Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Narrative Loft

    5.0 (61 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Request a quote

    You can now request a quote from this business directly from Yelp

    Services - The Narrative Loft

    The Narrative Loft Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Narrative Loft

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ashley H.

    The Narrative Loft is such an amazing gem in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara! My husband and I hosted our wedding reception here and had the most incredible time! The space is absolutely stunning - lofty, open space with gorgeous woodwork and tons of natural lighting. The feel is slightly industrial, slightly rustic. Our wedding was super DIY and The Narrative Loft was the perfect blank canvas to make our dream reception come to life. We cannot praise The Narrative Loft team enough. Michelle and Kat were warm, welcoming, organized, and flexible regarding scheduling both throughout the planning process and the day of the event. We live in NY and planned our wedding long distance; they were with us every step of the way and always responded to our requests/questions efficiently. They also recommended the majority of the vendors that we used who were all superb! A few more pros for this phenomenal space: there are no noise restrictions, on the weekends guests can park for free in the massive parking lot, you can bring in vendors of your choosing, and it's conveniently located in the hip Funk Zone, walking distance or a short drive away from State St. (and the beach). Guests were easily able to walk to nearby bars after our reception. Best of all, The Narrative Loft team really invested themselves in our event - they were calming and kind and did everything in their power to make sure that our event ran smoothly and that we had the best time ever. Our guests could not stop raving about the beauty of the loft and how comfortable they felt in the space. The loft was the perfect size for our 75 guests but could easily have accommodated more people. We highly, highly recommend The Narrative Loft for anyone looking for a fun space to get creative in!

    The crowd at TEDxSantaBarbara LIVE giving a shout out to the TED Audience during the Livestream as it was simulcast at The Narrative Loft
    Mark S.

    We used the Narrative Loft for a recent TEDxLive event (http://TEDxSantaBarbara.com) and the space contributed so much to the success of the day. Specifically, working Michelle to set things up was a breeze and her onsite staff, Sarah, was extremely helpful through setup - day of and cleaning up. The space itself is extremely flexible and we were able to create several areas for viewing the livestream (using the included Mac, Wireless and Projector was a big help). Sarah has added value right away by setting up a nice area with a couch and some nice, comfortable chairs, this created yet another conversation area. Little things like easy access to air conditioning, electrical plugs, a house audio system (SONOS) made the day go very smoothly. People commented all day long about how cool the space was, how open and airy it felt and how 'TEDlike' the atmosphere was. Nearly everyone had never been in the space, as it's off the beaten track. Yet everyone said, "We'd come back in a minute to an event here." We're looking forward to doing more here at the Narrative Loft and working with Michelle and her team.

    When I first heard of The Narrative Loft, it was through a friend of a friend. They had hosted a wedding reception there as well. What first drew us in to have our wedding and reception here was the open loft that had beautiful wood flooring and beams with all the large windows with natural lighting. Although the Loft is often used for receptions only, our wedding was small enough to hold the wedding and reception both at the same place. We opted to have our guests seated at family style banquet tables rented from Just4Fun Party Rentals and our sweetheart table served as our makeshift alter. Everything looked amazing and just how I imagined it would look. The space and lighting made our intimate wedding feel even more intimate and romantic at the same time. We would totally recommend the Loft for anyone wanting to have a more unconventional wedding or even just a beautiful reception. You can decorate anyway you'd desire and have a caterer of your preference. The Loft does not force you to follow a specific list of vendors all though they do have recommendations if you need help. So we were able to have street tacos for our reception dinner! Who doesn't love tacos?!? Coordinating plans through emails with Michelle from the Narrative Loft was very easy and she replied very promptly. Maybe we can have our vowel renewal here in 5 years

    Jessica R.

    We choose The Narrative Loft for our wedding venue. From start to finish the entire experience was amazing, and better than I'd even imagined. Michelle and Kat were who we primarily worked with, & they were the sweetest throughout planning, our million questions, and last minute changes. Thank you Narrative Loft for hosting our dream wedding!!

    Plenty of space to tear it up on the dance floor!
    Radhi P.

    We had a mendhi/sangeet/birthday party at the Loft the night before our wedding in Santa Barbara and it was PERFECT! The space is obviously amazing but the loft staff is wonderful and so helpful! We loved it and couldn't be happier with our choice! The fee is flat, there's no sneak attacks, there is no noise ordinance, and there's no fee to bring in a caterer like many other venues have. Not to mention, Kat is the best!

    Its honestly the most beautiful place to host any event

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Missy T.
    21
    15
    14

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark S.
    71
    19
    14

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ruth N.
    187
    40
    26

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michelle L.

    Michelle L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michelle L.

    Michelle L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Radhi P.
    22
    33
    47

    9 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michelle L.

    Michelle L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michelle L.

    Michelle L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess H.
    38
    21
    5

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michelle L.

    Michelle L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alice C.
    2013
    1705
    666

    10 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michelle L.

    Michelle L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alisa W.
    308
    63
    36

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cerita B.
    207
    32
    12

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michelle L.

    Michelle L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Narrative Loft

    Review Highlights - The Narrative Loft

    Michelle and her staff were prompt with responses and helpful the entire time we planned our DIY wedding.

