There are some wedding days that just beg to be photographed on film, and Aditi and Ben’s Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding was absolutely one of them! They are both film fanatics, and Ben works with film and Super 8 quite a bit himself, so when they reached out to us a few months before their small civil ceremony, they already knew they wanted to lean into it. Their day was photographed partially on film with Super 8 rolling throughout, and it was such a fun combination for their wedding!

This was such a dream shoot for us. Not only was this an out-of-state wedding, but it was at the Santa Barbara Courthouse! The Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, tiled details, gardens, and all of the different spaces gave us so much to work with. I could have photographed here all day.

Aditi and Ben booked us for three hours, which gave us plenty of time to explore the courthouse, photograph their ceremony and family photos, and then head over to the Funk Zone for their reception. Their day was intimate, relaxed, and completely focused on spending time with the people they love most.

Portraits at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

We met Aditi and Ben about an hour before their ceremony to photograph their couple portraits around the courthouse. If you want to explore the property and get a good variety of photos, I think an hour is a really solid amount of time. You have enough room to wander without making portraits feel like the entire day revolves around taking photos.

And there is SO much to explore. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is filled with Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, beautiful arches, tiled floors, gardens, and little corners that photograph completely differently from one another. You can move around the property and get a ton of variety without needing to drive anywhere.

For couples who love film photography, this place is especially fun. All of the texture, natural light, architecture, and greenery photograph beautifully on film, and we had Super 8 rolling throughout their day, too.

Their Sunken Garden Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding Ceremony

Aditi and Ben chose the Sunken Garden for their ceremony, and I completely understand why. The garden is an open space, so other people can potentially see what’s happening, but it still feels tucked away from the rest of the courthouse. With all of the greenery and surrounding architecture, it gives you that intimate ceremony experience without needing a completely private venue.

They also chose to have Aditi’s cousin officiate instead of having a judge, which made the ceremony feel even more personal. Their closest family and friends were there to watch them exchange vows, and that was really all they needed.

If you’re planning your own Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding and want to bring guests, there are a few logistics to keep in mind. You’ll need to provide your own chairs and decor for the ceremony, so Aditi and Ben hired a rental company to take care of the chairs for them. It was one less thing for them to worry about on the wedding day!

Their ceremony was small, personal, and not overly formal, which fit them perfectly.

Family Portraits After the Ceremony

After Aditi and Ben exchanged vows, we jumped right into family and friend photos.

Since they were having a smaller wedding, this part went pretty quickly. There wasn’t a huge family photo list or a massive wedding party to organize, so we were able to capture the important group photos and get right back to celebrating.

That’s one of my favorite things about small weddings. You aren’t spending half the day trying to organize a giant group of people. Instead, you get to spend more time actually hanging out with the people who came to celebrate with you.

A Casual Reception in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone

The final hour of Aditi and Ben’s Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding took us over to Brass Bear in the Funk Zone for their reception.

One of the things I love about planning a smaller wedding in Santa Barbara is how easy it is to build a day with multiple locations. You can have your ceremony at the courthouse, take portraits around the property, and then head somewhere nearby for food and drinks without turning the entire day into a transportation schedule.

Their reception was outdoors, which worked perfectly with the weather. There wasn’t a huge reception timeline or a long list of traditions to get through. Everyone could grab food, hang out, and enjoy the afternoon together.

There wasn’t a first dance or a round of speeches, and they didn’t need either one. They did cut some cake, though, and honestly, that was more than enough!

Their wedding wasn’t about trying to recreate a traditional wedding on a smaller scale. They picked the parts that actually mattered to them and left everything else behind. That’s exactly what I love about intimate weddings.

Planning Your Own Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding?

A Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding is such a fun option for couples who want a beautiful California wedding without planning a huge traditional celebration. You get an incredible place for your ceremony and portraits, plus you’re close to restaurants and other fun spots around Santa Barbara for the rest of the day.

And if you’re a film lover, even better. The architecture, gardens, and natural light give you so many opportunities for photos that feel nostalgic and a little cinematic.

As a destination wedding and elopement photographer based in Las Vegas, we LOVE traveling for intimate weddings and elopements like this one. Aditi and Ben gave us the perfect excuse to head to Santa Barbara, and we’re always happy to pack our bags and follow our couples somewhere new!

Whether you’re planning a small civil ceremony at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, an intimate destination wedding, or something that looks completely different from a traditional wedding, we’d love to be there to document it. Get in touch and let’s start dreaming up your day!