Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, Villa and Vine is here to give you a reception your guests will never, ever forget! This open-air venue has been curated to provide stress-free celebrations that can effortlessly move across styles. As a Palm Springs wedding photographer, I recently got to work with Chris and Nicole as they held their reception here. If you have been considering a Villa and Vine wedding, here is what you need to know!
About The Villa And Vine Wedding Venue
1316 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101
Villa and Vine was founded to be the kind of place where you can host nearly every kind of wedding. There are a few things that make this spot so special. First? Location, location, location. This venue is just steps away from iconic spots like the Arlington Theater and the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The second reason is the design. This venue was built based on the architecture of the French Riviera, giving you that classic European design with no passport required. I could go on and on about the other benefits, such as the flexible floor plans or the amazing food, but honestly, this is the kind of spot I think you have to see to believe.
Details of the Grounds
While Villa and Vine is able to host most of your wedding, they do not offer a spot for you to get ready ahead of your day. Lucky for you, you are going to be within walking distance of several upscale hotels, giving you the perfect space to spread out, get dressed, and pop champagne alongside your wedding party.
If you would like to host your ceremony on-site, you can use the courtyard. This is an open-air space surrounded by white stucco walls and arched doorways. The only thing interrupting the sunshine here is the string lights draped with lush vines. It’s lively yet romantic, giving you that vineyard vibe right here in town. The center of the courtyard features a small fountain with aisleways on either side.
A Real Villa And Vine Wedding Option
While some couples choose to use this for their ceremony, Santa Barbara has so many breathtaking venues all around, so you can find the spot that perfectly suits you. When I worked with Chris and Nicole, they held their ceremony over at the Santa Barbara Courthouse (AKA the Sunken Gardens). The Spanish architecture of the building, combined with the lush palm trees, gave us the most picture-perfect backdrop!
Now it’s time to talk about the Villa and Vine cocktail hour. If you host your ceremony on the grounds, they are going to use this portion of your day to flip the courtyards for your reception. As the staff works their magic, your guests can gather in the Arlington Room, where they can grab drinks from the bar and lounge around on the furniture. This space is positively stunning with white walls, vintage chandeliers, and a working fireplace. Soft white drapery adds to the romance while letting the mild temperatures flow in.
Finally, it will be time for your reception. This is going to happen out in the courtyard, where the lamp posts and string lights will illuminate the space as the sun goes down. This spot is absolutely gorgeous on its own, but with the right decorations, it becomes downright transcendent! Chris and Nicole brought in the most luscious, jewel-toned flowers by Perry Florals to add their own colors to this bright space. It was the perfect contrast! As the night went on, the champagne flowed, and the party had a celebration I know they’ll never forget!
Photography Opportunities
With Villa and Vine, most of your wedding portrait opportunities are going to come from outside the venue. I cannot stress enough how charming this area of town is. The Arlington Theater is always a favorite spot for couple’s pictures, giving you the iconic marquee as your backdrop. Some couples even chat with the owners of the theater ahead of time to see if they can get their own names on display! We loved getting formal pictures in the nearby Sunken Gardens with the classic architecture and the verdant leaves in the background. Of course, Villa and Vine is pretty picture-perfect on its own, giving you tons of natural light as well as neutral backdrops.
Wedding Details
With Villa and Vine, hosting your wedding day has never been easier! I always recommend using a planner like the couple did with Luck Eleven Events. While the venue does make it simple to work out the details, it’s always just nice to make everything as stress-free as possible.
Once you sign on with this venue, you are going to start working with the owner and chef, Petros Benekos, to create the menu. Petros uses inspiration from his homeland in Greece to inform his cooking, creating traditional dishes made with ingredients grown in his own garden. The result is a decadent meal that is only going to elevate your experience!
The venue is going to provide you with tables and chairs throughout your wedding day, and they can take care of the stemware and place settings. They have a dance floor they will roll out once it’s time to party.
The venue allows amplified music up until 10 p.m. in the courtyard. If you want your party to go a little later, you can head into the Arlington Room, where you can party up until midnight. In all, you will have up to 6 hours of venue use.
This venue is able to host up to 200 seated guests or 260 standing guests. There are plenty of ride-share and shuttle options available, or your guests can use the parking lot just across the street.
A Villa And Vine Wedding Is Always Unforgettable
If you are looking for the dreamiest backdrop for your Santa Barbara reception, I just know you are going to love the Villa and Vine wedding venue! This venue gives you classic European backdrops without the jetlag!
Now that you have your venue, it’s time to start thinking about your Palm Springs wedding photographer. If you are the kind of couple who loves bright colors and joyful moments, I think we might just be a match. Want to know for sure? Then let’s chat about it! Send me a message today to find out more!
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