For a civil ceremony, the typical option is a 60-minute appointment, during which you get your marriage license and have the ceremony performed immediately thereafter. Alternately, if you’ve already applied your marriage license less than 90 days before your desired ceremony date, you can make a 30-minute appointment for just the ceremony to be performed. The ceremony is performed by a Deputy Marriage Commissioner (provided by the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office). The non-refundable appointment reservation fee is $23.

You can make an appointment for a civil ceremony performed by the Deputy Marriage Commissioner up to 90 days in advance; reserve your appointment as early in advance as possible in order to secure your ideal date and time!

For a civil ceremony at the Hall of Records, you are now permitted to have up to fifteen (15) people, including your photographer; review the county website for additional guidance on what is (and is not) permitted for civil ceremonies.

A private ceremony gives you more flexibility in terms of who will officiate the ceremony (you can choose your own officiant instead of having a Deputy Marriage Commissioner). You’ll need to obtain your marriage license ahead of time, but you can still invite up to 15 guests AND you’re able to pick a weekend date (weekends are not available for civil ceremonies).

If you opt for a private ceremony, you’ll also need to secure your own officiant. Check FAQ question 8 for our recommended officiants! 

Ceremonies with fewer than 15 guests can get hitched at your choice of eight (8) exterior locations at the Courthouse, but these locations can’t be reserved (they are designated as A-H on the map below and are “first come, first served”).

For a civil ceremony at the Hall of Records, up to 15 people are permitted, including your photographer.

Private ceremonies with fewer than 15 guests can use one of the Courthouse’s designated outdoor ceremony locations on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you’re planning to have more than 15 guests, you’ll need to reserve either the Courthouse Gardens or the Mural Room.

Yes, but you’ll need to have a private ceremony with your own officiant. Civil ceremonies performed by the County are not available on weekends.

For a small private ceremony, you can choose from the designated outdoor locations around the Courthouse. Weddings with more than 15 people in attendance require a reservation for the Gardens or Mural Room.

No. Your marriage license can be issued by any County Clerk’s office in California as long as you’re getting married in California.

That means you can obtain your license closer to home before traveling to Santa Barbara if that makes your wedding-day plans easier.

Yes. If you schedule the appropriate civil ceremony appointment, you can obtain your marriage license and have your ceremony performed during the same visit.

If you already have a valid California marriage license, you can instead schedule a ceremony-only appointment.

Civil ceremony appointments can be scheduled up to 90 days in advance. Popular dates and times can fill, so it’s worth booking as soon as your preferred date becomes available.

It depends on which type of ceremony you choose!

For a civil ceremony, the County provides a Deputy Marriage Commissioner to perform your ceremony.

For a private ceremony, you’ll need to arrange your own legally authorized officiant. If you need a recommendation, we love:

For a standard public marriage license, you’ll need at least one witness, and your witness should bring valid identification.

A witness is not required for a confidential marriage license.

And yes—if you’re eloping without guests, your photographer may be able to serve as your witness!

For a civil ceremony—or an appointment to obtain your marriage license—you’ll generally want to bring valid government-issued identification, your required payment, and a witness with identification if your license requires one.

You can also bring your rings if you’re exchanging them and personal vows if you’d like to read them. Keep in mind that a Deputy Marriage Commissioner isn’t required to incorporate personal vows into a civil ceremony, so it’s worth asking ahead of time. You can always exchange them privately afterward.

There are separate fees for your appointment, marriage license and ceremony, and costs can change over time. The County maintains an up-to-date list of current marriage fees, so check the official fee schedule while planning rather than relying on an older wedding guide.

You can bring personal vows, but a Deputy Marriage Commissioner is not required to include them as part of the official civil ceremony. It never hurts to ask.

Another beautiful option is to complete the legal ceremony first and then find a quiet spot around the Courthouse to exchange your personal vows privately. This also gives you a little more time and space to slow down and enjoy the moment together.

Absolutely. One of the reasons the Santa Barbara Courthouse is such a wonderful place for an elopement or intimate wedding is the variety of portrait locations in a very small area. The Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, archways, staircases, tiled details, gardens and surrounding grounds give you plenty of variety without needing to travel between locations.

Even if your ceremony itself is short, it’s worth setting aside additional time before or afterward to explore the Courthouse and make portraits together.

Parking is available on the streets around the Courthouse or in City Lot #7, which is the structure at 1115 Anacapa Street. Street parking is a limit of 75 minutes; in City Lot #7, the first 75 minutes in the city lot are free, and then it’s $3.00 per hour.

Once you’ve parked, check in at the Hall of Records on the corner of Anacapa and Anapamu Streets.