Events and inspiration

Every corner of Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara blushes with romance and grace. Declare your vows in a courtyard surrounded by lush gardens or make a grand entrance against a panoramic ocean backdrop. Then usher in a joyous celebration in style – whether that's classical elegance, Spanish charm or contemporary glamour.

Bridal shower

From a girls' getaway weekend to an afternoon tea party, Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara can help you plan the perfect fête. For a refined gathering, traditional afternoon tea in Ty Lounge hits the spot with a wide selection of teas, assorted finger sandwiches, miniature pastries, tea cakes and freshly baked scones served with whipped Devonshire cream and lemon curd. Friends and family can relax in the lounge's comfortable living-room-style atmosphere, complete with a welcoming fireplace and ocean views.

Rehearsal dinner

The rehearsal dinner offers an opportunity for guests to gather and socialise in a casual atmosphere before the wedding. The beach-side La Pacifica Terrace is the perfect spot to relax for an informal evening – just what you need before the big day. Palmera Garden, an elegant flagstone courtyard surrounded by graceful palms, offers an intimate setting. A scavenger hunt or other organised activities are a great way to allow guests to mingle and interact while live music and other special touches, like an interactive photo booth, make the evening even more memorable.

The Santa Barbara area also offers many spectacular locations for a rehearsal dinner catered by the Resort. A dinner at the landmark Courthouse is a convenient launch to a night on the town. For a quieter evening, a catered sunset cruise is a serene way to take in the scenery. Wineries in nearby Santa Ynez offer yet another possibility for a laid-back, elegant evening, where guests can savour local wines paired with Four Seasons catering. Local families can invite guests – and our catering team – to their home for a flawless event in a familiar, personal atmosphere.

Wedding day activities

The morning of your wedding, bride and groom can start the day with relaxing activities both at and near the Resort.

For the bridal party, yoga on the beach may be the ideal activity to centre the mind and spirit. Then head to the pool to cool off and enjoy poolside manicures and pedicures. At Coral Casino, a private cabana offers the perfect locale for hair and spa services while enjoying lunch and refreshing mimosas. Or the bride may wish to gather with friends for tea and a make-up session in the Escala Garden.

Groomsmen can step out for morning golf and lunch at Montecito Country Club, less than a mile from the Resort, or at one of several renowned courses within 20 minutes' drive.

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Active guests can take advantage of the Resort's location, close to mountains and ocean shores. A supervised hike into the mountains is an invigorating start to the day, while a picnic lunch prepared by the Resort offers a rewarding break. Other activities can be arranged by the Resort, including rock climbing and kayaking.

Ceremony

The Resort offers ceremony locations to suit parties of all sizes. In each case, the ceremony location works in conjunction with the function space, ensuring a private and seamless transition from ceremony to reception.

La Pacifica Terrace provides the perfect patio setting for a fairytale wedding ceremony. There, couples can recite their vows against a serene ocean backdrop, separated from gently breaking waves by only a clear glass wall that affords sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands and Santa Barbara coastline.

Couples who host their reception in the Loggia Ballroom can choose from two ceremony locations, Palmera Garden or Monte Vista Lawn. The Palmera Garden has a large flagstone patio, which is surrounded by palm trees and beautiful tropical vegetation. The Monte Vista Lawn offers a breathtaking view of the Santa Ynez Mountains and is bordered by exquisite landscaping of mature trees and foliage amidst our cottage guest rooms.

Those seeking a private atmosphere will delight in Mariposa Garden. Flanked by beautiful Spanish adobe architecture and red tile roofs, with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, it's a picturesque backdrop for saying “I do.” Escala Garden offers another pretty ceremony setting, in a private courtyard bordered by lush foliage and blooms, adjacent to the Resort's signature staircase.

The Resort is located close to several idyllic alternative ceremony locations, including some of Santa Barbara's historic Spanish-style churches and the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and Sunken Gardens.

Reception

For a grand celebration, Loggia Ballroom offers classical elegance. Walls bathed in golden tones reach up to an 18-foot (5.5-metre) ceiling studded with delicate crystal chandeliers, while antique mirrors, plantation shutters and a large fireplace complete the setting. A red-bricked outdoor terrace and indoor lounge offer additional space for a cocktail reception.

For more intimate affairs, El Mar is a beautiful ocean-view room with Spanish flair evident in its vaulted wood beam ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers and earthy hues. A fireplace offers an added note of warmth, while the private outdoor terrace allows guests to experience refreshing ocean breezes. El Mar opens up to La Marina, offering additional space for larger parties and full ocean views.

The glamorous La Pacifica Ballroom is located directly on Butterfly Beach in the Resort's historic Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club. This newly restored space exudes comfort and elegance reminiscent of the club's original grandeur and sense of luxury. Historic photography served as an inspiration for the décor, which is carried throughout in an understated 1930s Art Deco motif and a muted colour scheme of coral, salmon and soft platinum hues. Accent walls feature embossed leather upholstery. Floor-to-ceiling doors and windows invite the outdoors in and ensure stunning views from every point in the room, while mirrored walls opposite the windows further reflect the panoramic outdoor beauty.

Post-wedding brunch

A departure brunch offers one last opportunity to relax and spend valuable time with loved ones. Four Seasons can create a "green" brunch, with a menu incorporating locally grown organic ingredients and sustainable centrepieces in Tydes restaurant, with its incredible ocean views. Or, go the more traditional route with croquet and iced tea on the Monte Vista Lawn. If casual is more to your taste, host a laid-back gathering designed to pamper and revive your guests with mini chair massages, Bloody Marys and some good old-fashioned comfort food.