FAQ

Getting Married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

How do we apply for a marriage license?

Start by completing the online application on the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder’s website. Then both partners must appear in person within 7 days with valid photo ID to finalize and sign the license.

Do we need an appointment to get the license?

No appointment is required. Marriage licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How long is the license valid?

Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it’s issued.

What are the current fees?

• Public Marriage License: $100

• Confidential Marriage License: $111

• Civil Ceremony (by Deputy Commissioner): $104

• Ceremony Reservation Fee: $23

What identification do we need?

Each person must bring a valid, government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID card.

Do we need a witness?

For a public marriage license, at least one witness is required. For a confidential marriage license, no witness is needed.

How many guests can attend a courthouse ceremony?

Civil ceremonies held at the Hall of Records courtyard allow up to 8 guests total, including your photographer.

Can we bring our own officiant?

Yes. You can hold a private ceremony anywhere on courthouse grounds with your own officiant—no county appointment is needed, but you must bring your valid marriage license.

How long does the ceremony take?

Civil ceremonies performed by the County Clerk usually last between 5 and 10 minutes.

Can we reserve a larger space?

Yes. Larger ceremonies can be held in areas such as the Sunken Gardens or Mural Room, which can be reserved through the County Parks Division. Fees vary depending on the space and group size.

How can we make our courthouse wedding feel special?

Many couples choose to hire a photographer, florist, or small planning team to make the day feel personal while keeping the relaxed courthouse charm.

Your photographer will meet you at the Hall of Records to capture the moment you sign your paperwork. From there we’ll head outside for a short ceremony near the Sunken Garden, usually about 20 minutes. After the ceremony we’ll take family photos in a nice spot depending on the light and weather. Once those are wrapped up we’ll wander around the courthouse for portraits of just the two of you.

Most couples find that about an hour and a half is just enough time to cover all of these basics without feeling rushed. If you have more planned for your day we can absolutely stay longer. Some couples like photos of getting ready before the ceremony, others want us to join for a brunch or small reception afterward, and some prefer coverage of everything from start to finish. We have options to fit whatever feels right for you.

If you’ve reserved the entire Sunken Garden or the Mural Room, things work a little differently. Larger reservations like these require more coordination and usually a little extra time built into your timeline for arriving, getting settled, and moving between spaces. We’ll help guide you through what that looks like so the day flows smoothly and you know exactly when to show up and what to expect.

Lock in your photographer as soon as you pick a date! Our busiest months are April to November, and we keep our schedule light to give you all the love and attention you deserve.

For elopements at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, we make it a priority to get your photos back quickly. Most couples receive their edited gallery within two to four weeks of the wedding day. Full-day weddings that include both photography and video take a bit more time, usually about six to eight weeks, since there’s more storytelling involved.

When your gallery is ready, you’ll receive it as an online album through our website. You’ll be able to share the link with family and friends, and they can download the photos directly too. Just remember to save them to your computer or hard drive, as the album will only stay active for 30 days.

We aim to deliver at least 100 edited photos per hour of shooting. While we can’t promise an exact number, we strive to capture as many unique images as possible, ensuring every meaningful detail of your elopement day is covered.

Feeling camera-shy? No worries! Our documentary style means we capture real moments as they happen. The laughter, the happy tears, the magic of your love story—all unfold naturally without stiff poses or forced smiles. We'll guide you just enough to keep you comfy, but most of the time, you won't even notice the camera. And for posed shots, we'll give you natural prompts or playful cues so it feels easy and genuine, and the end result looks true to you.

Photo books and prints are available as optional extras and can be purchased either through your online album once the photos are delivered or by reaching out to us at The Bomani's directly.

With expertise honed by capturing dozens of elopements at the Santa Barbara Courthouse we’ve found the 1.5hr shoot duration to be perfect for capturing all the beauty the courthouse campus has to offer. If you plan on capturing the full story of your elopement day from getting ready to reception we suggest looking into the courthouse plus package or our full day options.

Absolutely! We can extend your courthouse session to cover your reception too. Just shoot us an email at info@sbcourthouseelopements.com for the deets.