Imagine having your dream wedding at a castle and being the princess you are without having to travel far! Here’s a great local venue that is perfect for you! A Hatley Castle wedding promises to leave you and guests feeling like they entered a fairy tale.
About The Hatley Castle Wedding Venue
Hatley Castle, originally built as a retirement home in 1908, features a grand residence suited to entertain the Victoria society and inspired by medieval castles. So your wedding day setting features a Victorian-style castle at Hatley Castle! How cool is that? Hatley Castle’s architect, Samuel McClure, used over 100 builders, 25 detail carpenters, and 60 stonemasons to ensure the castle came to life quickly. Hartley Castle took 18 months to complete construction. As opposed to the founding family’s other residence, Craigdarroch Castle, which took over two years to complete.
Details of the Grounds
Initially designed to welcome horses and carriages, Hatley Castle has stepping stones across from the entry. Making it easier to get off and on a horse. This entrance provides the most beautiful Hatley Castle wedding photos wether you are being brought in by horse or car! It also features a large covered Porte-cochere, or carriage porch, at the main entrance, allowing guests to exit their means of transportation while being protected from the elements. The castle features double oak doors at the main entrance with brass door handles featuring Scottish rampant lions. Above the door live featured stone carvings with the founder’s, James Dunsmuir, initials, surrounded by Scottish thistle.
On either side of the door, medieval busts can be found that indicate the gender distinction of the first-floor wings, as the east wing was the ladies’ wing, and the west was the men’s wing. A small detail that couples shouldn’t miss is a little bronze doorbell figure of a whimsical, seated angel with an art nouveau influence. This signified electricity throughout the building, a mark of wealth in 1910.
Upon entering the great oak doors, Hatley Castle has an Elizabethan Grand Hall built to impress with half-paneled plaster walls, vaulted ceilings, and heavy oak beams. This epic room creates a fantastical setting for any Hatley Castle wedding. Running up and down the banisters, across the minstrel gallery, and above the stairwells are a pattern of pointed arches, adding to the extravagance. Hatley Castle also features several entertainment spaces, such as the Greek Revival drawing room, the main level, the castle terrace, the castle terrace salon, and the grant Quarterdeck, each being able to fit anywhere from 100 to 250 guests. Hatley Castle is certainly an extravagant venue with many little details that couples shouldn’t miss!
Photography Opportunities
Hatley Castle offers a unique and luxurious photography opportunity. The inside of the castle is exquisitely stunning, allowing for timeless and unique wedding photos featuring ornate details. The castle grounds would make for the perfect landscape photos or portrait pictures of the bride and groom. It offers a beautifully landscaped backdrop featuring the croquet garden, Italian Garden, and fountains. Aside from featuring the castle, the gardens and grounds provide endless opportunities for both intimate and epic pictures. Around every corner is another distinct backdrop for you to use. The ivy covered walls are one of my favorite features of the grounds. But the large detailed stone stairs also provide unmatched elegance. I can assure you, this venue will not disappoint in delivering you infinite photography opportunities to capture you and your partner enjoying one of the best days of your life!
Wedding Details
Hatley Castle offers a few different wedding packages. The classic Hatley castle wedding package offers use of the castle’s first floor, the terrace, the croquet garden, and the Italian Garden. The Quarterdeck reception package features your reception in an elegant historic ballroom off the Neptune stairs. The classic Hatley Castle and quarterdeck combination is a complete wedding ceremony and reception package that includes the Castle gardens and ballroom. The castle also caters on-site with a variety of menu options. You can also customize your menu. So you ensure you get a meal that suits your pallet and budget. Hatley Castle also provides wedding planning assistance to help create an event plan for your whole day, with amenities such as linens, A/V equipment, and seating available for rental.
Hatley Castle Wedding
This attractive venue option that can not be missed! Especially if you dream of a fairy tale wedding day. So contact them today to see everything they can offer you for your big Hatley Castle wedding day.
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