Summer Elopement at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

bride and groom jumping on the steps in front of an arched doorway at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

groom dipping the bride in an open walkway at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

groom lifting the bride in front of an arched doorway at the Santa Barbara Courthouse

The Ceremony

The Justice of the Peace led us to a beautiful shaded area outside for the ceremony. This ceremony area had beautiful wood doors as well as ample vegetation and those perfect palm trees that remind you that you’re in Santa Barbara. It was a wonderful spot for a wedding ceremony.

The ceremony was short and to the point, which is exactly what you want from a courthouse elopement! But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t amazing. The Justice of the Peace made sure Ashley and JC felt so special and they were thrilled to be able to experience the whole thing.

Inside The Santa Barbara Courthouse

After the quick ceremony, we explored the courthouse a bit and found some fun places for photos. Right after passing through security, we saw these adorable twin photo booths and we just had to stop for a picture. The two of them were absolutely adorable and clearly in love. They have such a fun energy and I loved exploring with them.

When we headed upstairs, we stopped in my favorite hallway at the courthouse. Ashley and JC even braved the ledge for some pictures. It’s really the deepest ledge I’ve ever seen and they had no trouble at all climbing up for some cuddles.

We stopped in the Mural Room for some great photos. It’s such a unique place and the room made for the perfect backdrop for this amazing couple. On the way back down to the lobby, we found this great little elevator for some pictures. Aren’t they a fun couple?

Schedule A Call

Outside in the Santa Barbara Sun

After we had explored the public areas inside the courthouse, we headed back outside for some more photos. There are some really amazing spots for couples and I’m sure we didn’t find them all. But we did stop at several. The steps outside the arched doorway, the palm tree lined walkways and the grand entrance to the courthouse were some of our favorites!

Santa Barbara Courthouse

We had a lot of fun at the Santa Barbara Courthouse and exploring the grounds was amazing. If you’ve never been there, I highly recommend a trip.

Ashley and JC were amazing and so fun to work with. They were adventurous and thrilled to be marrying each other. Their personalities were just what I look for in couples I work with and I’m so happy they chose me to photograph their special day.