Riviera Mansion

My wife and I were shown around the Riviera Mansion in late summer and we knew right away we had found our wedding venue for the next spring. We planned on about eighty guests and the fit was perfect! Breanna O'Toole, Director of Events at the University Club, was very helpful in the many decisions we had before us, from the delicious food choices to the arrangement of a special birthday cake during the reception, we could not have done it without her. Since neither my wife nor I lived in Santa Barbara, Breanna was also instrumental in making vendor recommendations to us, nearly every one of which we ended up employing. Ample guest parking was a plus, but paled in comparison to the billiards room set-up for the boys. In the few hours before the ceremony, my groomsmen and I we were able to watch the game, have a couple of beers, and relax and shoot some pool. My fiancee meanwhile had an entire room upstairs for preparation of hair, makeup, and gowns, as well as some tasty snacks brought up from the kitchen for her and her bridesmaids and family. We couldn't turn around without finding ourselves in yet another beautiful spot for a photo, and we had hundreds taken from beginning to end. The ceremony itself in the picturesque main garden was lovely, with the massive tree as a natural centerpiece and focal point for photos and videos, all of which turned out beautifully. The outdoor patio reception area with customized beverages and hors d'oeuvres was just the right size to walk through as bride and groom to talk with our guests. And of course, being Santa Barbara, the weather was perfect. A wonderful plated dinner--the food was superb, and the service excellent--along with wine and drinks in the dining room, and toasts and dancing with a live DJ afterwards, and a whole separate room dedicated to dessert stations, sealed the evening into a spectacular memory of family and friends and laughter and love. The Riviera Mansion University Club is an outstanding choice for a wedding venue, and we'll be recommending it for years to come. - Alex & Qing Marr -

We are so thrilled that we found this gem of a location! After looking at numerous venues throughout southern California, this was the only place that ticked all of the boxes. It was everything we wanted and more. Both of us really liked the beauty and the versatility of the Riviera Mansion, allowing us to plan an outdoor ceremony and dinner, with the option of moving things inside at the last minute if the weather did not cooperate. As it turned out, we had a perfect day for our ceremony outside on the lawn under an enormous and incredibly beautiful old tree. Dinner on the patio under the twinkling lights was magical. Having exclusive use of the entire facility and being able to have music until 11:30pm were additional benefits we did not find in other places nearby. And there were so many different rooms that we could keep the guests entertained from ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner to dessert to dancing, each in different sections of the mansion and grounds. Two other real standouts we cannot fail to mention were the food itself and the staff of the mansion. So many guests raved about the food! Chef Jamie West was spot-on and the dinner exceeded everyone's expectation for a wedding meal, being more like dinner at a fine restaurant with exceptional attention to each course and each serving. A few of the guests even told us it was the best steak they ever had (we had the filet with port mushroom sauce). In addition, we also cannot say enough about the staff at the mansion, headed by event coordinator Breanna O'Toole. Breanna was simply the best, answering all of our questions in a timely manner and guiding us through the booking and planning process; and the entire staff was very professional, accommodating and helpful. We cannot recommend this place enough!

We had our August 2018 wedding ceremony and reception with 115 guests at Riviera Mansion. The venue is of course gorgeous, and gave the classic Santa Barbara look/feel that we wanted for our big day, but what made both the planning and event itself better than any other wedding I have been to is the fantastic staff! 1. Planning: Venue coordinators Breanna and Sarah were extremely helpful in the planning process - promptly answering questions about the venue and helping us thinking of timeline and planning details we may have otherwise missed. 2. Event Execution: They also ensured the day of the event went so smoothly. Everything was timed perfectly - from serving dinner, bringing in our cake, and more - and the staff was incredibly gracious and attentive to our guests. 3. Food/Drink: We heard from so many guests that the dinner was one of the best meals they have ever had. Chef Jamie was so accommodating, creative and thoughtful in his menu recommendations - including an amazing dessert bar and wine selection. 4. The Space: Riviera Mansion provided something for everyone - and we noticed our guests in all of these places! From the games we set up on the lawn, to the gorgeous living room where our older guests lounged during dancing - the spaces are beautiful, don't require a lot of decor, and are well-maintained (some recently updated). We also loved that it was close to downtown SB, yet very quiet and private. Thank you, Riviera Mansion, for making our wedding day flawless, special and beautiful!

The Riviera Mansion was the first venue we looked at and the one we ended up falling for. We loved that it had the option of indoor/outdoor spaces and that we could have the entire venue to ourselves for the day. It was the perfect size to accommodate our 100 guests comfortably. The mansion and the grounds were a beautiful backdrop for all of our photos as well. Breanna was very responsive to all of our questions and was so great to work with. Chef Jamie was also nice enough to help us create a menu that met our needs and was present at our tasting to meet with us. Very pleased with our choice!

The Riviera Mansion was absolutely perfect for our wedding. The venue has just about everything you need for the celebration which was so helpful and relieved a lot of stress since we didn't have to worry about renting anything other than chairs. Breanna was amazing and helped us so much with planning along the way and gave great recommendations. We had a garden ceremony and it was stunning, it is very romantic and feels private. The dining room was the perfect place for dinner and dancing, it has plenty of room while keeping everyone together, and the bar area was fantastic for our open photo booth. Our photographers were able to plug in a drive to a tv and showed photos from the ceremony during the reception which was really cool for our guests to see. The food was outstanding and the desserts were amazing! Highly recommend the churro donuts as our guests could not stop raving about them :) The decor is perfect and you don't need to do too much to make it feel like your own. The additional rooms were great for family that wanted to drink coffee, take a break and let kids run around for a bit. The bride and groom's suites were amazing as well, it was so nice to be in one place all day and not worry about traveling around town with all our stuff. I cannot recommend this venue enough. The location is in a great spot, you don't need to worry about any road noise either. I loved having our wedding here and it was truly a magical day at the Riviera Mansion!

Found the mansion via the Knot and working with Breanna was a delight! She had the exact date we wanted available and immediately booked the place when we visited her. Also the mansion caters so I loved having that option! It felt like I was at my college fraternity house and we had the ceremony and reception in the mansion. Thank you for this team for being so communicative and more!

