Have you been dreaming of getting married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse? You’re in the perfect place to get all the details you need.
The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a gorgeous location for your wedding. Here, you’ll find little nooks that provide a tropical feel, Spanish Colonial architecture, lush gardens, and an enchanting atmosphere you’ll be captivated by. Another reason we love this spot is that it’s an affordable venue that feels luxurious.
As an all-inclusive elopement team, we wanted to put together this guide that walks you through step-by-step how you can plan your celebration here.
Let’s dive into how you can get married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse.
Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse
Getting married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse is a fairly simple and straightforward process. It’s the perfect spot for an elopement or intimate wedding. Before diving into how to get married here, be sure to bookmark this page so you can easily refer back to this guide!
Here’s what you need to do to get married at the courthouse:
Step 1 – Get your marriage license
The first step you’ll need to take for your marriage at the Santa Barbara Courthouse is to get a California Marriage License. In California, there are two different types of marriage licenses – a public marriage license and a confidential marriage license.
Both marriage licenses will cost you $124, and you can choose which one you would like, depending on whether you want to keep your marriage private. Also, take note that if you do want a confidential marriage license, you and your partner must have been living together to be able to apply for it.
To apply for the California marriage license, you’ll need to start by making an appointment. Once you’ve made your appointment, bring your application, valid government photo identification, like a driver’s license, and payment for the marriage license fee. The marriage license is good for 90 days after it is issued.
Step 2 – Choose what type of ceremony you want
If you want to get married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, you have two different options: a civil ceremony or a private ceremony.
For a civil ceremony:
The Santa Barbara Courthouse allows you to schedule an appointment for an in-person civil ceremony on a weekday. At this appointment, you can obtain your marriage license and have your ceremony. To reserve an appointment, go here. A civil ceremony is typically a 60-minute appointment.
Here’s how it works:
During your appointment, you will get your marriage license and then have your ceremony directly after. However, if you have already obtained your marriage license, you can make a 30-minute appointment for your ceremony at the courthouse.
When you make an appointment for a civil ceremony, you will need to go to the County Clerk Recorder’s office. Inside the office, you will sign the necessary documents, pay your fee, verify your identity, and register your witness.
Afterward, you will head outside for your ceremony, and the clerk will go back inside to print your marriage license. To make a civil ceremony appointment costs $23, and you are allowed to have up to 8 guests.
Also, a civil ceremony is performed by a Deputy Marriage Commissioner. For the most up-to-date information, go here.
For a private ceremony
A private ceremony allows you to choose your own officiant, and you can invite up to 15 guests. If you want to have a private ceremony, you must get your marriage license ahead of time. You can choose to get married on the weekend and have your ceremony at one of the eight exterior locations at the courthouse. Heads up! You cannot reserve any of the exterior locations – they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you want to have a large private ceremony at the courthouse, you have to make a reservation and remember for a private ceremony you must provide your own officiant. The maximum number of guests permitted is 250 and you can reserve a space for 3 hours. You can choose from five outdoor lawn spaces: the Sunken Gardens, Palm Terrace, Fiesta Stage, Giant Bird of Paradise, and Rotunda Lawn.
On the other hand, if you want an indoor ceremony, you can also choose the Mural Room, a beautiful space where the history of Santa Barbara is depicted on canvas murals. The Mural Room has a 100-guest limit.
Step 3 – Make your reservation
After you and your partner have decided if you want a civil or private ceremony, it’s time to make your appointment. For a civil ceremony, you can schedule an appointment online up to 90 days in advance. For a private ceremony, you can make a reservation up to 18 months in advance and no fewer than five business days from the ceremony date.
Step 4 – Info you need for the day of your ceremony
On the day of your ceremony, parking is available on the streets around the Courthouse or in City Lot #7. The first 75 minutes are free, and after that, it’s $2.50 per hour. Once you’ve found a parking spot, you’ll head to the County Clerk Recorder’s office, which is on the corner of Anacapa and Anapamu streets.
Santa Barbara Things To Do
Here are our top recommendations on the things you should do during your time in Santa Barbara. With a shorter marriage at the courthouse, these are things that you can add onto the day to make it even more special, or turn it into a whole weekend with some of your closest friends and family:
- Check out the beautiful beaches such as Butterly Beach or Leadbetter Beach
- Plan a luxury picnic on the beach after your ceremony with Santa Barbara Picnic Company or The Picnic Place
- Discover Channel Islands National Park, where you can kayak, snorkel, and hike
- Go whale-watching – November to April is the peak whale-watching season
- Go on a wine tour – check out Destination Vine or Totally Cali Tours
- Go for an easy hike at Arroyo Burro Beach
- Stroll down Stearns Wharf
- Explore Old Mission Santa Barbara
- Venture into the Funk Zone
Best Spots for Photos in Santa Barbara
After your ceremony at the courthouse, you might decide you want to take some more couple portraits throughout Santa Barbara. Here are some of our favorite spots for you to check out:
- Butterfly Beach
- Santa Barbara Mission
- Paseo Nuevo Stairs
- Stearns Wharf
- Channel Drive
- Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove
Where to Stay In Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara has so many stunning accommodation options to choose from. Your accommodation could include impressive views, Spanish colonial architecture, or direct access to the beach.
If you want to stay downtown and have easy access to charming shops, restaurants, and the beach check out:
If you want to stay right next to the beach check out:
Santa Barbara also has a large variety of beautiful Airbnbs you could choose from, such as a modern cottage to a beach bungalow to a stunning villa. You can be sure that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here with such a wide selection of options.
You can even try to find a hotel or Airbnb that matches the vibe of your wedding so you have an extra spot to take photos or a nice place to get ready before you head to the courthouse.
Where to Celebrate With Your Family in Santa Barbara
After saying “I do” to your partner, it’s time to celebrate! Here are some of our top recommendations for what you can do after your ceremony:
- Plan a special dinner at Blackbird’s, Loquita, or Sama Sama Kitchen Patio
- Have a cocktail hour with your guests at The Good Lion
- Enjoy a live performance at The Red Piano or SOhO Restaurant and Music Club
- Plan a post-wedding brunch celebration at The Lark, The Boathouse, or La Paloma Café
- Go on a sunset cruise. Check out Santa Barbara Sunset Cruise which is a two-hour sunset cruise aboard the Double Dolphin. You’ll see the Santa Ynez Mountains and Channel Islands and it’s the perfect way to conclude your celebration!
Ready to Get Married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse?
We hope this guide gave you all the answers you were looking for when it comes to getting married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a beautiful backdrop for your wedding and perfect for you if you’re looking for a spot with a laid-back California vibe to tie the knot.
And if you’re still looking for a vendor team for your big day or are ready to start making your stress-free elopement or wedding in Santa Barbara a reality, let’s work together!
Don’t settle for a thrown-together day that should honor your love story. We can help you plan an elopement in as little as 30 days!
We provide you with everything you need, all in one place, including an experienced elopement photographer, an expert planner, a mindful budget and vendor booking strategy, unlimited elopement support, consults, and more! Go here to check out our all-inclusive elopement packages or you can get in contact with us here.
Happy wedding planning!
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