A Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding

A 2023 Guide to Getting Married at the Historic Landmark

Nestled on the majestic Pacific coast, Santa Barbara is known for its stunning and luxurious wedding venues. With its mild climate, beautiful scenery, and its trademark Spanish-inspired architecture, there is good reason so many couples come from all over the world to get married here.

But what if you want to get married in Santa Barbara but don’t want to use a standard wedding venue? What if you are looking for something slightly more intimate? Or if you are still hosting a larger wedding, something more modest yet still discerning and regal? If so, a Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding may be exactly the option you are looking for.

The Santa Barbara Courthouse

The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a lovely, unforgettable building that is both beautiful and captivating. It is one of the most recognizable courthouses in the country and is a popular tourist destination.

With its red tile roof, distinct clock tower, elaborate gardens, and mission-style architecture the Courthouse is decidedly elegant and inspirational – perfect for a romantic and elegant affair - no matter how big or small.

History

The courthouse as it stands today was designed by William Mooser II and completed in 1929, replacing its smaller predecessor that was damaged in the 1925 earthquake. Once completed, the courthouse was deemed the "grandest Spanish Colonial Revival structure ever built” by Charles Willard Moore, a well-known American architect.

As the city began to rebuild after the 1925 earthquake, it looked to the new courthouse for its architectural inspiration. To this day, part of Santa Barbara’s charm is the authentic Spanish Colonial architecture found throughout most of the city and it can be directly linked to this one building, the Santa Barbara Courthouse.

Location

The Santa Barbara Courthouse is located in the heart of the city’s downtown. It is a wonderfully central location; a perfect place for both you and your guests to explore all the area has to offer.

Within walking distance to the courthouse, you can find a multitude of delicious restaurants, great shopping, luxury hotels, beautiful parks, and beach fronts — perfect for that intimate dinner or photography session after the ceremony.

For lodging located close to the Courthouse, the Kimpton Canary Santa Barbara and the Palihouse Santa Barbara are two great choices. The Kimpton Canary boasts a rooftop pool, beautiful — and highly comfortable — four-post beds, and the widely acclaimed Finch and Fork restaurant. The Palihouse is a coastal hotel with a distinct Mediterranean feel and highly personal service.

After your Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding, you have your choice of dozens of delicious, locally sourced restaurants. Bouchon, with its blended French-California cuisine, and the farm-to-table Jane, are two crowd favorites.

Planning a Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding

Elopements and intimate weddings are more popular at the courthouse but they do rent out the venue for larger events. No matter what type of wedding you are planning, the Santa Barbara Courthouse offers several options with multiple ceremony locations on-site.

Types of Ceremony

Express Ceremony

For a super intimate, zero-fuss option, the Courthouse is now offering an express option. It takes 15 minutes, includes your license, and is walk-in only. You can bring one person (generally your photographer). Easy, no-frills, and absolutely stress-free.

Civil Ceremony

Civil ceremonies are held only during the week and allow up to 8 people to join you. You are given a 1-hour block during which time you get your marriage license and then are married by a deputy marriage commissioner.

Private Ceremony

A private ceremony on the courthouse grounds allows you to reserve a 60-minute block of time and bring up to 15 people (including your wedding vendors). You are also allowed to bring in your own officiant, rather than use the deputy marriage commissioner. These can be booked on any day of the week.

For both private and civil ceremonies you have the option to get married at any of the eight designated locations around the premises. (Although keep in mind, these can’t be reserved. It is all first-come, first-serve).

Larger Weddings

You don’t have to host a small ceremony to enjoy a Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding. It is possible to rent parts of the facility for up to 250 people. These rentals are usually booked in two or three-hour blocks at prescribed times and must be booked in advance.

To read more about the logistics of planning a wedding at the Courthouse, start here.

Ceremony Locations

Sunken Garden

Intricately decorated and meticulously manicured, the Sunken Garden is one of the more popular places to reserve for your Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding. The gardens themselves are stunning and you have the charming backdrop of the Courthouse building as well.

There are five different areas of the garden from which you can pick —the Sunken Garden, Palm Terrace, Fiesta Stage, Bird of Paradise, and Rotunda Lawn.

Mural Room

The Mural Room is one of the most unique and memorable locations at the Courthouse and can hold up to 100 guests. With its elaborate wall and ceiling murals, the room is a nod to Santa Barbara’s culture and history. Starting with the Chumash tribe, 12,000 years before Spain’s arrival, the mural covers all of Southern California’s storied history. It’s a beautiful and intimate place to hold your ceremony.

Photographs at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

One of the most beautiful parts of a Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding is the images that you can create there. The building is regal and light-filled, with ornate details and long, open hallways that open to unforgettable tropical gardens.

The Clock Tower is one of the landmark's most notable features and you can access the top for amazing views, and images, of the area. Additionally, inside, the ornate circular staircase inside is regal, with filtered light that is just divine. I love photographing here.

There is absolutely no shortage of places outside to photograph — from the archway at the entrance with its diffused light and beautiful foliage to the varied gardens sprinkled around the property, there are just so many options.

The diversity within this one city block is outstanding. You can photograph at the Courthouse for an hour and feel like you have been to multiple locations.

From a logistical standpoint, I recommend hiring a photographer for at least three or four hours for an elopement or smaller wedding (more for a longer wedding). We can capture you getting ready in your hotel, then heading to the ceremony, and afterward spending time around the Santa Barbara Courthouse. We can even venture into the city or beach area to capture an even wider range of images.

I would love to talk to you about capturing your Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding - whether it be a simple elopement or a larger affair. I pride myself in capturing intimate moments in a way that authentically tells the story of your wedding day.