Amour Along the American Riviera™...
Santa Barbara's Seductive Setting Rings the Bell for Romantics   
Photos courtesy of The Santa BarbaraConference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission

Related story: Santa Barbara's Top 10 Romantic Spots

Like a Siren, Santa Barbara seduces every sense.  From its sweet, heady fragrance to its soothing 100 miles of palm-studded surf, this region has long been the epicenter of romance offering all the elements of the Riviera without the jet lag. Evoking the charms of the Amalfi Coast, Antibes, Provence and Portofino, this city of just 92,000 is a world-class cuveé of all things romantic.  Add to the mix a variety of unique wedding venues, scenic wine country and 300+ days of sunshine a year and it's a ready-made haven for some 3,000 couples that wed here annually.

CELEBRITY CACHE

Since the early days in the 1930s and 40s, when the Duponts and Rockefellers arrived via private rail car, word spread that Santa Barbara was an untapped Shangri-La.  From the sparkling sea to the Santa Ynez Mountains, lush vegetation and balmy clime, the city quickly evolved into a haunt for the rich and cultured, who built, partied and plugged in piles of currency to enhance the already beautiful surroundings.             

Given its isolated location, 92 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara quickly became an ideal escape for celebrities seeking to slip out of the spotlight.  In 1940, Sir Laurence Olivier married Vivien Leigh at the San Ysidro Ranch, then a small inn tucked away in nearby Montecito.  Clark Gable followed in 1949, riding into the 10,000-acre Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort to wed Sylvia Hawkes, wife number four.  In 1955, Rock Hudson said "I do" to Phyllis Gates at a private cottage ceremony at the Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara.  Other luminaries, including JFK and Jackie O, honeymooned at the San Ysidro Ranch in 1953; check into the Kennedy Suite ($1875.00) and you can bed down where John himself slept.  Julia Roberts and Danny Moder followed suit.

A steady stream of notables continue to catapult Santa Barbara to the "A" list of wedding locales.  Bacara Resort & Spa opened with the wedding of Debra Messing; tap into the "Tea For Two" bathtubs for the ultimate romantic tryst.  Other celebrities who have tied the knot in Santa Barbara:  Jim Carey, Will Farrell, Heather Locklear, Yasmin Bleeth, Halle Berry, Alan Thicke, Jennie Garth, and Courtney Cox and David Arquette.              

UNIQUE VENUES

From missions to ranches, Santa Barbara offers one of the most diverse selections of wedding sites in the nation.  Beachfront estates dot the shoreline, taking the black tie and barefoot theme up a notch.  Million-dollar estates in Montecito and Hope Ranch (rates start around $5,000) provide a stellar backdrop for an all-out gig, Santa Barbara-style.  Key highlights include the high level of security available, on-property guest accommodations and one-stop pop, from swapping rings to cake.             

For the right price, brides-to-be can tap into one of Montecito's grandest works of art and architecture, the El Descanso Estate.  Built in 1925, this authentic Spanish Colonial affords stunning views of the Pacific from every room. The mansion's 13,000 sq. ft. set the stage for a unforgettable event, complete with 10 fireplaces, a billiard room and movie theater, along with an additional 6,000 sq. ft. of service area.  The beautiful gardens offer an ideal ceremony setting; another option is a formal setting inside the palatial residence.  Equally alluring is the opulent Hahn Estate.  Reminiscent of a European chateau set on 10 exquisitely landscaped acres, this private buy-out combines terraced grounds and courtyards with a decadent Old World feel.

For intimate soirees, Montecito's Peppers Estate is awash with floral gardens including the New Orleans Garden and formal Ballroom Garden.  Built in 1885, the elegant Paladium-style mansion also boasts a 3,000 sq. ft. ballroom set in lavish oak and mahogany with a grand fireplace, chandeliers, an orchestra balcony and plenty of room for an elegant sit-down dinner (maximum 50 people).  Added to the residence in 1914 by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan, the ballroom is legendary for hosting the debut of modern dance guru Martha Graham (at age 21) in 1917 and set the stage for an all-night piano concert in 1920 by Pederewski.            