My daughter’s wedding was this past Sunday (9.2.18) and it was everything we wished for a more. The venue is magnificent. Beautiful grounds for the ceremony, ideal reception area, great dance floor and ideal setting for the dinner. In addition there are nooks for intimate conversations. There are not enough superlatives to describe the professionalism of Breanna. She is a dream to work with and she ensured a flawless event. All our guests from Los Angeles, the East Coast and Canada were enormously impressed. The staff was impeccable and the food so delicious and presented so beautifully. It deserves 10 stars!

This was the most magical place to have a wedding! The staff, BREANNA, and everything about it was absolutely perfect. It was our own house for the entire day/night and it was everything I hoped it would be and more. I couldn't recommend this place enough. The stunning oak tree where the ceremony was, the gorgeous cocktail hour area, the beautiful and delicious dinner inside. The food was outstanding!!! Everything was perfect. Breanna was absolutely lovely, so responsive, and wonderful to work with. We booked this venue because of her. If you are thinking of having a wedding in SB, do it here. You won't be disappointed!!!!

My husband and I made the best decision by having our wedding at the Riviera Mansion. I can't relay enough how amazing Breanna and the staff at the mansion are - they are not only wonderful to work with and in terms of customer service, but they truly are experts at what they do. We chose this venue because we wanted an intimate space that was comfortable for all of our guests. We were so pleased with the service, the food, the ambiance, the drinks and the overall planning experience. Thank you so much for making our wedding night absolute perfection!

We had our wedding at the Riviera Mansion in June 2018, and it was perfect. Breanna worked very well with all of our vendors and made sure that everything ran smoothly on our big day. Awesome prep spaces for the groomsmen and bridesmaids. The food was incredible - it is hard to consistently make 100 good meals and our guests were raving about the quality of the food. We also planned a late night snack (pulled pork sliders) that were unbelievably good. We had two signature cocktails that were delicious also. The decor was great and there are many spaces (front lawn, dance floor, lounge area, patio, library) with great functionality. Our photographer also took us across the street to the park for some great photos. Staff was polite and attentive. Overall, we could not recommend Riviera Mansion highly enough. Thank you for making our wedding so special. Mark and Alyssa Westerfield June 30, 2018

My husband and I just got married at the Riviera Mansion on July 12, 2018! The venue and staff were absolutely PERFECT. We had 65 guests at our wedding and the space felt cozy enough but had plenty of room to accommodate a greater guest count as well. We had our ceremony and cocktail hour outside which was beautiful and then a sit down plated dinner inside. The staff exceeded our expectations with their attentiveness and attention to detail. The food was phenomenal- all of our guests were extremely impressed with the appetizers, salad, and main course selections. We were able to do a tasting a the venue prior to creating our menu which was also very nice and helpful. Breanna the coordinator for the venue was a pleasure to work with replied to all of my emails immediately. The venue was super accommodating to our needs, the staff were friendly and provided amazing service throughout the entire event, and the wedding venue is gorgeous. We especially loved the bridal suite and grooms room which allowed us to get ready on site with our wedding parties and family! The Riviera Mansion is a dream wedding venue and I would highly recommend this site!

We primarily chose our venue due to our impression of the event personnel. In our case it was Riviera Mansion’s Director of Events, Breanna O’Toole that clinched the deal for us. As the Mother of the Bride, my daughter and I were the predominant Wedding decision-makers, especially since the groom’s family resided on the east coast. It was our family’s first wedding and Breanna quickly set us at ease. We were walked through every detail and possible facet of the event and all questions, no matter how picky such as the needed diameter for the wedding cake plate, were taken with knowledge, patience and pride. Whew! We had some “first-timer” concerns such as adequate hors d’oeuvre pieces, plates arriving hot enough from the kitchen, delivery times, and photo displays. Why did we ever worry?? As promised, everything unfolded seamlessly as if in a dream. Bottom Line: We could not have asked for a better experience. Almost one year later, I am still brimming with boundless gratitude for dear Breanna and her talented staff. We have more kids so I expect, am actually looking forward to, future University Club/Riviera Mansion celebrations.

I was a groomsman at a wedding here this summer, and the bride and groom could not have chosen a lovelier venue! Everything about the Riviera Mansion is first class, without even a hint of being ostentatious. The building itself - both exterior and interior - is beautiful and classic, and the ceremony was held outdoors in a wonderfully green and intimate courtyard. Every member of the staff did an excellent job, and the food was outstanding! (The mushroom ravioli in particular stood out, but everything was delicious.) In fact, I had so much fun, that by the end of the night, I forgot to get my street clothes from the Game Room, where I and my fellow groomsmen changed into our suits (between several games of billiards) and didn't realize it until I got back home to Los Angeles. But the staff found them for me later in the week, kept them safe, and shipped them back to me, so their hospitality extended well beyond the last dance! If you're looking for an ideal wedding venue in Southern California, I highly recommend you look into the Riviera Mansion!

I can't stress enough how amazing this venue was for us! Not only was Breanna helpful and extremely prompt with her replies to my millions of questions, the staff on the day of our wedding was incredible! They were so friendly, polite and helpful to us and all our guests. Everyone was talking about the great service. And if that weren't enough the mansion itself is so beautiful and the food and drink they serve is delicious!! I highly recommend this place to everyone looking for a wedding or event venue. Plus it is one of the few places in town that can host such a large number of guests.

We are so glad we chose Riviera Mansion as our venue! The site was incredibly beautiful, the staff were kind and responsive, and the day was as smooth as I could have hoped for. We live across the country, so we had to book it sight unseen and plan from afar, and from day one Breanna made that so easy and pleasant. She was able to answer every question we could come up with, and always did so with kindness and excitement. Being able to have everything taken care of in one place, from a place for both wedding parties to get ready, all the food taken care of, and being very flexible (we could have moved inside if it had rained, we were able to switch the DJ's space at the last minute, etc.), took so much stress off, I can't even tell you. They even flipped the space from ceremony to reception during the cocktail hour. Having the different spaces in the mansion made it so everyone could enjoy themselves the way they wanted (dancing, sitting and chatting by the fireplace, hanging at the bar, anything!) without making the group feel fragmented or too spread out - I just can't say enough good things. Also, Eli and the catering team were on point, and MANY of the guests have told me it was one of the best meals they've ever had - not just at a wedding! Also, have I mentioned that it was BEAUTIFUL??? I'm so grateful we chose this venue, and for everything they did for us.

