{"id":858630,"date":"2026-03-10T01:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T06:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/?p=858630"},"modified":"2026-03-03T02:13:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T08:13:49","slug":"hatley-castle-wedding-blends-midcentury-modern-tropical-vibes-inspired-by-favorite-bar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/hatley-castle-wedding-blends-midcentury-modern-tropical-vibes-inspired-by-favorite-bar\/","title":{"rendered":"This Hatley Castle Wedding Blends Midcentury Modern and Tropical Vibes Inspired by the Couple’s Favorite Bar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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From the moment guests arrived, Raquel and Bradley’s vision felt clear: a chic 70s tropical bar set against the timeless elegance of <\/span>Hatley Castle<\/span><\/a>. Inspired by their favorite cocktail spot, Citrus & Cane, their wedding combined midcentury modern style, lush tropical details, and a relaxed, music-filled atmosphere. Their story began during the pandemic, after matching on Hinge and sharing what Raquel calls “the best first date I had ever had.” A week later, an unexpected ER visit after Bradley dislocated his shoulder turned into a late-night realization. “We were sitting together on a gurney at 3am waiting for an X-ray and shooting the shit when I realized I could fall in love with him.” That mix of humor, ease, and connection shaped every part of their unforgettable day.<\/span><\/p>\n

What We Love About This Hatley Castle Wedding:<\/span><\/h2>\n
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A midcentury modern tropical bar theme inspired by their favorite cocktail spot<\/span><\/li>\n
Vintage lounge furniture from their own home creating a personal, lived-in feel<\/span><\/li>\n
Guests fully embracing the “chic 70s tropical bar” dress code<\/span><\/li>\n
Meaningful music choices woven throughout the ceremony and reception<\/span><\/li>\n
DIY ceramic pieces and custom matchbooks adding thoughtful, creative touches<\/span><\/li>\n
A choreographed swing dance first dance that wowed guests<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Featured Vendor:
\n<\/em>Taylor Dawning Photography<\/a><\/h2>\n
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Starting With a Statement Venue to Guide Design Decisions<\/span><\/h2>\n
Raquel and Bradley began planning with one big decision: their <\/span>venue<\/span><\/a>. “Why did we choose it? It’s a castle. With an ocean view. And peacocks roaming the gardens. A CASTLE!” The grandeur of Hatley Castle instantly captured their imagination, and they quickly realized nothing else could compete. Beyond the dramatic architecture, the gardens surprised them in the best way. Birds of paradise lined the ceremony stairs, oversized dahlias were in bloom, and hummingbirds fluttered nearby as Raquel waited to walk down the aisle. The historic setting provided a timeless foundation that allowed their tropical, midcentury vision to shine naturally.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Choosing Vendors Who Understood Their Creative Direction<\/span><\/h2>\n
The couple prioritized <\/span>vendors<\/span><\/a> who matched their creative and emotional priorities. Florals were a major focus, and Raquel quickly booked a local florist whose work she admired for their artistic approach. Photography was equally important. Because Raquel shoots film as a hobby, she searched for someone skilled in both film and digital photography. Junebug vendor <\/span>Taylor Dawning Photography<\/span><\/a> proved to be the perfect fit. “Taylor was a brilliant choice for us and she exceeded our expectations 10 times over.” Her documentary-style approach captured the feeling of the day exactly as it unfolded.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Personalizing the Ceremony Through Music and DIY Elements<\/span><\/h2>\n
Though nontraditional, the ceremony reflected what mattered most to them. <\/span>Music<\/span><\/a>, one of the first things they bonded over, shaped the emotional tone. The wedding party walked down the aisle to “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One, Raquel entered to “Sabor Dulce” by Los Belkings, and they signed their marriage papers to Santana’s “Oye Como Va,” which naturally flowed into the reception.<\/span><\/p>\n
DIY details<\/span><\/a> added personal depth throughout Hatley Castle. Raquel incorporated eight of her own ceramic pieces into the decor, and the couple created custom ‘R&B’ matchbooks as wedding favors, inspired by their love for stylish bars and restaurants. Their lounge space, filled with furniture from home, made the celebration feel warm and familiar.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Encouraging Personal Expression Through Wedding Style<\/span><\/h2>\n