For an offbeat option, rent the entire ranch. Circle Bar B Guest Ranch, set in a secluded wooded area four miles down a dirt road, features 14 romantic cabins and ranch rooms, string of 40 horses and 1,000 acres to romp around. Rancho Oso Guest Ranch & Stables is another outback option for rustic enthusiasts.  Pack your own horses or tap into the ranch's string, bunk down in 10 traditional Conestoga wagons ringed around the fire and let the flames begin.  The San Ysidro Ranch tips the scale in the opposite direction with 38 deluxe guestrooms, award-winning dining, meandering flower gardens and 540 acres of prime turf to tie the knot; full buyout is $33,000/weekends.  Deep in the wine country, the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort hands over the reins for $38,000/day.  The lucky wedding party can rule the ranch's 73 deluxe cottages and suites, 100-quarterhorse equestrian center, 18-hole championship golf course and resident French chef Pascal Gode.  Set on 10,000 lush acres, couples can wed on horseback, lakeside, on the golf greens or put a wild west spin into play deep in the sycamore groves.            

Wine country is another tasty option, given the rich mix of luxury wineries sprouting up throughout Santa Ynez.  Just 29 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, 70+ wineries are strewn in vineyard-studded landscapes straight out of a Monet painting.  For a taste of Provence, tap into lavender-imbued Sunstone Winery with its sandstone façade and plush cellar.  The multi-million dollar Bridlewood Winery, set on 105 acres with a lake, weeping willows, gardens and vineyards, is also an idyllic setting.  Other bets include Rideau Vineyard, with a beautifully restored 1884 winery/tasting room; Fess Parker Winery with its immaculate grounds and lush backdrop; Firestone Vineyard on renowned Foxen Canyon Road; Gainey Vineyard; Lafond Winery; and Melville, which offers a colorful grand estate-style façade and world-class wines.                           

For traditionalists, Santa Barbara sports three missions.  A favorite among locals is the "Queen of the Missions," Mission Santa Barbara with its wonderful dual bell towers, stately façade and legendary mass services.  The 10th of California's 21 missions and the only one to be continuously occupied since its inception, Mission Santa Barbara has an added highlight adjacent to the grounds: A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Gardens which boasts 1,000 varieties of roses created as a fragrance garden for the blind.  Step up for a photo opportunity worthy of Town & Country.            

A soiree at sea is always memorable, especially with the variety of charters available for rent at Santa Barbara Harbor.  Hire a captain--many are licensed to officiate and set out for a sizzling sunset sail.  For the ultimate in luxe, step aboard the Channel Cat, Charlie Munger's private 85 ft. vessel--the largest composite built catamaran in the world--which can accommodate a party of 149 people.  Sleek, white and waiting for its close-up, this yacht offers such on-site toys as a theater screen for immediate digital camera downloads, audio/visual system, satellite surround-sound, full galley for catering and 25-ft., "John Wayne" long bar.

Garden enthusiasts have a vivid choice of backdrops from orchid, rose and lavender farms to public parks festooned with exotics.  The sunken gardens at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a sought after wedding location with lush gardens, swaying palms and sub-tropical plants.  Completed in 1929, the graceful Spanish-Moorish structure is the jewel in the city's architectural crown and noted as one of the most magnificent public buildings in the nation.  For those seeking fragrance, Rose Story Farms can host a wedding party of 300 in one of its four wedding gardens studded with 18,000 blooming roses. The 15-acre working farm is backed with a well-tuned owner who can create just about any setting imaginable.  The six-acre Clairmont Farms, a working lavender farm in Los Olivos, is also a wonderful setting with a purple sea of plants swaying in the backdrop.             

The county has a host of old world hotel properties evoking Santa Barbara's true spirit and romantic charm.  Two top choices include the aristocratic Four Seasons Resort Santa Barbara, built in 1927 across from Butterfly Beach, and the El Encanto Hotel and Garden Villas, a 10-acre tropical paradise opened in 1918.