Getting married in April at The Riviera Mansion was the best decision we made to start our marriage off on the right foot. Having Breanna guide us through the process made everything so easy. She is the best, she will make your life easy (I promise!). She always welcomes emails whether you have 1 question or 10, she will answer them perfectly for you. The mansion is stunning in pictures, but even more beautiful once you step foot on their property. Having the flexibility and ability to occupy all spaces of the mansion made it perfect. The mansion is big, but at the same time it is so intimate, something you can't find at most venues. We got married under the oak tree which provided the perfect backdrop and shade! During sunset, the staff so kindly let us go up to the balcony and take photos, the view is breathtaking. Most people get nervous for food at weddings, do not! We are still hearing how amazing the food was, we did buffet style which worked out best for our situation. I loved having cocktail hour on the patio, its beautifully done in bricks with tables and umbrellas. You can't go wrong at The Rivera Mansion, you will also have the best day of your life and the perfect start to your marriage!

The Riviera Mansion was the most amazing venue for our wedding! My husband and I fell in love with the gorgeous courtyard and patio, as well as the mansion itself. Breanna the venue coordinator is so helpful and kind. Very quick response to all of our questions. She was a huge part of why our day was perfection. All-inclusive venue! Amazing. Thank you!

We are still spinning after the most magical wedding a couple weekends ago! We can't stop talking about how happy we were with our venue choice: there are many magical places to get married in Santa Barbara, but the Riviera Mansion/ University Club was simply perfect. Breanna was very great to work with, she answered all many our questions :) The staff at the event were amazing as well! One guy (I think his name was Brandon) kept making sure I had champagne throughout the night-- so sweet when you're busy talking to all your guests. The food was stellar. The space itself is just set up for a stress-FREE wedding day, it's centrally located and it's gorgeous. What else could you need?!

The Riviera Mansion was everything we were looking for in a wedding venue. My husband and I were drawn to the location because it was so authentic. We got married outside under the tree, had cocktails on the patio, and the reception was held inside. We had a wonderful experience with Breanna from our first tour of the venue. She was so helpful, friendly and professional and answered all of our thousands of questions throughout the year leading up to the wedding. The entire staff at the Mansion was wonderful and accommodating on the day of the wedding. We cannot recommend the Riviera Mansion enough!

Everything about the Riviera Mansion was perfect! Breanna was so helpful, easy to get a hold of and very quick to respond. We were originally supposed to have our ceremony inside but due to a crazy rainy day, it was moved indoors. I was nervous at first but when the day came, I couldn’t have been more pleased with having the entire wedding inside! It added such an ambiance and feeling that would have been impossible to recreate. The day couldn’t have been more perfect and their staff was so professional! They handled everything so quickly, we’re always ready to help, and we’re all very personable. I can honestly say that our wedding day was the best day of my life and we owe it all to the Riviera Mansion! I would recommend the mansion to anyone looking to make their wedding day magical!

This venue was perfect leading up to our wedding and the day of! Breanna, the events director, wins the award for fastest response time! She is beyond accommodating and has multiple answers for every question. Thank you Breanna!

I can’t say enough positive things about this venue. My now husband and I live in NYC but knew we wanted to get married in Santa Barbara (I used to live there). We were looking high and low for venues but knew we didn’t want a golf course/hotel style venue. We were really looking for something more unique. We were sold by this venues charm and by their customer service! Breanna goes above and beyond. She was always available to answer questions or talk to my wedding planner. As far as the wedding this past February, it was perfect. My guests loved how intimate and warm the venue felt. There was plenty of room and loved that the dance floor was near a bar (liquid courage). I honestly was afraid how the wedding would turn out since I planned it so far away but everyone knocked it out of the park. I absolutely recommend this venue!

No doubt this was the best decision we made for our wedding...choosing to have it at the Riviera Mansion. Breanna and the rest of the staff of the mansion were very accommodating and helpful during the planning process. Everything was just made easy for us. Thank you, Riviera Mansion!!

My husband and I got married at the Riviera Mansion in April 2017 and we are STILL getting compliments on how great our wedding was! I’d like to take credit for it all but in all honesty it is a beautiful venue and Breanna and her crew took care of all our requests and details, which truly is what made our wedding great! We wanted something different for our reception venue, not the old boring ballroom reception; the Riviera Mansion was exactly that: unique, beautiful and classic! Not to mention having the beautiful bridal suite and the groom/billiards room in the same building made prep, pictures, storage and clean up so much easier. The food was delicious; the staff was so hospitable which made everyone feel comfortable and have a great time. Lastly, Breanna made the planning process a breeze. I have never emailed someone so many times and continued to receive a friendly response, she made me feel calm and at ease while planning. I cannot recommend the Riviera Mansion and their staff enough!

I cannot even begin to explain the gem that is Riviera Mansion. Breanna is the angel of venue coordinators. Just talking to her eases all the stress that wedding season can bring. She is willing to work with whatever request you may have, and is always prompt in responding to emails and phone calls. Any request I had she worked to make happen, and she was truly invested in making my wedding as perfect as possible. The overall attitude of this venue is doing what it takes to make their brides happy. On the day of my wedding, staff knew exactly what to do and where things went. The food WAS EXCEPTIONAL. I am still getting compliments on the food. My husband and I are pretty pretentious foodies, and they completely surpassed our expectations. Having in house staff and catering made the whole evening seamless.Guests are telling me that this wedding was the best wedding they have ever been too. Nothing was rushed, no one was cramped, everything was intimate and private. I am telling you, please have your wedding at Riviera Mansion, you WILL NOT REGRET IT. I am so grateful to Breanna and the entire Riviera Mansion staff, they made my wedding truly unforgettable.

Gorgeous venue that includes so many items you would need and otherwise have to rent. One thing to be aware of though, Saturday’s have a $20,000 minimum and Sundays on holiday weekends have a $17,000 minimum. This is very helpful when trying to stay within a budget and this is not noted in their pricing information.

