The 10 Prettiest Santa Barbara Wedding Venues for an Outdoor Event
California's southern coast is one of the most beautiful places to get married outside. We're sharing some of the best Santa Barbara wedding venues to set the scene for your big day.
Santa Barbara is famous for its near-perfect weather, scenery, and Mediterranean-style architecture. If you’re getting married in the American Riviera, you can expect to find plenty of swoon-worthy Santa Barbara wedding venues that showcase the region’s natural beauty and serve as picturesque backdrops for your special day. Whether you’re dreaming of a romantic garden venue, a Tuscan-inspired private estate, or a secluded spot overlooking the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find plenty of breathtaking outdoor wedding locations along the Southern California coast—from Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria, to Ventura, Simi Valley, and beyond.
The Riviera Mansion
Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, the Riviera Mansion is a historical wedding venue that dates back to the late 19th century. It's a gorgeous example of Spanish Colonial revival architecture, with details like terracotta roof tiles, white stucco buildings, and red brick patios alongside palm trees and neatly manicured lawns. The mansion's Sola Patio is a perfect spot for mingling during cocktail hour or hosting an intimate elopement reception. If you have a larger group in attendance, the adjacent garden lawn complete with a Spanish-style fountain provides additional space. When the big day arrives, relax while getting ready in one of two dressing suites that double as beautiful backdrops for portraits. Dance floors, votive candles, chairs, table linens, and tableware are all included with your venue rental.
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Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
For the ultimate in luxury on your wedding day, say 'I do' at the Four Seasons Biltmore, located just steps from Butterfly Beach in Montecito. Choose from several stunning outdoor event spaces at this five-star resort, including the Mariposa Garden, the Escala Garden (pictured above), or La Pacifica Ballroom and Terrace, which is right on the beach with views of the Santa Ynez mountains. If you want a little (or a lot of) professional expertise while planning your wedding, the venue's in-house events team has you covered. Not only will you be paired with experts who can help you finalize all of the decorative details and logistics leading up to your wedding day, but they'll also help you create a wedding weekend itinerary filled with activities to spoil you and your guests. The best part? The resort's elegant guest rooms and private bungalows are ideal for staying overnight before your wedding, or kickstarting your honeymoon.
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Santa Barbara Historical Museum
Incorporate a piece of Santa Barbara’s past into your wedding day by getting married at this lovely open-air museum. The Adobe Courtyard (pictured) is a popular spot for ceremonies or small receptions—and we can totally see why. A wooden pergola is covered with trailing vines, creating an oh-so romantic backdrop for your outdoor Santa Barbara wedding. This venue also has a second courtyard and a 19th century adobe. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is conveniently located in downtown Santa Barbara and has a maximum capacity of 450 guests.
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Spreafico Farms
If you’re on the hunt for a rustic chic wedding venue near Santa Barbara, Spreafico Farms in San Luis Obispo is an idyllic location with amazing panoramas. Situated high on a hilltop, this venue has 360-degree views and five different wedding areas, including a historical barn with updated features and a spacious patio decorated with bistro lights. Spreafico Farms is a private estate, home to a family-owned cattle ranch and various vegetable crops. There’s also a private, two-person cottage at the venue that’s perfect for getting ready or overnight accommodations.
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Hummingbird Nest
You’ll need to travel a bit farther outside of Santa Barbara County to reach this venue, but trust us, it’s worth it! Hummingbird Nest is a sprawling 120-acre equestrian estate with Spanish-style architecture, babbling fountains, olive tree groves, and breathtaking canyon views—all adding up to one of the most gorgeous Santa Barbara outdoor wedding venues. Located in Simi Valley, it’s about 70 miles south of Santa Barbara and less than 40 miles from L.A. We can hardly put into words how stunning this venue is—from the elegant villa courtyard to the lakeside lawn, you can’t go wrong when it comes to choosing an event space at Hummingbird Nest. The venue accommodates up to 1,000 guests, with overnight rooms or “casitas” available for you and your wedding party (perfect for a destination wedding!).
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Klentner Ranch
Can’t decide between a hillside or ocean view? Klentner Ranch in Carpinteria gives you both! This 40-acre wedding venue, which is also a private polo club, is just 10 miles south of Santa Barbara. Dotted with avocado orchards, cypress trees and stone buildings, Klentner Ranch has a distinctly European feel, reminding us of properties you’d see in Provence or Tuscany (no international airfare required). An inviting guest house features stucco walls, red tile roofs, a stone patio, and pool. Klentner Ranch can accommodate up to 500 guests, and rental rates include four days of access to the property (one event day and three setup/cleanup days).
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Hartley Farms
This family-owned farm was designed to be the perfect location for your wedding day. Hartley Farms is located in Paso Robles, about two hours north of Santa Barbara in the scenic Paso Robles wine country. The wedding ceremony site at this venue features a 200-year-old oak tree as your backdrop, with amphitheater-style seating that allows for up to 350 guests. After your vows, walk down a paved pathway to the separate reception event space, an 8,000-square-foot lawn featuring a built-in dance floor surrounded by lush sycamore trees. We especially love Hartley Farms for its unique offerings: the venue only hosts 12 events per year, and you can commemorate your wedding by personalizing a stepping stone to add to the farm’s walkway. Your rental fee includes exclusive use of the venue for an entire weekend, along with two nights in the venue’s cottage, plus catering, bartending, decor, and event coordination.
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Santa Margarita Ranch
As one of California’s oldest ranches, this venue offers plenty of interesting details and historic characteristics if you’re looking for a unique wedding location. Santa Margarita Ranch dates back to the 1770s, and has played a prominent role in California’s rodeo, cattle, and railroad history. The modern-day bridal suite was once a stagecoach stop on the Wells Fargo route, and you can even tour the ranch aboard your own private steam train ride following the old Pacific Coast Railroad tracks. For weddings, the Asistencia Barn at Santa Margarita Ranch is a country chic backdrop that can host up to 700 people. The ranch also has a garden, large oak tree, and olive tree groves that make equally picturesque backdrops.
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Los Robles Greens
Couples looking for a more traditional venue option will fall in love with Los Robles Greens. This golf and country club in Thousand Oaks doubles as a full-service wedding venue, offering various, customizable packages to accommodate your exact needs. Los Robles Greens provides all of the essential wedding services, including event coordination, in-house catering/bartending, lighting, sound, decor rentals, setup/cleanup, and vendor referrals. This venue is a beautiful setting for hosting an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception—the nearby Santa Monica Mountains guarantee that you have an unforgettable view no matter where you turn. A secluded outdoor courtyard featuring Spanish Colonial details is one of the most popular wedding spaces at Los Robles Greens, but the venue also has a classic ballroom overlooking the golf course.
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Rancho Dos Pueblos
Not all Santa Barbara outdoor wedding venues have multiple backdrops to choose from, but Rancho Dos Pueblos offers beach, mountain, rustic, and garden settings. This ranch is one of the most versatile and spacious Santa Barbara wedding venues—you can get married on the beach and then host your reception at the charming whitewashed barn. There are also two guest houses on the property that can be rented out for your wedding stay. Rancho Dos Pueblos can accommodate up to 500 guests and offers optional add-on services including setup/cleanup, event rentals, and floral design.
