Santa Barbara Weddings

Santa Barbara destination weddings are the perfect way start to your life together. The "American Riviera" hosts more than 3,000 weddings a year. Couples can choose from a wide variety of charming Santa Barbara wedding venues, including churches, estates, historic sites, beaches, gardens, and wineries.

The lovely weather in Santa Barbara CA makes it an ideal place for outdoor weddings. For information about Santa Barbara beach weddings or weddings in public parks, call the Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation department at 805-564-5418 or the County of San Diego Parks department at 805-568-2461.

Several local wineries offer picturesque settings for Santa Barbara weddings, including Firestone Vineyards in Los Olivos (805-688-3940), Gainey Vineyard in Santa Ynez (805-688-0558), Santa Barbara Winery (805-963-3633), and Sunstone Vineyards & Winery (805-688-9463). Bella Cavalli Farms, a horse farm near Solvang (805-688-7108), offers a lovely pastoral setting in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley.

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1212 Mission Canyon Rd, 805-569-5923) and Clairmont Farms Lavender Company in Los Olivos (805-688-7505) also make beautiful spots for outdoor Santa Barbara weddings.

Historic Santa Barbara wedding and reception venues include the El Presidio Chapel (805-965-0093), a faithful reconstruction of Santa Barbara's first church; Casa de la Guerra (805-965-0093), a charming historic adobe home and outdoor courtyard in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara; and Old Mission Santa Barbara (2201 Laguna St., 805-682-4713) a picturesque historic mission.

Another great Santa Barbara wedding location is the Santa Barbara Zoo (805-962-5339, ext. 27). The zoo offers 30 acres of lush gardens and majestic ocean views and can accommodate up to 2,500 guests. The facility is available for rent from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. year-round, and you can even arrange to have animals left on display for the enjoyment of your guests.

Santa Barbara vacation rentals can comfortably accommodate large families, and a private vacation hideaway in Santa Barbara makes a great honeymoon spot.

A California Marriage License is required for Santa Barbara weddings. The bride and groom must appear together at the Santa Barbara County Clerk's office, complete an application, show government-issued photo IDs, and pay a fee of $77. If either party has been divorced in the past 90 days, a certified copy of the divorce decree is required. The Santa Barbara marriage license is valid immediately and is good for 90 days.

The South County Clerk's office is located in the Hall of Records, 1100 Anacapa in Santa Barbara (805-568-2250). The North County offices are at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115, in Santa Maria (805-346-8370), or at 401 E. Cypress St., Room 102, in Lompoc (805-737-7705). Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The North County offices require advance appointments for marriage license applicants.