We had our wedding this past October 2017 at the Riviera Mansion. It is such a beautiful venue and all of the staff is exceptional! Through the planning process any time we needed something Breanna would response very quick. They are so organized and everything from the beginning to end was exactly how we had planned it with them. The bridal suite and grooms room are amazing places to get ready before hand and its even more convenient that everything is on site. It is such a great venue for your guests to have a private experience at your wedding!! That was something very important to us. Everything went just the way we wanted and our guest were raving about how beautiful the venue was and everything turned out just perfect. If we could do our day over there is nothing we would change. Thank you to everyone at the Mansion it was amazing!!

My husband and I just got married in early October 2017 at Riviera Mansion and I could not have dreamed a more perfect day! My favorite things about having our wedding at the mansion: 1. The service! From initial phone calls with Breanna (the coordinator), to the day-of, this staff made it so easy for us. My husband was in CA, but I was still on the east coast trying to plan this thing and Breanna was so accommodating, patient, and helpful with all of my questions. She even met with my husband to do a FaceTime tour with me so I could see the venue. My guests said that the servers at the wedding made sure they all had plenty hors d'oeuvres and that their drinks were never low (some said, "we never even had to go to the bar!"). Plus, the servers were all so friendly and helpful! Having our guests taken care of that way meant so much to us. It just seemed like the servers genuinely cared that the guests were having the best time - they introduced themselves and made it a more personal experience for everyone. 2. The separation of rooms. I personally liked that everything wasn't in just one giant room. You could have dining in one area, dancing in another, and there was a living room for the guests who needed a break from the fun. You could host a larger wedding and still have that feeling of intimacy, which was so nice. There were rooms for the bride, groom, and wedding party to get ready that were comfortable, and the servers continually refilled coffee, water, and champagne! This was another amazing service. 3. Food/drinks were DELICIOUS. The plated option, which we chose, was a HUGE plate of food. One concern was that this preset option included a fish entree. Due to my seafood allergy, I asked Breanna if we could change just that one protein, and she worked with the chef to make it happen! Our guests really enjoyed it all! 4. The outdoor grounds were beautiful. We opted to do our ceremony on the lawn with that big beautiful tree as a backdrop. I was initially concerned about traffic noise, but the tall hedges really make a difference and you feel separated from the road and downtown life that are on the other side. The cocktail hour was held on the patio and servers were lined up waiting to pass out drinks and hors d'oeuvres. We set up cornhole on the lawn on that side and it was a really nice, relaxed setting. I really loved this place - having this kind of service made everything easy and worthwhile. Our wedding day was so smooth and stress-free. Also, as most of our guests were from out of town, they liked that it was located near downtown, and an easy Uber (or walk) from their hotels or rental homes. This was a long review, but there are just so many good things to say! If you're thinking about having your wedding at Riviera Mansion, just do it!

My husband and I got married at the Riviera Mansion this last August 2017, and it was the most incredible and magical experience. Each and every staff member at the Mansion went above and beyond to meet our every wish. Breanna was super helpful in the planning stages and responded quickly to all of our questions. Eli was a dream and changed things around last minute to make the event flow even smoother. He stayed during the wedding and made sure everyone was happy and things were running well. Both my husband and I were overwhelmed with the hospitality and genuineness of service at the Mansion. It was incredible to have use of the entire venue and to be able to have both the ceremony and reception there. The food was delicious and all the guests commented on how good it was. We loved being able to dance inside and have some of our guests relax in other rooms and be comfortable to do what they wanted. The Bridal Suite was gorgeous and the perfect setting to get ready with all my girls. We have nothing but raving things to say about the Mansion and would highly recommend this venue for any couple looking to get married.

My husband & I got married at the University Club in September of 2017. It was a flawless day. The venue is clean, beautiful, and incredibly unique. This is the wedding venue for people who do not want to get married somewhere generic and forgettable. The building is gorgeous and gardens are well-kept. Several of my friends took photos just admiring the venue and its ambiance. I will also add that the University Club recently re-did the bridal suite and the men’s bathroom—they are gorgeous! The food was also fantastic. I highly recommend the beef entrée and the mushroom tarts. We got a lot of compliments on the food, and everyone loved it! We also paid extra to have late night food (pizza & burgers) and a s’mores bar—both were HUGE hits with our guests and we’re still getting compliments months later. The alcohol selection and wine is also excellent. Lastly, and most importantly, the service at the University Club was fantastic. The staff and bartenders went out of their way to make sure our guests were taken care of the day off and had everything they needed. More importantly, the staff accommodated all of our special requests (of which there were many) before the day of the wedding. Breanna was there to answer our thousands of questions, and made sure our deliveries arrived in time before the wedding. They made sure our wedding day was everything we imagined it would be, and Breanna will make your life so much easier!

I could not be happier with choosing the Riviera Mansion for our wedding venue. My husband and I met in Santa Barbara so it was only fitting that we got married in a place that reminded us of where it all began. One of the things I loved about the venue is it's rich history in Santa Barbara and how beautifully the architecture and gardens photograph. The staff at the Riviera Mansion are top notch and really created a premium experience for us, from the first email we sent to Breanna to the walk-through, the tasting, rehearsal and the wedding day itself! We felt so well taken care of throughout the night- they checked in on my husband and I and our parents throughout the night to ensure we had our favorite drink in hand, got to taste all of the appetizers by putting a special plate at our dinner table and kept our champagne topped off for all of the toasts. One of the big selling points for us was that the venue included a lot of the basics like catering, bar, dinner rentals, bride & groom suites, and different ceremony and reception sites. I was grateful to be able to get ready, take photos, have a light lunch before the wedding all onsite. The venue itself is BEAUTIFUL and so dreamy. It was just the right amount of space and with all of the different room kept things interesting for our guests and allowed people to spread out across the different rooms and patios. I would highly recommend the Riviera Mansion to anyone looking for a classy, iconic and romantic wedding venue in Santa Barbara.

I could not say enough good things about the Riviera Mansion. It was the perfect place for our wedding. After we viewed the property, we instantly fell in love with it. It's elegant and classy, with just the right touches. Our wedding went off flawlessly because the Staff is so on top of it. Our guests complimented the unique touches, like passed apps and drinks after the ceremony and the consistent attention to drink refills. All in all it was the perfect venue and I would highly recommend it!

