Photo credit: Larissa Cleveland, courtesy of Rosewood Miramar Beach
Over the years, socialites, movie stars, presidents and more have flocked to The American Riviera® to tie the knot. From the city’s coastline and bustling downtown to its luxury resorts and renowned vineyards, Santa Barbara offers numerous settings for a celeb-status celebration.
Here are some of the top celebrity wedding venues in Santa Barbara and how you, too, can have the VIP wedding of your dreams.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Before jetting to Portofino, Italy for a celebration that nearly broke the internet, Kourtney Kardashian and Blink-182’s Travis Barker legally married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in May 2022. The historic Spanish-Moorish-style building has borne witness to the nuptials of many other notable names, including Vice President Kamala Harris and her groom, Doug Emhoff. Couples can exchange vows in the main building (particularly in the visually stunning Mural Room!) or in one of the surrounding garden and lawn areas, which can accommodate anywhere from 15 to 250 guests.
Other Famous Celebrity Weddings: Justine Marjan and Yoni Berk; Jane Lynch and Jennifer Cheyne; Jessica Batten and Ben McGrath
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
The epitome of luxury and tranquility, it’s no wonder that many famous faces have chosen The Ritz Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara for their destination wedding. Most recently, everyone was abuzz about Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying and partner Mark Manio’s glitzy black-tie ceremony. The couple had previously visited the area for Manio’s birthday and knew there was no better place than The Ritz-Carlton Bacara to share and celebrate their love. Here, couples can exchange vows against the backdrop of the immense Pacific Ocean or opt for the lavish Bacara Ballroom, whose gilt-framed mirrors and dazzling chandeliers create an atmosphere of coastal-Cali extravagance.
Other Famous Celebrity Weddings: Skyler Shaye and Christian Lopez; Marielle Scott and Ryan Bergara; Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli
San Ysidro Ranch
Tucked in the foothills of Southern California’s wine country, San Ysidro Ranch has served as a hideaway for celebrities, from authors to movie stars, for more than a century. It was here that film legends Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh exchanged midnight wedding vows and where Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger said “I do” in 2018. Surrounded by vine-covered cottages, citrus groves, olive trees and the sweet smell of jasmine, this little slice of paradise is what Hollywood fairytales are made of. Whether you’re having a large celebration or intimate gathering with your closest friends and families, San Ysidro Ranch offers you and your person everything you need to fill the leading roles on your biggest day.
Other Famous Celebrity Weddings: Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson; Lily Aldridge and Caleb Followill; Gwenyth Paltrow and Chris Martin
Rosewood Miramar Beach
Equal parts exclusive, alluring and breathtaking, the Rosewood Miramar Beach, a Forbes triple five-star property, is an icon in its own right. When YouTube celebrity Gigi Lazzarto and Nats Getty, model and goddaughter of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, tied the knot in the summer of 2019, Miramar Beach was an obvious choice. The property’s great lawn, laden with blooming floral arrangements, provided plenty of ceremonial space for their 200-plus guest list, which included names like Caitlyn Jenner and Bonnie McKee, while the opulent ballroom, complete with 12 Baccarat chandeliers, kept the night going until well past midnight. Though your big day might not be as star-studded, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a page of People when hosting your wedding at the Rosewood Miramar Beach.
Other Famous Celebrity Weddings: Heather Rae and Tarek El Moussa
Sunstone Winery
With its sun-dappled courtyard, lavender-filled landscape and lush, 28-acre vineyard, it comes as no surprise that Sunstone Winery has been a desired destination for celebrity weddings. The villa’s Tuscan-inspired architecture and elegant ambiance paired perfectly with Orange County sweetheart Lauren Conrad and William Tell’s timeless, boho-chic aesthetic while the wine caves offered a unique club-like venue for Anna Camp and Skylar Astin’s after party. At Sunstone Winery, your guests will be transported to the French countryside, offering a special opportunity to have a Euro-destination wedding close to home.
Other Famous Celebrity Weddings: Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams; JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers; Kelly Olynyk and Jackie McNulty
