Though Santa Barbara is known for many an attraction, visitors and locals alike seem to be drawn down to its sandy shores. For those searching for the perfect wedding venue, a beach in Santa Barbara feels pretty close to a no-brainer but you may be wondering “Can you get married on the beach in Santa Barbara?” (If You are not into a toes-in-the-sand experience, click here for unique ocean-view locations, and wedding venues.) If you are…keep reading….

Something about the atmosphere evokes romance at its most basic level; couples that are looking to host more rustic, bohemian, or laid-back nuptials feel that the beach encapsulates everything. Well, we’re here to tell you emphatically, YES! You can get married on the beach in Santa Barbara!

To take a deeper dive into the best beach wedding locations in the city, a listen to our podcast episode on the subject by clicking here! Or, search for the Santa Barbara Wedding Style Podcast on your preferred streaming service (hint: the beachfront destination talk is episode 11).

So, now you might be wondering what *are* the pros of having a beach wedding?

First, let’s start with the most important question - Do you need a permit to get married on the beach in Santa Barbara?

The answer is YES! You are required to get a Santa Barbara beach wedding permit, so plan ahead. It's a simple process through the City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department, information can be found HERE.

 A Beautiful, Boho Backdrop

The sounds of the rolling waves, the feel of the warm sun, the idea that the ocean behind stretches out across the world… what’s not to fall in love with? For the majority of the year, Santa Barbara has beautiful, clear weather that begets an idyllic beach setting. Amazing venues such as the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort and Mar Monte Hotel - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt balances the excitement and romance of the beach with the convenience and comfort of an indoor-outdoor event space.

You can host your ceremony on the sand before retreating to these just-off-the-shore locations for some drinks, bites, and dancing. Your beach set-up can be as creative or minimalistic as you’d like, as it’s essentially a blank canvas for personalized décor.

Photo 1 by Michelle Beller Photography | Photo 2 by Michelle Ramirez Photography

Warm & Breezy Weather

If you’re eyeing a late spring to a fall wedding, your chances of getting plenty of sun (plus that nice, refreshing breeze off the ocean) are quite good. This type of weather—especially if you select an early morning or golden hour ceremony time—is excellent for a wide variety of floral arrangements and adornments. Speaking of golden hour, the warmth of the locale makes for incredible wedding photos. The beach will allow you to host an outdoor wedding while having confidence your guests will feel comfortable in the climate.

Photo by Peterson Design & Photography

A Built-In Wedding Motif

Anyone who’s planned a wedding knows that designing your day should be considered an Olympic sport. A beach setting not only provides a “theme” (Nautical? Beachy? A combo of both?), but a great excuse for focused décor. The backdrop is stunning, so employing the talents of Santa Barbara’s best wedding planners (Events by M and M are a fave for beach events), themed rentals, and lighting/drapery experts will help you create the aesthetic you’re craving without having to go overboard (pun intended).

Photo 1 by Rewind Photography | Photo 2 by Anna Delores Photography

Things to Remember When Hosting a Beach Wedding

One Word: Sand

Anakin Skywalker was right about one thing—it does, in fact, get everywhere. For most beach venues, it’s difficult to set up a walkway from solid ground to your altar, which means that guests will probably have to walk on sand to reach their seats. Denoting shoe choice (or the choice not to wear shoes) for your guests is vital. Creating a ‘sand dusting and shoe station’ is a perfectly suitable and thoughtful option for your guests as well. While you’re at it, you could even provide flip flops for those that wish to save their maybe not-so-sand-friendly footwear they selected for the day. Sand is perfect for a normal beach day, but formal events on the shore can easily cause problems if you’re not prepared—additionally, remember to check with the physical limitations of all guests before booking a beach wedding!

Photo by Renoda Campbell Photography

Little Chance of Sun Relief

While “warm and breezy” will likely be your wedding-day vibe, you may be saddling your guests with some uninterrupted sun-tanning time… whether they’re into the idea or not. You may want to rent umbrellas or consider professional overhead draping over the ceremony space. Another option would be to invest in some parasols/sunglasses/hats for your friends and family. We absolutely recommend coordinating with your caterer or bar service to create a dynamic refreshment station for your guests. There are cooling options galore nowadays, but it’s important to make sure all of your guests can withstand the heat—time to cut down that ceremony!

Photo by Rewind Photography

It’s (likely) a Public Space

While this may seem like troublesome to some, wedding planners have assistants to ensure a smooth ceremony and keep onlookers from interfering. Additionally, talking to your photographer about your desire to keep the swimsuit-clad audience out of the background of your images is also a good idea!

Photo by Kristen Booth Photography

By: Megan Simpson