After searching for what felt like eons, my family, fiance, and I finally found the Riviera Mansion. It was such a blessing finding this venue and Bree. Everything leading up to our big day was smooth and easy. Bree was extremely professional, friendly, quick to respond when we had questions, and encouraging of our vision. Day of was amazing!!!! Absolutely beautiful. The staff was excellent (chef - accommodating of dietary needs and special orders, serving staff - attentive, fun, funny, helpful), the food out of this world (custom biscuits and gravy/fried chicken/filet mignon), and our guest are still talking about how much fun they had. We flipped the space by the huge, gorgeous tree for ceremony and dinner, had happy hour on the patio across from the park, and had drinks/dancing inside. I was a bit worried about the transitions from space to space, but the timeline went flawlessly. There are also two great spaces to get ready in - for both sides of the bridal party. My husband and his groomsmen had a great time playing pool before the ceremony and there was more than enough space to have a party of 7 bridesmaids get ready in the bridal quarters. We absolutely made the right choice picking the mansion for our wedding. We could not be happier!!! Thank you!!!!!!

Breanna and her team @ The Riviera Mansion accommodated all request and did so with genuine energy. We could not be more happy with the outcome . We feel blessed to have had the opportunity to share our magical day with all those who are apart of the Riviera Mansion family.

The Riviera Mansion was everything we wanted for our wedding reception! Breanna and her team were absolutely amazing and the property is gorgeous. We don't live in Santa Barbara, but Breanna made planning a destination wedding a breeze. We loved how the Riviera Mansion was all-inclusive; they provided practically everything we needed besides our cake and flowers! The responsiveness and attention to detail provided by Breanna and her staff were top notch. We wouldn't change a thing about our big day! I can't say enough good things about the Riviera Mansion.

When we began planning for our daughter's March 2017 wedding in Santa Barbara, we soon narrowed in on the University Club. Though our daughter is a California resident, we would be doing much of the planning from across the country so needed a reception venue/staff to whom I could trust. The University Club was the perfect place for all the details of the starters, meal and celebration. Beside finding the University Club structurally beautiful, centrally located, easily accessible and perfectly set up for a wedding reception of our size (150), their events co-ordinator, Breanna O'Toole, was a pleasure to work with. She was professional in every way - welcoming us to tour the home, explaining details of what they could offer and listening to our vision in order to customize to our need. She always responded in a timely manner to questions or clarifications we had, and was accessible right through to the event. And, much to my relief, everything was as promised. The staff was courteous, professional, responsive to any needs or requests we had, and clearly took pride in their work. We felt that they were truly as interested in our reception being beautiful and a joyful time as we were. My husband and I were able to truly focus on our family, guests and the joyful event largely because I had no worries about details being handled. Breanna and the entire staff at the University Club took care of all the details that might tempt a mother-of-the-bride to be distracted with.

We had a truly excellent experience at the Riviera Mansion! Breanna was very helpful in planning and very easy to contact. The venue is beautiful, and we loved that everything was included (catering, tables, bar, bride and groom suite, etc). It ended up raining on our wedding day, and the indoor space was a fantastic and intimate alternative. Our only critique was that when the ceremony was in the process of being moved inside (it happened at the last minute), there wasn't enough staff around (coordinators, etc.) to guide us on how to do this or to make the decision with us. It was a bit stressful and we felt on our own with that process. Once we were inside, though, the staff was so helpful, especially Eli and his team. The food was delicious, too. Contracts were easy to decipher. Overall, we highly recommend it!

I cannot say enough great things about The Riviera Mansion. If I could give them 100 stars I would! The staff is just amazing. From start to finish we could not have asked for a better venue! Our original venue went through major management changes, and a fire, making us uncomfortable with holding our wedding there. During our hunt to find a new one, we decided to make it a short destination wedding. We stumbled upon Riviera during our initial search. Fell in love with the photos and made an appointment to see it with Breanna. She is hands down the sweetest person we encountered during both our venue hunting excursions! We checked if our date was available, THANKFULLY it was! So we booked right away. No need to even look at any others! Called and canceled the rest of our tours for that day :) On our wedding day, it was pouring rain unfortunately. The staff was nothing short of amazing in keeping me calm and helping to move the ceremony from outside to inside. They gave me several options the day before during our walk-through just in case (since rain was in the forecast). They were super prepared and ready to move the ceremony site, which helped keep me calm the day of. Which was so appreciated. Dinner was amazing, wait staff was amazing, the woman helping us in the bridal suite with food orders and drinks was amazing, the bar tenders were amazing and the Food and Beverage Director was incredibly helpful and accommodating the night of the wedding. So glad everything worked out, the silver lining to our original venue fallout was definitely landing on this stunning venue! I would highly recommend this venue to any bride to be. It's amazing. Thank you Riviera Mansion team for everything!! :) xo

My husband and I LOVED our wedding day, from beginning to end, and we're so grateful we chose the Riveria Mansion to have our ceremony and reception. We had searched ALL over the LA area before making the decision to go up to Santa Barbara, which we have strong ties to anyway. Nothing in LA met everything we wanted like the mansion did - BEAUTIFUL venue, outdoor ceremony, with your choice of indoor or outdoor reception, ample parking, a later curfew (what fun is it if have to shut down too early!), amazing menu, awesome rooms for both bride and groom to get ready, ability to use candles/open flames, etc, etc. The beautiful, classic Santa Barbara style of the building stole our hearts. For us, the venue was a bit of a splurge, but completely worthwhile because it made planning that much easier. Breanna was EXCELLENT to work with. I had a million, little random detailed questions at the end and she was always extremely helpful and thorough to get back to me. On the day of, I was still a little hectic about things and realized pretty quickly that there were so many details they were willing to take care of for me that I hadn't anticipated. We had one minor hiccup during the day - the gentleman who ran the catering did not want to match the seating chart I had made. This was really frustrating because they had provided the seating chart (I had wanted to go out of the box with a straight table arrangement but had been in communication with them on it). I wouldn't knock them any points, because in they end, they accomodated what I had asked for, and Breanna was really gracious to apologize for the problem and help get everything back on track. When that is the only hiccup for your entire wedding day, you can't complain! Last but not least, the food was delicious. We got a lot of compliments on the food and happy guests throughout the whole night. They loved the venue and thought it was so cool to have the whole house and grounds to move around. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone who is looking for a beautiful spot and wants the support to make sure their day is perfect.

