How to Get Married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

white spanish style courthouse behind a row of palm trees

Santa Barbara Courthouse is one of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous courthouses where you can be married. I have shot full weddings and small civil ceremonies/elopements in which the couples have come in from Canada, the east coast, and even England! The architecture celebrates the city’s Spanish heritage, the building is filled with natural sunlight, grand open hallways, and you can walk around the grounds for over an hour and get so many photo ops that you’ll feel like your photos were taken at 10 different locations.

I absolutely love the intimacy of civil ceremonies a.k.a elopements and I want to help couples make it easier to sort through all the information. So I’ve put together this blogpost specifically for couples wanting to elope and to hopefully make this an easier process for them. A few of the same questions keep popping up, so I wanted to put all the information in one place and create a handy guide for you all. I’ve answered the most frequently asked questions below, but if you have any unanswered questions after this, please ask me in the comments, and I’ll do my best to help you out! And, of course, I hope you consider me to capture your day!

Mexican couple reading wedding vows to each other and kissing

What are my options?

You can have a civil ceremony (commonly referred to as an elopement in which a county clerk performs the ceremony) or a private ceremony (in which you hire your own officiant to perform the ceremony).

Monday through Friday:

You can have a civil ceremony performed at a pre-determined appointment by a county clerk. At time of writing this, it has been limited to 8 guests, 1 which includes your photographer.
If you plan on having a bigger guest list yet still performed by a county clerk, then prior to the ceremony date you must reserve an area of the Sunken Gardens or the Mural Room. You will need reservation confirmation of one of these locations before you can set an appointment with the clerk’s office. To reserve either of these locations, see #3 below.
If you plan to have a private ceremony, it is best to get your marriage license prior to your ceremony date. You can have your ceremony at any of the designated free areas of the courthouse or your can reserve an area of the Sunken Gardens or Mural Room. To reserve either of these locations, see #3 below. You will need to hire an officiant to perform your ceremony unless you have a friend/family member who wants to get ordained or deputized for the day in order to officiate.

Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday and Sunday the County Clerk office is closed so you will have to obtain your marriage license prior to your ceremony date.
You can have your ceremony at any of the designated free areas of the courthouse or your can reserve an area of the Su nken Gardens or Mural Room. The free areas are ideal for 20 or less guests.
You will need to hire an officiant to perform your ceremony unless you have a friend/family member who wants to get ordained or deputized for the day in order to officiate.

-Pricing for the Sunken Gardens can be viewed here:

https://www.countyofsb.org/1065/Courthouse-Garden-Weddings

-Pricing for the Mural Room can be viewed here when they’re accepting reservations again:

https://www.countyofsb.org/1066/Courthouse-Mural-Room-Weddings

Mexican couple posing for wedding photos inside Santa Barbara Courthouse.

How much does it cost to have a civil ceremony at Santa Barbara Courthouse?

The marriage license itself is $100, to reserve the civil ceremony time slot is $23, and the actual cost of the civil ceremony is $104, on-premises. However, if you need to use either the Sunken Gardens or Mural Room the cost will be $116. Please note, that in addition to the $116 you will pay to the county clerk, there will be a separate payment you will make to the Parks & Recreation to reserve one of these locations. Fee will be determined on the specific location you choose.

How do we get a marriage license?

You can get your license up to 90 days before the ceremony date (keep in mind, licenses are only valid for 90 days). Start the online process here. You can obtain your license in another county and bring it to the Santa Barbara County Clerk office.

You do not have to be a California or United States resident or citizen (yay for international elopements!). Both parties must be present and have legal photo identification. Once you’ve made your appointment for your marriage license, you’ll pick it up from the County Clerk’s office on the first floor located at the corner of Anacapa and Anapamu Streets.

For the full legal guidelines, go here.

Helpful Hints: I suggest that if you are having a private and bigger ceremony, then get your marriage license before your big wedding day. Who wants to be filling out paperwork that morning when you should be drinking champagne with your wedding party?? Yet, for a small civil ceremony I suggest just doing it all in one appointment.

Bride and groom signing marriage license in the Hall of Records of Santa Barbara Courthouse

I’m having a civil ceremony, when should I make an appointment?

If you plan on obtaining your marriage license the same day as your ceremony, the paperwork portion will take about 30 minutes before the ceremony. If you already have your license and just need the civil ceremony, then the paperwork signing will take about 15-20 minutes.

Helpful Hints:Appointments can be made up to 90 days in advance, so if you want to get married on a popular date or time (Friday afternoons are most popular), make sure you book your appointments as soon as you can. Also, there is a grace period of 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, you will have to reschedule your appointment.

bride and groom signing marriage license paperwork in the Hall of Records of Santa Barbara Courthouse

Do we need to bring witnesses?

For a public marriage license, you only need one witness, and you can have two sign your marriage license. For confidential marriages, you don’t need a witness (more info here on the difference between public and confidential marriages) Your photographer can absolutely sign as your witness (it’s always an honor to be asked!). Bring your witness(es) with you to your ceremony appointment.

Where will the civil ceremony be performed?

Usually, for a civil ceremony of 8 guests or less, you can have the ceremony performed inside the Hall of Records on the second floor mezzanine, overlooking the balcony. But currently, only outside the Hall of Records archway door, framed by palm trees and looking out into the Sunken Gardens is available. For an additional fee, and if you have made prior reservations with either the Parks Department , you can have the ceremony performed in an area of the Sunken Gardens or the Mural Room. You will pay a $116 fee to the County Clerk in additional to the fee that you will pay to Parks & Recreation Department. The county clerk will ask to see a copy of your reservation before performing the ceremony.

Caucasian bride and groom taking portraits with their wedding rings.

Who will marry us?

This is the big decision. Do you want to have a civil ceremony performed by the county clerk or hire your own officiant to seal the deal? Head here to check out my pros and cons list of which path to take.

There are a number of judges/justices of the peace who rotate performing civil ceremonies. All the ones I’ve met have been lovely and wonderful. If you’re having a private ceremony, here is a list of officiants I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside over the years.

Nanette McIntyre

Patrice Handley

How many guests can we bring?

For civil ceremonies inside, you’re allowed 8 guests. However, if you have your ceremony outside, the number of guests isn’t set in stone as long as they don’t overflow into other areas of the Sunken Gardens. If you have over 8 guests I would recommend reviewing the options of the Sunken Gardens or the Mural Room see which area would better suit your guest count.

For private ceremonies, same as above in which you would reserve an area of the Sunken Gardens or Mural Room that would best serve your guest count.

Officiant preforming wedding ceremony at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

Is there parking nearby the Santa Barbara Courthouse?

Yes! Directly across the street from the Anacapa St. entrance is a four level parking garage – 75 minutes free and $1.50 for each hour after that.

What is the best day/time to get married there?

Civil ceremonies on Fridays tend to book earlier than the other weekdays. And, of course, Saturdays and Sundays are very popular for private ceremonies. So booking your appointment sooner than later is always ideal in order to get your desired time slot.

Bride and groom sitting in the Mural Room and kissing at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

How much does it cost to have you come shoot our Courthouse civil ceremony?

I have 5 packages tailored specifically for couples having micro weddings performed at Santa Barbara Courthouse, starting at $500. You can view them in full detail here! For full-coverage weddings, packages start at $3000. Get a quote HERE!

Do you have any specific spots at the Courthouse that you like shooting in?

There are so many gorgeous spots in the building (and outside it!) that each photo session can differ. Below are some of my favorite areas and by no means are they the only places!