A Favorite Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding of Mine- Shelby and Tre
If you’ve ever wondered whether a Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding can equate to a traditional venue, Tre and Shelby’s will convince you. Their day was personal yet shared with so many closest to them in the most epic courthouse setting in SoCal.
How They Met
Tre grew up in Santa Barbara, and Shelby is from Paso Robles. Their paths crossed through a mutual friend, Nawal, a professional MMA fighter and photographer. Tre first saw Shelby in one of Nawal’s photos, reached out, and kept things casual and kind, with hopes of connecting.
But Shelby said no. For two years lol.
Tre’s messages always seemed to follow a big fight win, fueled by post-victory confidence. Eventually, she said yes, and their first date was an effortless, eight-hour conversation. No big deal. They have been inseparable since.
Why the Santa Barbara Courthouse
Their wedding timeline was tight. With Shelby’s sister expecting a baby and her brother leaving soon for a two-year mission, they wanted to tie the knot before both big life changes.
Tre suggested the Santa Barbara Courthouse, and once Shelby saw the photos, she was in love. The Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, lush gardens, arches, and tiled staircases pulled her in— and discovering that Tre’s dad and stepmom had also married there sealed the deal.
The Wedding Day
On a sunny Thursday afternoon, more than 200 guests gathered on the courthouse lawn. Shelby’s father officiated the ceremony, making the day even more personal. The grass was also so lush and soft, Shelby was tempted to walk down the aisle barefoot.
“Because it’s a public courthouse, there were tourists watching. Some clapped, some took videos. There are photos of strangers taking photos of us, probably from other countries, fascinated by the whole thing. It didn’t bother me at all. It actually felt kind of sweet, like the whole world was witnessing our moment. I know that might not work for every couple, but I loved it. The only thing I might have done differently is give ourselves more time for photos. That’s really my only note. If you’re getting married there, pad your timeline. You’ll be glad you did.”
Reception at Tucker’s Grove Park
After the ceremony, everyone headed to a nearby park for tacos, dessert, lawn games. They chose to keep things casual and in my opinion, so cute!
” And it rained. Not much, just enough to surprise us. One of the reasons we chose Santa Barbara was for its famously stable weather, so the rain was unexpected, but I kind of loved it. It added softness to everything. It made the day feel more alive. People often picture courthouse weddings as small and understated, but ours wasn’t. It was full and vibrant and joyful. It was intimate in all the right ways without being exclusive. There was laughter and family and strangers and rain and tacos and sacredness and fun. It was exactly what we needed.
Planning Your Own Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding
If you’re planning your own Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding, here are a few tips from Tre & Shelby’s day:
- Plan extra time for portraits — the architecture, gardens and interior are worth the time
- Consider a weekday — often less crowded
- Be aware of bystanders when choosing a public place such as the courthouse — but embrace it!
Check out another one of my Santa Barbara Courthouse weddings here!
