Intimate Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding
Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding Vendors:
Planner: Creative Happens / Photography: Pamela Tatz Photography / Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens / Reception: La Paloma Café / Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Emilie Q / Rentals: The Tent Merchant / Officiant: Father Jeremy Bellamy
Under the palms and bright blue sky in the Santa Barbara Courthouse’s Sunken Gardens, Janeth and Javier exchanged vows surrounded by their closest family and friends, including their baby boy Isaiah. It was a perfect Southern California day: soft sunlight filtering through the palm trees, ocean air drifting through downtown Santa Barbara, and the kind of relaxed, romantic energy that defines California’s Central Coast.
Santa Barbara Courthouse Intimate Wedding in the Sunken Gardens
This ceremony at the Santa Barbara Courthouse was held in the romantic Sunken Gardens. The space is surrounded by Spanish-Colonial architecture, towering palms, and manicured lawns that photograph beautifully in every direction. After the intimate ceremony, we explored the courthouse grounds for portraits.
If you’re planning a Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding, my advice is to schedule your plans so that you can take your portraits about an hour before sunset—the light is softest in the courtyard then. The courthouse is open to the public, but weekday afternoons are often quieter and ideal for a peaceful ceremony or elopement.
The Reception
As the afternoon light softened, the couple and their families headed to La Paloma Café, a cozy downtown restaurant that hosted the party on their patio.
Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding FAQs
Do you need a permit to get married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse?
Yes. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a public venue, and you’ll need to reserve a ceremony spot through the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder’s Office. You can either have a civil ceremony (a 60-minute appointment where you get your marriage license and have a ceremony performed right after and can have up to 8 people in attendance) or a private ceremony in either the Sunken Gardens or Mural Room. Janeth and Javier’s wedding was a private ceremony in the Sunken Gardens, facing the Fiesta Stage.
What are the best photo spots at the Santa Barbara Courthouse?
The courthouse is one of the most photogenic places in Southern California. I love taking my couples all around the Sunken Gardens, to the archway beneath the clock tower, to the grand staircase, and to the upper balcony overlooking downtown Santa Barbara. Each offers a mix of architectural beauty and lush greenery.
One thing to note: Keep in mind that the indoor locations, like the staircase and upper balcony, close in the afternoon. Make sure to double check what time the indoor areas will close on the day that you’ll be there. For example, at Janeth and Javier’s wedding, the indoors area of the courthouse was already closed by the time their ceremony ended, so we didn’t do any photos inside. The light outside was gorgeous and we had a beautiful portrait session, but this is definitely something to consider depending on your own aesthetic.
Can you have a reception after your courthouse ceremony?
Absolutely, yes! Many couples head to nearby restaurants or boutique venues for dinner after their Santa Barbara Courthouse ceremony. Favorites include La Paloma Café, The Lark, and Belmond El Encanto, all within a few minutes of the courthouse and perfect for intimate celebrations. Make sure to book with the restaurant you choose in advance!
Photo Team:
Photographer | Pamela Tatz
HI THERE, I’M PAMELA!
I’m the owner and lead photographer at Pamela Tatz Photography, a Los Angeles-based wedding photography studio capturing love stories authentically and naturally.
With a modern aesthetic and a documentary approach, my goal is to create photos that feel honest, nostalgic, and true to your day—just like these beautiful moments from this wedding at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in Santa Barbara, California.
