. Well, he finally popped the question and here we are today.”
True to their personalities, Ashley and James opted for nontraditional elements. “We’re not big cake people, so we had Ben & Jerry’s cater. We also served barbecue. Everything was catered to us,” Ashley said. The reception included a bonfire with s’mores under twinkling lights strung across the trees, a whimsical touch Ashley had envisioned.
The venue itself carried profound meaning. Hidden Acres was once a Boy Scout camp, and Ashley described its rec hall, an old mess hall, as the heart of the festivities. “It’s such a beautiful building, all wood with lights across the ceiling. We’ve hosted so many events there, but to have one for us was surreal. Walking in, I just thought, ‘This is a party for us. This is crazy.’”
And the Love Bench now dons two new names. “One of the most special features at Hidden Acres is our ‘Love Bench’ near the pool, built by my dad and his crew a few years ago. Over time, he’s carved the names of couples who met at the park and later got married, including my parents, Bill and Priscilla, and two of my best friends with their husbands. We officially became part of this beautiful tradition by adding our names to the bench!”
Ashley and James’s wedding was more than an event; it was a homecoming, a tribute, and a new chapter, all set in the place where their journey began. “My grandparents, my parents, their whole legacy shined through the entire day,” Ashley reflected.
