Three of our favorite Santa Barbara venues.
Looking into the reception at Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm.
We’ll be honest–
Simply by being in Santa Barbara, you’re already ahead of the game in terms of event space options.
That being said, we do have our fair share of great venues to choose from.
As days get longer and days stay warm, we love taking advantage of the great outdoors and all the views that Santa Barbara offers.
These three outdoor venues not only look great, they also make an effortless transition from day to night, especially when it comes to the dance floor.
Bride and groom make their way to through the museum courtyard.
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is downtown on De la Guerra Street, and is one of Santa Barbara’s most recognizable buildings with that classic old Spanish charm that we all know and love. Open and airy, it has a rustic, easy going feel that is so quintessentially Santa Barbara.
The classic SB architecture makes the perfect backdrop for photos.
Our suggestion: pair this venue with live, Spanish guitarist during your ceremony and your guests will be completely transported.
This space is one that makes you feel like you’re in another world while keeping you nestled right in the heart of downtown! This makes it easy for guests to keep the party going l o n g after the sound cuts off at the venue (10pm) because there are tons of great afterparty spots and bars within walking distance.
Space for the ceremony, dinner, and dancing.
One great plus: the smaller and larger courtyards are separate, which allows the party-goers and the party-throwers to create and experience multiple different “chapters” within one space, all while leaving plenty of space for dinner and dancing. Somehow this space is both intimate and spacious.
Throw up some string lights, invite a crowd who loves to dance, and this space is good to go.
Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm is hands down one of the most “blank canvas” venues in Santa Barbara area.
Although we’ve DJ’d our fair share at Dos Pueblos, we’ve never seen two events or weddings that look or feel alike– every single one is wildly unique. If you’re looking a venue that allows you to add your own signature ~ flair ~ to an event space, this is definitely the place for you!
While the space definitely offers room to be customized and stylized down to a tee, it also brings a TON of personality to the table in and of itself.
Our favorite weddings at Dos Pueblos typically utilize the indoor greenhouse space for cocktail hour, and use the more spacious, open floor plan greenhouse as a reception space.
What’s more, the bluffs at Dos Pueblos overlook the beach, and make for the perfect ceremony space. Surprisingly enough, there are few venues in Santa Barbara that boast ocean views for the ceremony, and this detail really sets this space apart.
One small (but important!) tech detail to note:
There is no power at this venue, so we rely on our battery-powered (silent and small) generator to make things run smoothly.
In the not-so-distant past, it seemed that everyone was getting married in a barn somewhere in the middle of no where.
Thankfully those days seem to be behind us (fingers crossed).
And just what is our take on the ideal wedding venue, you might be wondering?
You heard it here first:
Hotel weddings, assuming they’re top notch, are actually where it’s at.
A perfect ceremony space.
That can double as a reception space!
I am probably not telling you anything you' don’t already know, but the Belmond has fabulous locations all over the world, and we’re lucky enough to enjoy one of them right here in Santa Barbara. The Belmond El Encanto is the epitome of understated elegance, and the effortlessness that SB brings elevates the space even further.
Other Santa Barbara hotel’s that make great venues: Hotel Californian, The Rosewood Miramar & Pali House.