I would give even more stars if I could!! Hi brides and grooms to-be, my husband and I got married at the Riviera Mansion on October 9, 2016 and we had the kind of experience that you dream of. We were first drawn to the mansion for it's beautiful location (we live in LA but we wanted to do a mini destination wedding) and the romantic grounds. The price, all of the rooms and spaces that come with the rental, and the historic/Santa Barbara spanish building style inspired us to visit and take a tour. We saw there was a parking lot dedicated for guests (so convenient!), we found out that you get the mansion for the whole day (which was very important to us), and we found out just how many things were included in the rental price (so much I can't even list it!). I did a ton of research, looked at the amazing Yelp reviews, and compared venues/prices, and the Rivera Mansion was by far our #1 choice. Working with Breanna and her team truly felt like a luxury experience. From start to finish, Breanna was there for us every minute. If I ever had any questions or even just wanted to bounce ideas with her, she was always so sweet, patient, and outgoing. Breanna and her team are impeccably organized and responsive (every time I called, she picked up & every time we asked for information I'd get an email within minutes). Not once did I ever feel rushed or hesitant to call or email her. She is AMAZING!! There is so much that goes into planning a wedding, and having a venue and coordinator like the Riviera Mansion and Breanna made the process so fun and stress-free. It was so comforting to be working with such a professional, kind, and giving team. If you're looking for a beautiful location and venue, and you want to work with good people who are the best of the best at what they do, the Riviera Mansion is your venue. On a scale of 1-10, I would give our experience a 15. We're beyond grateful to Breanna and the Riviera Mansion for turning our dream wedding into a reality.

We knew from the first meeting that Riviera Mansion was the venue for us. Breanna and all the staff were fantastic- so warm and invested in our having a beautiful day. Eli was excellent on the day and everyone kept saying how good the food was. It was everything we hoped for and more. Many benefits specific to the venue- all the silverware and tables and chairs being included. YES! I loved not having to worry about those details. Having access to the house all day on the wedding day was incredible- the bridal suite was perfect to get ready in, and the light was incredible for photographs. My entire family and all my friends felt so a home in the space- having the lounge off the dining room available for people to sit and relax, talk, and play the piano was fantastic. We are so happy we picked this venue and can't imagine the day being anywhere else. Thank you!

We're so glad we chose to get married at the Riviera Mansion! The outdoor space is really special and the inside is beautiful. You can make any vision a reality there, from completely unique to tried-and-true classic, and everything in between. The staff is so helpful throughout the planning process. Breanna is a treasure. And everyone was so nice and helpful throughout the day!

My husband and I just got married at the Riviera Mansion this November and we could not have been happier with the venue!! From the beginning Breanna was unbelievable - she was able to accommodate every request in the months leading up to our wedding, and was even flexible on the day when we had a few last minute changes. Our friends and family RAVED about the food, the bartenders were amazing, and the space is just so special. Truly everything was perfect for our day, and the beauty of the outdoor ceremony area as well as the extraordinary indoor reception space was a gorgeous combination and exactly what we were looking for. My husband and I spent a lot of time in the early days of our engagement looking for a venue that felt unique and had character - the Riveria Mansion provided that and more. The staff are incredibly professional and will go out of their way to make you feel special and taken care of on your wedding day. I cannot imagine a more amazing wedding than the one we had at the Riviera Mansion!!

We found this venue via Wedding Spot. It fit all necessary categories (within budget, ceremony and reception sites, provided most items) and we went ahead with booking our date without seeing it in person. From the moment we saw the venue and tasted the food we could not have been happier. Warning; this place is bound to book quickly! We ended up booking a date 11 months out and there were only two Saturdays available within the next year, so we went with a Sunday. The People – I could not have asked for a better team to work with at the venue! Breanna and Eli happily accommodated all our requests, from our tasting through our wedding day including: allowing my parents to attend the tasting, pouring higher-end wine, passing champagne before the ceremony, etc. But the real winner was accommodating the unexpected weather! During our final walkthrough we realized we may have to move our wedding from the gorgeous tree back dropped lawn inside due to rain (I was admittedly in denial). Three hours before the ceremony, we pulled the trigger and moved the wedding inside. The staff moved all the chairs from the dining room to the living room (and seamlessly moved them back during cocktail hour) which accommodated our 85 person wedding. Although it was not what I envisioned, looking back it made our wedding exactly what I had wanted. The Venue – To say the Mansion is beautiful is an understatement. It has character and class and required zero add-ons to become the perfect backdrop for our wedding day. The food – We were happy with our tasting, but you never know how that will translate to a party of 85. It worked perfectly! With many of our attendees in the restaurant business they were thoroughly impressed with the execution of all the food. You hear you don’t eat on your wedding day, but we made sure we did and both the fish and flat iron steak were completely comparable to what we had tried 6 months before. Honestly, I would eat here again! Late night snacks were a hit as well (and necessary after the wild dance party that ensued). I can’t say enough great things about the Riviera Mansion!

We couldn't have had a more wonderful experience working with Breanna and her team at the University Club/Riviera Mansion. They worked with us to create a celebration that felt truly special to us, listening to and accommodating the picture we had in mind for our day. The food was fabulous, and all of the staff were incredible. Thank you, Breanna! Brian + Kelsey

As the mother of the bride, I only have the most positive things to say about our daughter and son-in-law's wedding at the Riviera Mansion. When you first book a venue, you really don't know for certain how it is going to work out. But our wedding couple's decision to go with the Riviera Mansion for their Santa Barbara wedding was the best one they could have made. The setting is perfect. We had the ceremony by that gorgeous big tree followed by a cocktail hour on the patio. Then it was back to the ceremony area for a scrumptious sit-down dinner. The food was delicious. Many of our guests are serious foodies, and we received many compliments about the menu selections after the wedding. And the service was efficient and flawless. Not one complaint from our 120 plus guests! When we went inside for the reception, there was fun and dancing. But it was also nice to have other quiet spaces to relax and talk. I felt I really had a chance to connect with family and friends sitting in front of the fireplace in the living room. And the dessert table in the library was gorgeous. Now to talk about the staff, which is the most important part because you are working with them throughout the planning and then the day of. Breanna is amazing!!! She is gracious and patient. No question was too big or small during the process and she got back to us promptly every time. We always felt as if we were the only people she was working with, although we know that wasn't the case. And Eli and his staff were great listeners, always available, and attentive during the celebration. As you can tell from this review, I definitely would recommend the Riviera Mansion.

