The 1925 earthquake gave Santa Barbara its architecture, and these venues are the evidence: a whitewashed 1782 era adobe chapel, the 1820s Casa de la Guerra, and the 1929 Courthouse the rebuild produced. Some are museums, one is an active parish, and one is a restaurant you can buy out whole.
Landmarks come with conditions. The Courthouse is ceremony only, allows acoustic music, permits no food, and stays open to the public during your vows. The Mission requires at least one Catholic partner and about six months of preparation, and the Presidio and Casa de la Guerra run outside vendor models through their trust. The trade is real: a $700 Mural Room against a resort's five figure minimum.
7 venues listed
The 1929 landmark marries you under Groesbeck's murals for $700 total, or in the Sunken Gardens for $1,200; ceremony only, acoustic music, and the building stays open to the public.
Three interconnected courtyards with fountain, pergola, and the Covarrubias Adobe, a block off De la Guerra Plaza; outdoor events to 500 guests, site fees $3,500 to $8,000, music off at 10pm.
The 1820s de la Guerra adobe courtyard just off State Street: decomposed granite underfoot, cafe lighting overhead, a prep kitchen, room for 250, and a $3,300 rental through the trust.
The whitewashed adobe chapel, 1782 era, keeps its candle sconces and musicians' balcony and seats 180 for $2,625; the Orchard, under 80 year old fruit trees, takes 250 for $1,970.
The 1786 Queen of the Missions, the only California mission with twin bell towers and still an active parish; at least one partner must be Catholic, preparation runs about six months, ceremony only.
Any officiant is welcome in the Mission style sanctuary, which seats 250 beside garden courtyards and a Parish Hall; ceremony only runs $2,500 to $4,000, and a full venue Saturday is $10,000.
A full buyout of a restored Spanish Revival villa restaurant on State Street: rooms and courtyard patios for roughly 150 to 200, Saturday rental $3,400 plus a $10,000 food and beverage minimum.
If you run a Santa Barbara County venue that belongs on this list, or you married at one we missed, send it over. Listings cost nothing.
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