There are so many ways to make an elopement feel like you, and Danielle and Don’s intimate Santa Barbara elopement is such a good example of that. They brought 17 of their closest people together for a day that included a courthouse ceremony, time exploring Santa Barbara, private vows along the coastline, and an intimate dinner to end the night. And this one was extra special for me because Danielle is my best friend! She was my maid of honor, so getting to be there for her and photograph this day was something I’ll never forget!

Starting Their Intimate Santa Barbara Elopement Together

Danielle and Don stayed at the cutest bed and breakfast tucked into Santa Barbara. Even though it was right in the city, the gardens made it feel like its own little escape. The staff truly took care of them, from breakfast and champagne to giving them an extra room for the morning so they could get ready separately before their first look. Danielle spent the morning with her mom, sipping bubbles and having breakfast before hair and makeup arrived. Finding someone who specialized in natural curls and makeup was really important to her, and she found the perfect person for it.

And then there was her dress!! Danielle found her wedding dress at a vintage shop in Santa Monica, and it fit the entire feel of the day so perfectly. Once they were both ready, we set up their first look outside their cottage and spent some time wandering through the gardens before heading into town to meet everyone for the ceremony.

A Santa Barbara Courthouse Ceremony & Time to Explore

Their families met us at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, and you could immediately feel how excited everyone was. Danielle and Don took care of their marriage license before heading outside for their ceremony on the lawn with everyone gathered around them. Fun little detail: they ended up being their officiant’s final ceremony before she moved, which made an already memorable moment even more unique. Afterward, we stayed on the lawn for family photos before the three of us headed off to explore.

And there is so much to work with here for photos. We wandered through the courthouse, visited the Mural Room, explored the spiral staircase, and made our way up to the clock tower for views over Santa Barbara. Between the tile, arches, warm interiors, gardens, and Spanish-style architecture, you can get so much variety without having to travel all over the city.

Private Coastline Vows & An Intimate Santa Barbara Elopement Dinner

After the courthouse, Danielle and Don traded the city for the coast and had some time that was completely theirs. They exchanged private vows overlooking the water and took in the last bit of sunset together before we headed back to meet their family. I love that they chose to have both experiences, the excitement of celebrating with everyone they love and a quiet part of the day where they could just focus on each other.

Everyone met back up at Bouchon for an intimate private dinner, complete with champagne, toasts, lots of laughter, and a coursed meal that was so good. And the wedding cake absolutely deserved its own moment. It was such a fun way to end the day without needing a traditional reception. Santa Barbara works incredibly well for this kind of elopement because you can have the courthouse, coastline, incredible restaurants, gardens, hiking trails, and city all within one trip. You could even add something like a sunset champagne cruise, a vintage car ride, or a private beach picnic and make an entire weekend out of it.

Planning Your Own Intimate Santa Barbara Elopement? Let’s Chat!

Christina Perhac Photo | Adventurous California Elopement Photographer

Danielle and Don’s day is such a reminder that an elopement doesn’t have to mean choosing between an intimate experience and having your favorite people there. You can have both! Whether that looks like a courthouse ceremony followed by private vows on the coast, dinner with your family, or an entire weekend exploring Santa Barbara, there’s so much room to make the experience your own. If you’re dreaming up an intimate Santa Barbara elopement and want a day that gives you space to celebrate with your people and have an adventure together, I’d love to help you bring all of those pieces together and photograph it along the way. Head to my contact page so we can chat about the ideas you have! If you want to learn more about me and what I do, click here. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Vendors

Dinner: Bouchon
Hotel: Simpson House Inn
Hair: @andreavilla_hair
Cake: @crushcakescafe
Dress: @thehighlinevintage