We got married at the Riviera Mansion in July and had a wonderful wedding. We looked at so many venues in different locations and styles. This place captured such a great mix of what we were looking for and we couldn't have been happier. Enough cannot be said about the staff at the Riviera Mansion. They are so accommodating, kind, efficient, fun and patient. Breanna, the sales and events director, is fantastic from start to finish, answering questions, checking to see what she can do about any special requests, and making it easy for you! It feels like she cares and isn't just doing her job. Eli, who is the food and beverages director, was amazing. He took such great care of us and was so patient and good at his job! Gustavo was also so wonderful to us. He was so lovely to all our guests, gave us great marriage advice, and treated us like family. He even helped us with dismantling our arch! You really get the feeling that they want to make everything work for you and help make your wedding day as special as possible. We had such a great time at the Riviera Mansion and our guests loved the charming venue. The outdoor lawn area for the ceremony is beautiful with the large tree as a backdrop, it has a really special feel to it. There are so many great places to wander to from the patio to the living room to the library to the dance floor, there is just so much character there. We loved getting married here and can't wait to go back and visit in the future!

After visiting a few places on the central coast, my wife and I decided this was the perfect spot for our wedding. The venue was absolutely gorgeous. We had our ceremony in the outside area and reception inside. Very intimate and spacious. Breanna was an awesome event manager. Very prompt and thorough. Eli, the food manager was great, as well as the staff. Food was divine from top to bottom. I was very pleased with our experience here and overall was a great wedding. I definitely recommend this venue to any couple looking to get married. Awesome venue!

Our wedding in Santa Barbara in early September was absolutely perfect!! Our ceremony was at the beautiful mural room in the Courthouse and then we hosted our reception at the Rivera Mansion University Club. We planned a small, out of town wedding so detail coordination was important to say the least; working with the mansion for the reception which included many additional items including linens and tables and silver and glasses, etc. helped eliminate several frustrations and time constraints. Communication with the mansion in the months preceding was very cordial and on the day of the event the staff was very attentive and friendly. The mansion staff, furthermore, as you would expect, is well acquainted with many wedding service providers around town - DJs, florists etc., - which can help assist in the booking process for outside vendors. The event space itself is very beautiful and perfect for a classic wedding setting. We opted for a cocktail hour on the grass (the patio was otherwise occupied for an internal event) and the dining room was warm and welcoming which can be made to fit a large or small attendee level. We look forward to coming back to Santa Barbara and the mansion to revisit our wedding memories.

Our wedding at the Riviera Mansion was a perfect setting for 100 people. We held the ceremony outdoors and the reception indoors. Both Breanna and Eli are exceptional to work with - kind, funny, high attention to detail, easy to work with, responsive, considerate - you name it, they had it covered with a smile on their face. We had priced out other places and this venue by far offered the most value given the beautiful ambiance and space. Our photos will be provided shortly and will post them on this site.

My wife and I got married at the Riviera Mansion last year and we could not be happier with how everything turned out. We live in DC, but wanted to get married in Santa Barbara (that’s where we met), which made picking a venue difficult. My mother-in-law and Katie’s Maid of Honor live near Santa Barbara and were able to look at venues for us, which was a huge help, but still not the same as being able to see something yourself. The Riviera Mansion was one of the venues that we had found online that we wanted my MIL and Katie’ MOH to check-out. We got in touch with the wedding coordinator there, Breanna, and she setup an appointment for them to see it and emailed us all the details about the venue. Both of them loved the venue, so we started to get in more serious discussions with Breanna. Breanna was absolutely fantastic. She could not have been more helpful or responsive, which was really important to us, since we weren’t able to see the venue in person. She answered all of our questions and was really really accommodating. I don’t know how many times my MIL went to the venue, but it was probably at least 10, and Breanna always obliged. Since they loved the venue so much and Breanna was so helpful, we decided to book the venue without every seeing it in person. We are so glad we did. The first time we saw the venue was for our tasting. We are picky eaters, and the staff at RM (especially, Eli) were so accommodating with our requests, without ever making us feel like we were being too needy. My wife, her MOH, her mom, and I all went to the tasting and it was incredible. The food was delicious and they brought us at least 15 different drinks (we obviously couldn’t drink them all)! My MIL is very picky with wine, and Eli opened bottle after bottle to find ones she liked. Leading up to our wedding, Breanna was constantly in touch with us to make sure everything was perfect—and it was! Our wedding went as well as it could have and we really have the Riviera Mansion staff (especially Breanna and Eli) and our wedding planner (Kendle Evans) to thank. We really enjoyed the space we had to get ready before the wedding, especially the grooms room (which has pool tables and TV). They even let us bring in our own food and drinks while we got ready, which we really appreciated. We would absolutely recommend the Riviera Mansion to anyone considering getting married in Santa Barbara.

Everything about our wedding at the Riviera Mansion was perfect! Breanna and the rest of the staff were amazing - we got answers to all of our questions quickly and the entire process was very easy and relaxed. The food was incredible and we had so much fun at our tasting! Our guests loved that we had the ceremony and reception at the same location, and the parking lot made it very convenient for everyone. We had a separate room for the kids, which their parents loved, and the guys had a great time in the Groom's Room. Throughout the night, the staff was on point and when a guest spilled a drink on the dance floor in the bar, someone came over right away to clean it up. Everything was beautiful and went very smoothly, and the already-gorgeous venue allowed us to save some money on decorations and spend more on food & drinks. Overall, everything about our wedding was absolutely perfect and we are thrilled that we chose the Riviera Mansion for our wedding venue. We would highly recommend it!

