Santa Barbara, California
Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer
A historic hillside luxury resort on the Santa Barbara Riviera, where terraced gardens, a century-old wisteria arbor, and sweeping ocean views frame intimate, elevated weddings.
About Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara
Perched on seven acres of the Santa Barbara Riviera, Belmond El Encanto traces its roots to 1918 and today operates as a Forbes Five-Star hideaway of 92 bungalows and suites scattered among mature gardens. For couples, it delivers a rare combination of old-California romance and polished five-star service, all above a glittering coastline view.
Weddings here are inherently intimate: the grounds cap at roughly 200 guests, and the signature ceremony setting pairs a 100-year-old wisteria-draped arbor with a reflective lily pond. Receptions move to an elegant ballroom with its own private patio, while the terraced lawns and Riviera vantage point give photographers golden-hour light over the city and the Pacific.
Location · Santa Barbara Riviera hillside, 800 Alvarado Place
Style · Historic luxury resort, garden, ocean-view
Capacity · Up to ~200 guests
Ceremony · Wisteria arbor and lily pond, terraced lawns
Best season · Late spring through early fall (May-October)
Compiled from the venue's wedding listings on Carats + Cake and The Knot, resort property descriptions, and Santa Barbara wedding-photographer venue guides; capacity and space names reflect published venue information.
The complete El Encanto planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Seated dinner · Up to ~200
Standing/cocktail · Up to ~200
Ceremony · Up to ~200
Rentable spaces
- Wisteria Arbor & Lily Pond — signature outdoor ceremony spot beneath a century-old wisteria vine beside a reflecting lily pond
- Ballroom — indoor reception room with an adjoining exclusive patio
- Garden lawns & terraces — terraced hillside gardens with ocean and city views for ceremonies and cocktails
- Bungalow gardens — mature plantings, bougainvillea, and heritage eucalyptus throughout the grounds
Pricing
Peak Saturday · Custom (typical all-in luxury weddings run high five figures and up)
Off-peak · Lower food-and-beverage minimums midweek/off-season
What's included · In-house catering and culinary team, event coordination, resort grounds; food-and-beverage minimums apply
Catering & bar
Catering is in-house. The resort's executive chef and culinary team handle all food and beverage with organic, locally sourced California coastal cuisine; outside caterers are generally not permitted. Bar service is provided on-site, and pricing is structured around per-person menus and food-and-beverage minimums.
Rules & restrictions
- Amplified music and end times follow resort and local noise guidelines; outdoor music typically ends earlier than indoor
- Alcohol served by the resort only; no outside alcohol
- Open flames restricted; enclosed or LED candles generally required
- Final guest counts and menus confirmed in advance with the events team
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready space · On-site bungalows and suites; the spa offers pre-wedding treatments for the couple
Parking · On-site valet parking
Load-in · Vendor load-in coordinated through the resort's events team; hillside access via resort drives
How to book
Book directly through the resort's wedding and events team. Desirable peak-season Saturdays are reserved well in advance (often 12+ months out), so early inquiry and a site visit are recommended. A signed contract, deposit, and food-and-beverage minimum secure the date.
Photographing El Encanto
El Encanto is a photographer's dream of layered light. The terraced hillside faces southwest over Santa Barbara and the Pacific, so late-afternoon and golden-hour ceremonies bathe couples in warm backlight with the city and ocean below. The wisteria arbor and lily pond give a soft, romantic focal point, while the resort's Spanish-Mediterranean architecture, tiled fountains, and garden paths offer endless intimate portrait corners.
For dramatic images, work the ocean-view overlooks at sunset and the string-lit terraces after dark. The mature gardens — wisteria, bougainvillea, and heritage trees — provide texture and shade for midday portraits, and the bungalow courtyards make excellent getting-ready and detail settings.
Engagement sessions at El Encanto
El Encanto is equally lovely for engagement sessions, with terraced gardens and ocean overlooks that photograph beautifully in warm evening light.
Best time · Late afternoon into golden hour for backlit ocean views
Permit/fee · Sessions typically arranged as a hotel guest or through the resort; no public permit
Standout spots · Wisteria arbor, lily pond, ocean-view terraces, garden paths
Coordinate access and timing with the resort in advance, as it is a private property.
What couples love
- Romantic century-old wisteria arbor and lily pond ceremony setting
- Sweeping ocean and city views from a private hillside
- Forbes Five-Star service and cuisine
- Intimate, exclusive scale ideal for elevated smaller weddings
- On-site luxury accommodations and spa for the wedding party
Good to know
- Capacity tops out around 200, so it suits intimate-to-mid-size weddings, not large ones
- In-house catering only with food-and-beverage minimums
- A true luxury venue — budgets run high
- Only a few bungalows have full ocean views; most face gardens
- Hillside terraces mean some uneven terrain to plan around for guests
A typical wedding day at El Encanto
3:00 PM — Getting ready in bungalows; couple's spa touches
4:30 PM — Ceremony at the wisteria arbor and lily pond
5:00 PM — Cocktails on the ocean-view terrace
6:30 PM — Reception dinner in the ballroom and patio
9:30 PM — Sunset and evening portraits, dancing under string lights
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can Belmond El Encanto accommodate?
The resort hosts weddings of up to roughly 200 guests, making it best suited to intimate and mid-size celebrations.
Is catering in-house?
Yes. All food and beverage is provided by the resort's culinary team; outside caterers are generally not allowed.
Where do ceremonies take place?
The signature setting is the wisteria-draped arbor beside the lily pond, though terraced garden lawns with ocean views are also used.
Does it have ocean views?
Yes. The hillside Riviera location overlooks Santa Barbara and the Pacific, especially from the terraces and overlooks.
Can guests stay on-site?
Yes. The property has 92 bungalows and suites, ideal for the couple and wedding party.
How far in advance should we book?
Peak-season Saturdays often book 12 or more months ahead; early inquiry is recommended.
Is there a getting-ready space?
Couples typically prepare in on-site bungalows or suites, and the spa offers pre-wedding treatments.
What is parking like?
On-site valet parking is available for guests.
Are there noise or end-time restrictions?
Yes. Amplified music and end times follow resort and local noise rules, with outdoor music ending earlier than indoor.
Is alcohol allowed?
Yes, but served exclusively by the resort; outside alcohol is not permitted.
When is the best time of year to marry here?
Late spring through early fall offers the most reliable weather and best light, though the mild climate works much of the year.
How historic is the property?
El Encanto dates to around 1918 and retains century-old gardens and Spanish-Mediterranean architecture.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 800 Alvarado Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Nearest airport · Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), ~20-25 minutes
Drive time · ~10 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- Belmond El Encanto (on-site accommodations)
- Hotel Californian (downtown)
- The Upham Hotel (downtown)
- Kimpton Canary Hotel
The history behind El Encanto
- Originated around 1912 as craftsman cottages and became a hotel by 1918.
- Acquired by Belmond and reopened in 2013 after a multi-year restoration.
- Grounds feature 100-year-old wisteria vines and eucalyptus planted in the 1870s.
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: The Ritz-Carlton Bacara · Santa Barbara Courthouse · Ganna Walska Lotusland · Biltmore Santa Barbara · Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens.
Planning a wedding at El Encanto? Reach out to check your date →
More Santa Barbara venues: Santa Barbara & Ventura venue guide
