Santa Barbara is a popular destination for weddings and elopements alike. Whether you prefer the iconic architecture of the courthouse, or the picturesque beaches, or the local gardens and parks, Santa Barbara offers a wealth breathtaking beauty as a backdrop to your love. Best thing is,  the temperate costal climate means you can plan your wedding or elopement any month of the year! The weather is temperate, and every month offers different trees and flowers in bloom. My personal choice of month would be September. It is still warm, but not too hot, no June gloom and the days are still long enough to have a flexible timeline with cocktail hours and such.  That being said, here are some points to consider before you even set your wedding or elopement date in Santa Barbara California.

Summer is the most popular and in Santa Barbara  it sure is gorgeous! That coastal climate means the temperature never gets too hot or cold. The long days mean you can have a late night timeline, and include lots of activities. If you are banking on sunny skies, Santa Barbara is a great choice with our few days of precipitation per year. That said, that heat is kept at bay by what we locals refer to as ‘June gloom’ which has lasted the entire month of June, but does burn off by 12-1 most days.   Summer is host to a few iconic events that ensure local hotels are booked, crowds are maxed, and venue prices might be high. These events include UCSB graduation (around 1st week of June), Old Spanish Days (aka Fiesta in August), and the Summer Solstice parade. Looking ahead and avoiding those weekends may be a good idea for a large event, where if you are eloping you may want to enjoy the festivities!

Fall is Santa Barbara is the ideal combo of good weather and good length of days. It is extremely popular, and I love September weddings. One thing to note is that Santa Barbara is somewhat low on that Fall color/ seasons changing that many love in a fall wedding. Of course, we can get gorgeous trees but you have to hire a local photographer who knows where to take you to find that Fall color palate.

Spring turns Santa Barbara into a magical garden. Although your chance of rain goes up in Spring and Winter, so does your chance of gorgeous green grass and foliage around your venue. Santa Barbara foliage can get scrubby brown in a chapparal style into a dry late summer, which has its own appeal for sure! But if you want that green green backdrop then a spring wedding is for you!

Whatever month you choose, be sure to contact me, Barbara,  to be your photographer! As a Santa Barbara local, I know all the local beaches parks and venues and can help guide you to the right vendors and spaces and places for your ideal day.

As a wedding photographer living and working in Santa Barbara since 1997 I’m very familiar with the most popular venues in the area. If you are searching for a wedding venue in Santa Barbara, Ca this page will give you an idea of general options. The most iconic thing about Santa Barbara is the scenery. It is simply gorgeous here! The beach and mountain views are stunning, but if you pick the wrong venue you might not get the best Santa Barbara has to offer! There are many wedding venues in Santa Barbara Ca including a number of outdoor parks and beaches that capture the essence and the magic that is Santa Barbara!

Santa Barbara Courthouse

The most iconic Santa Barbara outdoor wedding venue is the Santa Barbara Courthouse, my all time favorite location to photograph couples.  Nothing says ‘Santa Barbara’ more than this gorgeous building. You can have weddings out in the garden, or indoors in the mural room. Its also one of the most cost effective venues in terms of beauty per dollar! You can do just the ceremony, or recently they added reception service as well!

Waterfront And Ocean View Hotels

There are many indoor venues in Santa Barbara from churches to rental halls to restaurants and hotels. Some are extravagant and with sweeping views and breathtaking sights, while others might make you feel you are in a school auditorium. Above I listed some of the most inexpensive but still gorgeous wedding venue options, here I will cover a few of the most popular high end wedding venues along the waterfront.

The Hilton of Santa Barbara is one of the most iconic venues. Its situated right across from the ocean, and has a gorgeous routunda area that many choose to get married in. It is a very swanky hotel, full service venue, and priced as such. If you have the budget, this is one of the very best places in Santa Barbara to get married!

The Ritz Carlton (formerly the Bacara) is a deluxe resort for those for whom budget is a lesser concern. The hotel caters to high end clientele, and has a spa and several restaurants on site. It is located in Goleta, a bit away from downtown Santa Barbara proper, but if your interested in an all inclusive resort style experience set directly on the beach, you are looking for the Ritz Carlton!

The Belmond El Encanto is another supremely deluxe resort, though more boutique in nature than the Ritz carlton. They cater to the high end crowd, serve wonderful food and their staff is known for their excellent service. This resort is tucked up in the Santa Barbara Riviera so you get the majestic Riveria views of the ocean as well as city views, the harbor and more.

Hyatt Santa Barbara is across from the ocean, and a lovely high end resort. Its not quite as swanky as the above, but priced a bit better. They venue is great and the location is wonderful too! Their indoor reception room is on the 2nd floor with windows that look over to the beach!

Somwehere In Between..

In between the simplicity of your toes in the sand outdoors and the luxury of high end all inclusive resorts are a number of very popular wedding venues. I have been part of weddings at the Riviera Mansion, Ty Warner Sea Center, Natural History Museum, The Maritime Museum, The Santa Barbara Zoo, The Santa Barbara Mission (if you are Catholic), or the Rose Garden if you just want the views, and a long list of Churches including the everpopular Unitarian Society,  Our lady of Sorrows has the stained glass catherdral vibes, and the Greek Orthodox has great views at a very competative price!

As a seasoned wedding pro I have photographed weddings at each of these locations, and know all about the best spots, timing, lighting, etc. If you would like to chit chat about planning your wedding, call me anytime! I would love to be your photographer and help guide you through your amazing Santa Barbara Wedding!

Hi I’m Barbara of Santa Barbara, and I’d love to chat with you about your wedding photography vision! 

Whether you are just starting out planning, or have your plans nearly all set I’d love to hear all about you and what I can do to help you capture the love and connection of you and your fiancé on your wedding day. 

Call or text anytime! 805 637 0752

 email barbarabyrge@gmail.com