HONEYMOON HIDEAWAYS

Known for its historic bed-and-breakfast inns, Santa Barbara is anything but garden variety when it comes to checking into a lovers' lair. Lush landscapes, Old World charm, historic architecture and hacienda hospitality along the Pacific shore add spice to the eclectic line-up of bed-and-breakfast inns throughout the county.             

In a category of its own, The Simpson House Inn raised the bar in 1998 when it received AAA's only North American Five Diamond B&B rating.  The elegantly restored 1874 historic landmark Victorian estate has all the perks of a luxe hideaway set on an acre of fragrant English-style gardens.  The original house sports six rooms, each recreated in traditional Victorian style with period artwork, private baths and hand-printed Victorian wallpaper.  Nearby, four English cottages are nestled under an ancient English oak; each room with a private fountain patio, wood burning fireplace and whirlpool tub.            

Another option is the Cheshire Cat Inn, known for its expansive English gardens flush with delphiniums, garden roses, foxglove and hollyhock marking the entrance.  Two graceful Victorian homes, built in 1894, feature 14 exquisitely decorated guestrooms. The owner from Cheshire, England has gone to great lengths to make the property a true original.  Antiques were shipped from England, the wallpapers and draperies are Laura Ashley, and flowers and fountains bedeck the open spaces. Breakfast is gourmet,  served on Wedgwood china.  A full spa is also on tap, providing facials, healing body wraps and six types of massage.  "The ultimate for romantics" is the Tweedledum Suite with a king brass bed, Jacuzzi, oak beams and flooring, English antiques, a wet bar and gas-burning fireplace.            

In nearby Summerland, the Inn on Summer Hill is a charming 17-room hideaway set along the frontage road and within easy walking distance of 10 antique shops. The English-style country inn sets the stage for a romantic rendezvous with antiques, original art and island views.  Soft, glowing pine adorns the lobby walls and floors; warm-toned rooms are spacious with canopied beds, fireplaces and decks; and an intimate dining room serves up breakfast next to a crackling hearth.            

Santa Barbara wine country is the perfect stop for couples seeking to chill and swill after a hectic wedding.  Fairytales come true at Storybook Inn Bed & Breakfast, a three-story villa in the heart of the Danish town of Solvang. Nine themed guestrooms are based on Hans Christian Andersen's famed tales.  The queen size canopy, sleigh, four-poster or Victorian beds, antiques, and marble fireplaces make this one of Solvang's best bets. Check out The Emperor's New Clothes, Ugly Duckling and Princess and the Pea  guestrooms with plush down comforters, floral designs and a fresh-from-the-garden airy feel. 

One notch up is the Victorian-style Santa Ynez Inn featuring 14 rooms stocked with Frette linens, DVD/CD systems, beautiful gardens, afternoon wine tasting, gourmet breakfast and spa treatment rooms for massage.  Set in the country western town of Santa Ynez, the inn's guestrooms sport fireplaces and expansive balconies with valley and vineyard views.  Top picks include #202 set in soothing celadon tones with a dual steam marble shower, or #207, with an antique bed, chandeliers and Jacuzzi tub for two set in the bay window.

For those who truly want to check out, the quaint Ballard Inn features fifteen beautifully decorated rooms, each evoking a particular aspect of the area's history.  This elegant two-story gray and white building in the quaint town of Ballard sets the bar for guest services.  From arrival to check out, expect a seamless stay steeped in serenity: roses dot the entrance, the intimate Café Chardonnay serves up stellar wine country cuisine and a wealth of nearby excursions--from carriage to glider rides--add adventure. 

For More Information

For accommodation information and reservations, contact Santa Barbara Hot Spots 800/793-7666. For travel information and a free copy of the official Santa Barbara County Visitors Guide, contact the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission at 800/927-4688, 805/966-9222 or by e-mail at tourism@santabarbaraCA.com.  Visitor information is also available at the Visitor Information Center located at #1 Garden Street at Cabrillo Boulevard and via the Internet at www.santabarbaraCA.com.