Beautiful Wedding Sites Near Santa Barbara, CA
A winery, a beach, a vineyard, a ballroom, a Victorian home, or ? Weddings are done everywhere now with wineries and vineyards being the most popular.
In this article I’ll mention a few reception venues near Santa Barbara, California. Ceremonies are sometimes done at the same site as the reception; often the ceremony will be held outdoors at a site, then move (but on the same property) so the reception is done inside. Many ceremonies are still done in churches and the receptions are being held just about anywhere.
Santa Barbara is truly one of the most beautiful parts of the California coast and the weather is almost always perfect. This is a great place for a wedding whether it’s your hometown, merely nearby and convenient, or a destination wedding. I remember very fondly a wedding I attended at the courthouse in downtown Santa Barbara followed by an evening reception in a nearby beach town.
So we’ll start with that very same courthouse which is comprised for four separate buildings. There are both indoor and outdoor venues for your ceremony here. The wedding I attended was in their very popular Mural Room. It has huge murals on the walls, and the unusual heavy leather plaited chairs serve as the seats for your guests. There is also a sunken garden outside the building, and the clock tower. There is a fee for some of the rooms and only the ceremony can be held here at the courthouse. Parking can be a problem. I drove around for almost half an hour looking for a place to park. However, there was a large arts festival in the area and that might have been part of the problem. I don’t recall any parking lots so you might ask about this when you contact them. (Visit their website at santabarbaracourthouse.org for more details.)
El Presidio Chapel, a superb reconstruction of Santa Barbara’s very first church, utilizing authentic materials and construction techniques of historic California’s Spanish Colonial architectural style is a terrific place for your wedding ceremony. Period paintings hang on the walls, there are candle sconces and it’s furnished with historical artifacts from that period. “Reredos,” (or altar piece) adorn the altar, the altar frontal and the candlesticks. The alter rail and the interior walls are painted in the style of tapestry or marble. It’s a very popular site for many of life’s celebrations other than weddings; many babies are baptized here every year. It will hold up to 200 guests and there is a reception site available outside under the shade of orchard trees. There is also a convenient parking lot nearby. (Visit santabarbara.com for more details.)
Located on historic Stearns Wharf is the Ty Warner Sea Center at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. This is a very unique site with breathtaking views of the ocean, mountains, and the picturesque Santa Barbara Harbor. It’s two story glass windows are sure to impress your guests as they walk through the entrance. This location can handle up to 75 guests and you have the option to rent it with an exhibition staff to explain the various displays. What a unique idea for a cocktail party preceding your wedding dinner. Events can only be held after the museum closes, after 5:30pm. (Check out santabarbara.com for additional information.)
Next is the Colonial style McCormick Home Ranch in nearby Camarillo. This was built in 1918 and is in a lovely country setting with lush lawns, and trees which are lit up beautifully in the evening. These gardens are available from early spring through late fall. 250 guests can be accommodated here and there is plenty of parking for your guests. There are dressing rooms for getting ready in and they have an event coordinator to help you with your planning. You can provide your own caterer, bring in private liquor and have a dance floor. (Visit weddingcelebrations.com/mccormick for more details.)
Lastly, is one of my very favorite places in all of southern California, the Fess Parker Resort. Although I’ve never stayed there, I go by on visits to walk through the grounds, have a drink and/or a meal there. I cannot imagine a more beautiful place for a wedding reception than this hotel. I love its location across from the beach, the gorgeous red tile roof, the unique public rooms, the restaurant(s) and the perfectly landscaped grounds. They have several interesting venues for both your ceremony and reception. Some are inside like the Reagan Room with its ocean views, or the Rotunda, or outside in the lovely Rose Garden or Anacapa Patio. Their catering staff can handle any size function and you and many of your out of town guests may wish to stay at the hotel. It’s also perfect for a destination wedding. There is plenty to do in the days before your big day; they have tennis courts, a garden swimming pool, a spa, Jacuzzi, complimentary water aerobics classes, putting green, shuffleboard and a concierge to provide information on activities away from the hotel itself. (Visit their website at fpdtr.com for details.)
There are many other venues in the Santa Barbara area, including wineries and other hotels. This is just a little information to get you started.
Happy wedding planning!