The Riviera Mansion (aka The University Club) in Santa Barbara is the ultimate venue for a wedding and/or reception. My daughter was recently married in the Riviera’s garden and had her reception in the mansion’s dining room. It was a fairytale wedding and the reception went beyond our greatest expectations. This was largely due to the outstanding staff at the Riviera. Service was exceptional….better than at any five star hotel or restaurant. The chef at the Riviera is extraordinary! The compliments are still coming in on the quality of the food. Breanna O’Toole is amazing. My daughter lives in New York, so almost all planning was carried out with Breanna over the phone or via e-mail. She is very responsive to your needs and did a wonderful job in working out details, facilitating changes with menus, updating estimates, communicating venue information, etc. So, if there are any out-of-state brides looking to hold their wedding or reception at the Riviera, don’t let the distance be an obstacle. She will be there for you and help you all the way! Once the planning is finalized, Breanna turns over the details to Eli and his staff. And they will make your dreams come true! During the wedding reception, Eli’s staff were extremely attentive to every need. I overheard more than one guest comment on the superb service they received. Eli made sure the flow of events went smoothly. I don’t know what I would have done without him! Because he was on site, overseeing everything, I was able to socialize and enjoy my daughter’s wedding without worrying that something was going to be overlooked. The Riviera Mansion is a bride’s dream come true. As mother-of-the bride, I highly recommend this venue to all prospective couples. The venue is absolutely stunning. It is the perfect backdrop for a beautiful bride.

Choosing Riviera Mansion for my August 2016 reception venue was the best wedding decision I made. Here's why: (1) Staff: Everyone I encountered at Riviera Mansion was remarkably professional and accommodating. Breanna, our main contact leading up to the wedding, was friendly, calm, responsive, and always found a way to say yes even as things changed last minute. She was a paragon of professionalism: she gave us a heads-up when she went on vacation months before our wedding and gently reminded us of deadlines as we got closer. Eli, the food director and our main contact during the reception, has a great energy, and right away when I met him I felt that he was totally competent and going to handle everything and let me relax. Letty, our contact while we were getting ready in the bridal suite, was cheerful, arrived super early on a Saturday for us, and made sure we had everything we needed. Even the people setting up the tables seemed happy to be working there and genuinely excited for our wedding. A waiter came over during dinner to give me his earnest well wishes, along with leftover appetizers that I hadn't had time to taste--both very appreciated :) (2) Guest experience: The positivity of the staff translated to the guests feeling great about being there. Multiple guests told me they felt so honored, welcome, and special when they arrived at the Mansion, thanks to the staff. During dinner, the lights were dimmed, candles lit, and music turned up to create a cozy, family-style restaurant feel. Guests also loved that we had the entire venue to ourselves; it created a sense of ease and felt like being "at home," and in turn led guests to stick around the party even longer. Although intimate, the space is big enough to create different areas for different interests: I saw my friends/family in the garden sharing a romantic moment, in the bar dancing like crazy, at the chill fireplace area chatting with grannies, at a game lounge area with the kiddos, etc. Guests also raved about the food. Several engaged guests told me after they wished they'd booked this venue instead of other LA-based venues they'd chosen. Everyone seemed so happy, to my delight. (3) Eye candy: We wanted a place that would serve as a stunning backdrop for our photos, and the Mansion delivered. In my opinion, it looks like something straight out of Pride & Prejudice. Calm, classy, ornate, vintage, with stunning details. This also made wedding planning so much easier, because extra decor wasn't necessary. (4) Price: At first I thought a more DIY-style wedding at a public venue would be most cost-effective, but I crunched the numbers for caterers, decor rentals, etc. and learned I was wrong. I researched probably around 50-75 other options, and concluded that Riviera Mansion gave the most bang for your buck. Weddings aren't cheap, but I was really impressed with the Mansion's pricing and Breanna's willingness to help us keep cost down. I don't have a single complaint against Riviera Mansion (and as a lawyer, that's saying something!). It was perfect.

My husband and I recently got married in July 2016 at the Riviera Mansion. We had a long engagement so we had plenty of time to think about where we wanted to get married. We visited countless venues and nothing seemed to fit with what we were looking for. When we visited the Riviera Mansion, we immediately knew this was the place that we wanted to get married. The Sales and Events Coordinator, Breanna was our point of contact for the venue. I can’t say enough about how amazing she is. She was always reachable and communicated with us very well, took the time to listen to what we wanted and worked within our budget. The venue provided staffing and they were phenomenal. They were an integral part of the wedding and because of them, our wedding day went smoothly and without any hiccups. The Mansion had everything we wanted - located up the street from the Courthouse, two blocks from State Street, two parks located across the street and Alice Keck park a block away, parking for our guest and the ability to have exclusive use of the entire venue! I know that it may not seem like a big deal, but, being the only wedding at the venue really made the day feel extra special. We didn’t have to worry about our guest accidentally wandering into another wedding and being the only event we were able to customize the entire day. The venue has a bridal suite which was perfect for getting ready with my girls and it also had a shower. There is a grooms room which has a pool table and was located downstairs next to the bar. Our ceremony was held outside on the Sola Patio. We only used about ½ of the patio and it easily accommodated 115 people. There is a large tree in the middle of the patio however, our family was able to assemble a manzanita arch covered with white orchids and placed it directly in front of the tree with no problem. Our cocktail hour was held inside the mansion. Since we got married at the end of July it was still hot outside and having the cocktail hour inside allowed everyone the opportunity to cool down and really enjoy the architecture of the venue. Everyone was then brought out to the Garden Lawn to have dinner under the venue’s grand and prodigious tree. Dinner was served buffet style with a completely customized menu. Our wedding had a Spanish theme so, we served food that had a heavy Spanish influences. We provided the venue with several recipes and ideas for what we would like to serve and Chef Marc Meynenc delivered!!! Everyone told us how amazing the food was and the presentation was beautiful. After dinner, we invited our guest back inside the mansion for dancing and cake cutting. Looking back at the day, I couldn’t picture it being at any other venue. I would highly recommend this venue and am so grateful to everyone at the Rivera Mansion for all their hard work in making our wedding so magical.