    Mentioned in 26 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Venues & Event Spaces 484 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Candice Marie Photography - Newborn Shoot

    Candice Marie Photography

    (11 reviews)

    I booked Candice Marie Photography for my wedding in 2021 and am still SO obsessed with the photos…read more I chose Candice over other photographers because of her incredible portfolio, and her radiant personality and professionalism. She offers a variety of packages and provided me with a thorough questionnaire to get a feel for what I wanted, which made me feel at ease. She was also very responsive and organized, and overall a pleasure to work with. At the wedding, she and her second shooter made our wedding party feel comfortable and directed us in a way that allowed for natural, fun photos. They also got a lot of pictures of our guests, candid shots, and little details. I had an amazing experience working with Candice Marie Photography and would highly recommend her.

    Candice was our photographer for our April 2023 wedding and we are so happy with the choice we…read moremade! She is professional, easy going, and extremely talented at what she does. She was able to control our rowdy bridal party and made taking hundreds of photos a really fun experience for everyone. We're so happy with the photos we received, they were delivered on time and are excellent quality. A few months after we received the photos, I realized we missed a really important "must" photo so I reached out to her and she was so accommodating and helped to photoshop an existing photo so that we had something to work with. I really, really appreciated this gesture and I think it's a good example of her character and professionalism. You won't regret working with Candice, I can't recommend her enough.

    Kelsey Crews Photo - Los Olivos Wedding Photographer

    Kelsey Crews Photo

    (13 reviews)

    Kelsey is an absolutely amazing photographer and human being. Our wedding was originally scheduled…read morefor April 2020 which of course did not happen due to COVID, and we tried to reschedule it several times but bad things kept happening to us including our first baby being stillborn, so it was a super long and dragged out process to finally get the wedding in the books. Kelsey was not only patient and responsive throughout the almost 2 year planning process, but she also helped us out with other things, like recommendations for a spa to get a gift card to thank our amazing planner. We came down to Santa Barbara for a weekend a couple months before the wedding, to meet our vendors and scope things out, and Kelsey provided a TON of input and guidance on places to do our First Look and other photos. She was just so amazingly helpful and kind. But where her kindness really shone through was on our wedding day. She went SO FAR above and beyond to give us the special day she felt we deserved after all our loss (we also had an 11 week miscarriage 8 months after our first baby was stillborn, and my mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in the height of our grief). She truly wanted our day to be as perfect as possible and she really delivered. My husband and I are both pretty shy, awkward people so we were super nervous for the photoshoot as we hate people looking at us and being the center of attention. Not only did Kelsey (and our wonderful videographer Jennie from Riviera Productions) make us feel completely at ease, but somehow, magically, she actually made it fun?!?!? Taking the photos between the ceremony and the reception was the most fun part of our wedding day, we had a blast and the photos are absolutely BREATHTAKING. Like straight out of a magazine. I don't know how she did it but she made everything look so beautiful and we could not be more thrilled with the photos. We knew she was good, because I'm the type of person who reads a million reviews and does a ton of research before I book anything or go anywhere, but Kelsey is next level. The photos are far better than anything we could have ever imagined. Even though we live in the Bay Area, we will be using Kelsey as our family photographer forever. She is worth 9 hours in the car round trip. Heck, I'd drive days to see her! If you're trying to decide who to book, stop wasting your time wading through reviews and just book Kelsey already. She is fantastic and we feel so, so, so fortunate to know her.

    So hands down Kelsey is the BEST photographer in the Santa Barbara area! I may be biased since she…read morecaptured the most gorgeous photos from my husband and our wedding day at the Fess Parker this June, but honestly, she is the best. Our initial contact, I immediately knew that I wanted KELSEY, because I knew we would click, and we did! She met us when we came down to SB for a visit, as we don't live in the area, and gave me SO many recommendations, including my videographer, sweetheart cake, Flowers! Honestly, I credit her for the amazing vendors! Each photo is gorgeous and I would not have changed anything! She's so generous and provided my husband with some special stuff out of the kindness of her heart. Kelsey Crews is the best!

    Karen D Photography - Courthouse

    Karen D Photography

    (84 reviews)

    Karen was absolutely incredible for our wedding at the Santa Barbara Courthouse this past…read moreSeptember. Her professionalism, deep knowledge of the location, and ability to capture stunning, emotional moments truly set her apart. She guided us through the entire process with ease and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. Most importantly, she was exceptionally attentive to my wife, Lily, who was deeply grateful for how supported, confident, and cared for she felt throughout the day. Karen's calm presence made a huge difference. Her communication and coordination with our wedding planner were flawless, and her response time and turnaround on the photos were outstanding. The quality of the final gallery exceeded all expectations, every image was beautifully delivered and something we will cherish forever. We cannot recommend Karen highly enough and thank her enough for her natured care. Thank you Karen and Staff.

    I cannot speak more highly of Karen's amazing photography skills, demeanor, and professionalism…read more From the very beginning Karen made us feel at ease, confident, and supported. Karen made our entire engagement session so enjoyable - we truly had the best time, and looking back at our photos is such a pleasure as it brings back the happy memories of making the moments. We are both not super comfortable in front of the camera, and Karen put us at ease and even gave us posing tips. Karen took the time to get each photo perfect, and even scoped out unique spots to make our photos extra special. I am sad we are getting married on the East Coast, because I can only imagine how wonderful Karen would have been as our wedding photographer. If you're looking for a highly-skilled, professional, personable, friendly, and funny photographer, you've found her!

    The Narrative Loft - venues - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...