Fashion played a huge role in shaping the atmosphere. Guests were encouraged to dress in the “chic 70s tropical bar” theme, and they delivered. Raquel chose a <\/span>simple gown<\/span><\/a> and expressed her personality through accessories, including <\/span>Miista<\/span><\/a> mules and a vintage 60s leather clutch. For the reception, she created her own top-and-pants set with colorful satin bows. “I was able to create the flirtiest little reception look and save myself some money in the process.”<\/span><\/p>\n
Bradley wore a custom <\/span>cigar-brown wool suit<\/span><\/a> styled with vintage <\/span>Fluevog<\/span><\/a> loafers, rings, and socks featuring 70s-inspired tigers. The wedding party embraced individuality, each wearing unique outfits while staying cohesive. From feather details to bold monochromatic looks, fashion became a defining visual element of the celebration.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Bringing Personal Style Into the Overall Wedding Aesthetic<\/span><\/h2>\n
Raquel had a clear creative direction from the start, and their <\/span>planner<\/span><\/a> helped bring it fully to life. One of their biggest wishes was taking wedding party photos at Citrus & Cane before the ceremony. To extend the bar-inspired vibe, Raquel created a <\/span>lounge space<\/span><\/a> using her own vintage furniture. “After looking at all the rental options, I decided my own furniture fit the vibe better than any other.” <\/span><\/p>\n
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Planning a Timeline That Allowed Them to Fully Enjoy the Day<\/span><\/h2>\n
One of the couple’s smartest decisions was <\/span>structuring the day<\/span><\/a> so they could stay present. With a 5pm ceremony flowing straight into cocktail hour, they completed all wedding party photos beforehand. “We loved that we didn’t have to leave the party and could just enjoy ourselves later.” Their reception highlight was a choreographed swing dance, a skill they had quietly developed together. Guests were blown away, calling it the best first dance they had ever seen.<\/span><\/p>\n
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What to Prioritize for a Smooth and Meaningful Wedding Day<\/span><\/h2>\n
For Raquel and Bradley, <\/span>staying present<\/span><\/a> and trusting the right vendors made all the difference. They strongly recommend hiring a planner, investing in florals, and choosing a photographer with a documentary approach. “Spend the extra money on the planner and florals,” Raquel shared. Most importantly, design a day that reflects who you truly are.<\/span><\/p>\n
With its blend of tropical style, midcentury influences, meaningful music, and deeply personal details, this celebration at Hatley Castle perfectly captured Raquel and Bradley’s personality and connection, creating a wedding that felt both stylish and completely their own.<\/span><\/p>\n
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The Wedding Team:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
Photography – Taylor Dawning<\/a>
\nEvent Planning – Yvonne Choi<\/a>
\nVenue – Hatley Castle<\/a>
\nFloral Design – Folklore Floral<\/a>
\nCake – TL Cakes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From the moment guests arrived, Raquel and Bradley’s vision felt clear: a chic 70s tropical bar set against the timeless elegance of Hatley Castle. Inspired by their favorite cocktail spot, Citrus & Cane, their wedding combined midcentury modern style, lush tropical details, and a relaxed, music-filled atmosphere. Their story began during the pandemic, after matching on Hinge and sharing what Raquel calls “the best first date I had ever had.” A week later, an unexpected […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"kia_subtitle":"","footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[1257,1052,1318,1215,1582,1079,1005],"tags":[1108,1100,1109,1106,1097],"class_list":["post-858630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-wedding-photographer","category-best-wedding-photography","category-british-columbia-wedding","category-canada-wedding","category-castle-wedding","category-garden-wedding","category-real-weddings","tag-dark-red","tag-kelly-green","tag-light-pink","tag-orange","tag-yellow"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=858630"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":858783,"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858630\/revisions\/858783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=858630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=858630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/junebugweddings.com\/wedding-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=858630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}