Santa Barbara is an elopement destination like no other. It’s a city aptly named the American Riviera, it feels like entering a different country. It’s a very short drive from Los Angeles which makes it the perfect getaway spot for those looking to elope in the Mediterranean climate with a beautiful south facing coastline, historical buildings, and endless activities.
Those seeking to elope in Santa Barbara have no shortage of options for venues, backdrops, and accommodations. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a destination of its own with plenty of options for eloping. Its mission-like appearance and grounds blend together all of the things that make California a coastal paradise. Our how to elope in Santa Barbara guide is a great resource if you’re looking for the specific details on making your elopement wedding day come together.
Many of our couples gravitate toward Santa Barbara because it provides the best combination of beauty and accessibility. Santa Barbara is nestled along the California coastline just a short drive from Los Angeles, right off the 101. Its located along the beach and right next to the foothill of a scenic mountain. Its unique geography makes it a very comfortable location temperature wise all year round making it one of the ideal locations for an elopement AND adventuring as newlyweds as part of your honeymoon.
"Having a “traditional” wedding was our attempt to please lots of other people... Eloping allowed us to make the day truly just about us and what we both hold most dear."
-Audrey + Kate
"We want to enjoy each other's company without the stress of a showy wedding... We would like to share some time together doing what we enjoy most, going on an adventure."
-Karina + Gabriel
Hi! I’m Sienna and I was born and raised in Santa Barbara! I’ve been a professional wedding and elopement photographer since 2010. I started off my profession shooting traditional weddings where the hectic nature of a wedding taught me to quickly adapt to any situation. My love for working with couples led me to seek out a more intimate way of photographing such a sacred event for two people. So many of the couples I had worked with were happy to get married, but felt overwhelmed on their wedding day to the point that they were ready for it to be over. So, I transitioned to elopement photography where couples could focus on each other and go at their own pace!
A little about me: I have an infant son, a wonderful + supporting husband Christopher, and two kitties. I love hiking, dancing, gaming, and vegan food!
Consider me your elopement day BFF, personal trail navigator, and relationship hype woman: here to be not only your Santa Barbara elopement photographer but to help with locations, vendors, and your Santa Barbara elopement timeline but to help with locations, vendors, the planning process and your Santa Barbara elopement timeline!
Proud to be a Latina woman and LGBTQ-owned business that celebrates inclusivity + diversity.
When you consider eloping in Santa Barbara, you’re likely posed with certain questions and considerations. Where to begin?!
That’s why we’ve committed to being more than just Santa Barbara elopement photographers, we’re also here to guide you through as much of the process as you need! After all; the most important part of your day should be enjoying it with your partner.
We help you:
- Location scout (what are your “must haves” for your Santa Barbara elopement?) We help put together a list of spots for you to choose from!
- Create a timeline for your elopement day
- Navigate any permits and laws surrounding your big day
- Find an officiant (or handle the officiant paperwork for you)
- Source vendors like hair, makeup, florists, where to stay, and more
- Answer any and all questions about eloping!
We are dedicated to helping you create the perfect elopement day in Santa Barbara. We’ve helped couples live out their dream weddings with our passion for documenting love stories, hiking experience, and invaluable knowledge that comes with being in the world of eloping! That leaves you and your partner to enjoy an effortless day to focus on yourselves adventuring together, and let us capture your Santa Barbara elopement in a way that truly showcases your love.
We believe in keeping things simple. Our pricing and packages reflect this approach and help us to ensure that each couple gets the same level of care without upselling you on a package by package level of pricing.
We always offer two photographers, all edited images with print rights (with no limits on how many images we deliver), personalized location suggestions, vendor recommendations, and support through the whole process. To see a full breakdown of our pricing and our most frequently asked questions, you can find that on our FAQ & investment page.
We have been fortunate enough to shoot the most scenic areas of Santa Barbara and when we work with you + your partner, we are so stoked to share all the hidden gems with you! But for those just beginning your journey, here are some of the top places in Santa Barbara to consider for your wedding day!
Eloping at the Santa Barbara Courthouse is one of the most popular choices because of its unique architecture, lush grounds, and variety of backdrops on the property. Those wanting to incorporate the grounds have plenty of spots to choose from, and we know all the best spots. There’s beautiful plants, mission style architecture, and views from the top of the courthouse clock.
Couples wanting to have a more intimate experience with guests can book the mural room. The mural room is covered from floor to ceiling in a mural painting showing the foundation of Santa Barbara. The church type room has ornate chandeliers, rows of bench seating, and large windows for beautiful natural light.
Santa Barbara has the largest south-facing coastline on the west coast, aside from Alaska, which makes it a unique experience for a beach trip compared with the rest of the coast. Picking the right beach vibes for your elopement is where we can step in and share our favorite hidden gems for a more intimate elopement wedding day. With beautiful sunrises and sunsets make for such idyllic pictures that make the quintessential Santa Barbara experience.
Eloping in the nature and surrounding areas of Santa Barbara can make for beautiful photographs. The Santa Barbara mission gardens can make for a great backdrop. Moving toward the Santa Ynez Mountains there are several trails that take you into overlooks that provide stunning views of Santa Barbara, the coast, and surrounding nature.
There are also plenty of options to include other serene, scenic spots or unique hidden gems that we reserve specifically for our couples. With our guidance we can even provide you tons of out of the box ideas like 4 seater bike rentals for a trip along the coast, the best hotels, and activities for any time of the year.
Check out some of our most recent elopements on our blog. Read about the adventures of our couples, how we made the day happen, and gather some inspiration for your own elopement!
I know, I know…you might expect a Santa Barbara elopement photographer to be biased. But as someone who has planned a wedding, scrapped it all and opted to elope, I can honestly say that it’s the way to go.
Like many other brides I had to weigh the cost, logistics, and invitation list that haunts every couple who considers having a more traditional wedding. The stress and burden of planning such a large event, even with help from friends and family, can be more than feels intuitive. And we’re here to let you know that if you’re deciding to elope, you’ve made a great decision!
You may have questions like:
How do I tell family and friends I’m eloping?
That’s why we have an elopement resource page dedicated to answering those questions and more! If you’re ready to get started on your journey or have questions of your own about elopement planning, let’s chat!