The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Best of Weddings (2x)

8301 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA

300+ guest capacity

This venue can host 300+ guests

About this vendor

Nestled in the coveted Gaviota Coast of Santa Barbara, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, is a Spanish colonial styled oceanfront resort of unsurpassed beauty and mystical charm. With direct beach access, a 42,000-square foot luxury spa, six culinary venues, including Angel Oak - the resort's signature restaurant, and a multitude of other resort amenities, the 358-room, 1200 guest capacity, resort is the perfect all-encompassing retreat offering privacy and close proximity to nearby world-class wineries and Santa Barbara.

Amenities + details

Ceremony Area

Covered Outdoors Space

Handicap Accessible

Indoor Event Space

On-Site Accommodations

Outdoor Event Space

Reception Area

Wireless Internet

Dressing Room

Liability Insurance

Guest Capacity

300+

Settings

Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Garden
Hotel
Mountain

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Food & Catering
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff

Awards and Affiliations

4.3

out of 5.0

10 reviews

Search reviews

3/05/2016 • Emily A

It was an absolute dream come true getting married at the Bacara Resort & Spa. We hosted our ceremony and reception at the Bacara and we were very pleased with the decor, food, and the overall grounds of the venue are absolutely breathtaking. Our guests have been raving that they had the best time and many of them extended their stay to have more time at the Bacara.

10/31/2015 • Talia R

Beautiful hotel and area for reception. Had to change city otherwise I would have said i do here! So beautiful and warm staff. Talia R. + Peter C. 10.15.16

11/18/2012 • Megan L

Bacara Resort and Spa was our first choice of venue and was the absolute perfect place for us to spend our wedding. Our ceremony was on the Miro Lawn -- a bluff overlooking the ocean, with our reception in the rotunda -- perfect for couples who don't want a ball-room venue but have 100+ people on the guest list. The resort provides the food (perfectly prepared and beautifully plated) and cake and an onsite co-ordinator (ours, Ali, was great to work with). Our ocean view suite was a huge luxury and we were greeted with champagne and other treats. Though Bacara comes with a hefty price tag, our coordinator was really willing to work with us and our budget...though we did splurge on late night chicken and waffles (well worth it)! The resort loses a star for a few reasons: The front desk is unorganized and uncommunicative; among other mishaps, they misplaced wedding gifts and decorations. Also, the resort has been undergoing renovations for the past year and parts of the resort are unsightly and updates left one of two of their restaurants closed.

10/19/2012 • Carra G

although the hotel is beautiful, the service is not up to par for the prices they demand. The event/catering staff was impossible to get a hold of, & were very difficult to work with. There was only 1 person who would return calls/emails & she didn't come into the picture until 2 months before our wedding. The saving grace of the hotel is the location, grounds, & the food was very good.

6/15/2011 • Daniela G

Bacara was my dream location for a wedding, and i was lucky enough to have been able to have lived my dream. The location is immaculate and the food was perfect, but working with management during the planning process was not easy. The hotel is very exclusive and they cater to many celebrities, so when it comes down to serving to the "normal" people, they seem to not care about your special day and the hard earned money you are spending with them. It tooks weeks sometimes to even get one response to an email or a phone call. Even up until the last week of my wedding, i was still trying to get a hold of them for questions. I had the time of my life at my wedding and wouldn't trade the experience for anything, but i am left with a very negative feeling about the hotel. Oh and forgot to mention, they also did our wedding cake and totally messed it up. It was was nothing like we had asked for...it was really sad.

12/21/2010 • Christina G

If you want everything to be amazing and perfectly taken care of, this is your place. From start to finish my Bacara planner, Jennifer Lindbloom, was amazing! The staff is so professional and on top of it, amazing food, service, ambiance. I had the whole rotunda room and terrace and it was perfect! All our guests were wowed at everything!

9/22/2010 • Lisa T

Bacara thinks they are a much more chic and exclusive resort than they actually are and their customer service suffers. My guests had a wonderful time and in the end they made everything perfect, but working with them during the planning phase was very frustrating. They missed calls, screwed up my bill, did not follow through on requests, ect. Good thing they know how to put on a show in the end.

5/10/2010 • Bobbie R

The Bacara Resort restaurant is located on a seacliff overlooking the ocean. The venue had formal indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio that wrapped around the restaurant which created a beautiful setting and ambiance - very romantic for an early evening ceremony and reception. Not to mention the impeccable service!;Attention to detail makes this venue exceptional. Book in advance!!

5/10/2010 • Michelle L

The reception venue was spectacular. We decorated it very unique, making it special for our day. The staff was exceptional and the food was spectacular.

9/02/2007 • Heather M

Bacara is so beautiful and peaceful. My husband and I ate breakfast adn lunch there a lot and we just always loved the view and feel of the place. Before we were engaged I knew that is where I wanted our wedding.;Really nothing, the service was amazing from the beginning to end.....all involved.