Marriage Licenses and Weddings at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Reach Record Level

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Love is in the air around the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, not just for Valentine's Day, but throughout the year.

The Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder's Office says the request for marriage licenses continues to grow.  In 2025, the office issued 6,000 licenses and prior to the COVID crisis, it was about 4000.

Wedding ceremonies are also up. In 2025 4000 took place. That also exceeds and previous year.

Chief Deputy Clerk Recorder Melinda Greene says, "love is in the air. We are always busy right before Valentine's Day whether it is getting your marriage license so you can have your marriage ceremony or the whole kit with the marriage license and ceremony. We have many ceremonies booked up. We are double booked."

Some of them are a simple ceremony with vows restated in a designated area. Some are larger in a reserved area with chairs and a special use of the Sunken Gardens.

It is a sought after location.

"I think we are getting more and more popular with social media we have had coverage in different magazines and the courthouse just photographs so beautifully," said Greene. About 17 ceremonies are set for Friday. She said, "It's just a happy day."

The office will not be open Saturday.

She points out the building recently had a new roof and outside improvements giving it one of the freshest looks in years.

Wedding ceremonies performed by Clerk-Recorder staff take place either directly outside the Hall of Records, overlooking the Sunken Gardens; or at an indoor balcony overlooking the Hall of Records lobby Express wedding services are performed at the public counter.

"There could be some waits. There is not much we can do to control the volume," said Greene.

The courthouse is a public space and more than one wedding may be taking place at the same time.

The Hall of Records has specific rules:

• Guest count is limited to fifteen (15) people including children and photographers, due to County Parks regulations. The indoor space is limited to ten (10) guests.
• Please arrive promptly at your scheduled time. Late arrivals may result in cancellation.
• Throwing petals, rice, confetti, or birdseed is considered littering and is strictly prohibited.
• Photography is welcomed, but please be considerate of other ceremonies taking place.
• Public restrooms are available in the Courthouse and the County Administration building.
• Guests will be asked to wait outside while the couple completes their paperwork inside the office.

Afterwards Greene says, "we get thank you notes and post cards from our couples."

For more information go to: Santa Barbara County Hall of Records

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