Belmond El Encanto Wedding Photography
Perched on a hillside in the Santa Barbara Riviera, Belmond El Encanto has been a favorite retreat since 1918, with Spanish Colonial cottages and terraced gardens overlooking the city, the harbor, and the Pacific beyond. As Lulan Studio wedding photographers, we love the way the hillside setting gives us layered views in every direction — red-tile rooftops in the foreground, ocean on the horizon.
Why Couples Love Belmond El Encanto
Couples are drawn to El Encanto for its boutique, hideaway feel — a collection of Spanish Colonial cottages tucked into terraced hillside gardens, away from the busier downtown venues. The panoramic views over Santa Barbara and the coastline, combined with the property’s intimate scale, make it a favorite for couples who want a luxury setting that still feels private and personal.
Getting Ready at El Encanto
The property’s cottages and suites offer a quiet, garden-side setting for getting ready, with soft natural light filtering through the hillside greenery. It is a relaxed, low-key start to the day before heading out to the view terraces for portraits.
Couple’s Session
We love working the hillside view terraces, where the whole city and coastline unfold below, then moving into the terraced gardens and Spanish Colonial walkways for something more intimate. The elevation gives us a completely different perspective than the beachfront and vineyard venues we usually shoot in Santa Barbara.
Wedding Ceremony
Ceremonies often take place on the property’s hillside lawns and terraces, with the city of Santa Barbara and the ocean spread out below as a backdrop. The elevated setting gives every ceremony a sense of occasion, especially as the light softens toward evening.
Wedding Reception
The property’s terraces and dining spaces carry the celebration into the evening, with sweeping views over Santa Barbara as the city lights start to come on below. It is one of the more romantic, view-driven reception settings in the area, especially for smaller, more intimate guest lists.
Sample Wedding Day Timeline
2:00 PM — Getting ready in cottage suites
3:00 PM — First look and portraits on the view terrace
3:45 PM — Garden and courtyard portraits
4:30 PM — Hillside ceremony
5:00 PM — Cocktail hour
6:00 PM — Reception
7:45 PM — Golden-hour portraits
9:30 PM — Dancing and send-off
Belmond El Encanto Wedding Galleries
Planning a Wedding at Belmond El Encanto?
Belmond El Encanto is a hillside boutique resort in the Santa Barbara Riviera, known for its Spanish Colonial cottages and panoramic views over the city and coastline. Below are a few common planning questions, plus how to check our availability.
How many guests can El Encanto accommodate?
The property’s terraces and event spaces suit intimate to mid-size weddings — reach out to the venue directly for exact capacity for your date.
Is there a place for the wedding party to get ready on-site?
Yes — the property’s cottages and suites offer private, comfortable spaces for hair, makeup, and final preparations.
What makes El Encanto different from other Santa Barbara venues?
El Encanto’s hillside setting gives it a boutique, hideaway feel with sweeping views over the city and ocean, distinct from the beachfront resorts and vineyard estates elsewhere in the area.
How do we check your availability?
Inquire availability or schedule a call — we respond within minutes. You can also review rates and collections.
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