A fairytale small wedding in the courtyard of a historic castle in Salamanca
Alexandra and Dylan’s intimate wedding in Spain
While other couples dream of traditional weddings in familiar settings, Alexandra and Dylan dreamed of saying their vows inside a 15th-century Spanish castle officially recognized as a historic-artistic monument, surrounded only by their closest people.
Before May ended in 2023, as spring bloomed across Spain's Castilian countryside, this couple brought thirty-six guests to Castillo del Buen Amor near Salamanca for an intimate destination wedding that felt straight out of a fairytale. The castle itself provided all the drama needed — ancient stone walls, historic courtyards, and rolling green fields stretching toward the horizon.
With their wedding planner in Spain, handling every detail from vendor recommendations to day-of coordination, they experienced a celebration that honored history while creating entirely new memories. From getting ready with their wedding party to an emotional first look, from their minimalist courtyard ceremony to dancing late into the evening with a DJ, every moment reflected thoughtful planning and genuine joy. The kind of magic that Spain wedding packages bring - reliable vendors delivering complete services for your big day, and the expertise of a local planner at your fingertips.
The venue: A 15th-century castle in Salamanca
When Alexandra and Dylan started searching for wedding venues in Spain, they wanted something with real history and character — not a hotel styled to look old, but an actual castle with centuries of stories embedded in its walls.
Castillo del Buen Amor delivered exactly that. This 15th-century fortress, officially recognized as a Spanish historic-artistic monument, sits in the countryside near Salamanca surrounded by rolling green fields.
The castle offered everything they needed for their intimate celebration. A stunning courtyard perfect for outdoor ceremonies. Historic interiors providing multiple spaces for getting ready, cocktails, and reception. Authentic architecture that required minimal decoration because the venue itself was the statement. The location near Salamanca meant easy access for their thirty-six guests traveling internationally, while still feeling like a countryside escape.
What made this castle particularly special among our other Spanish wedding venues was how it balanced grandeur with intimacy. Even with just over thirty guests, the castle never felt empty or oversized. The courtyard created naturally intimate space for their ceremony, while the historic rooms provided cozy settings for celebration that felt both elegant and welcoming.
Planning a Spanish wedding from abroad with a local planner
Coordinating a destination wedding in Spain at a historic castle requires local expertise and vendor relationships that couples planning from abroad simply cannot develop on their own. Their destination wedding planner in Spain became Alexandra and Dylan's essential partner, handling every complexity of bringing their vision to life in a different country.
She was the single point of contact who recommended and booked the photographer, knowing his style would capture both the castle's grandeur and intimate moments beautifully. She arranged the videographer to document their day cinematically. She connected them with floral artists who would complement rather than overwhelm the historic setting — a floral arch for the ceremony, Alexandra's bouquet, and table centerpieces in their chosen colors of sage green, burgundy, and blush pink.
Music coordination required particular thoughtfulness. Alejandra arranged a string duet to play during the ceremony and cocktail hour, creating sophisticated atmosphere. For the reception, she booked DJ Marcos Asaltacalles, understanding that the energy needed to shift from elegant to celebratory as the evening progressed.
She coordinated transportation, arranging shuttle service from Salamanca to ensure all thirty-six guests could travel together comfortably. She even handled the cake order from Bendito Cupcake, selecting almond mascarpone with strawberries that would satisfy diverse palates.
An emotional first look before the ceremony
Before their courtyard ceremony, Alexandra and Dylan chose to have a first look — a private moment to see each other in their wedding attire without the pressure of guests watching. This decision, coordinated by Alejandra as part of the day's timeline, created space for genuine emotion before the formality of the ceremony began.
The first look happened in one of the castle's historic spaces, with photographer Mikkel Carlson capturing every moment. Dylan's reaction seeing Alexandra in her dress. The couple's embrace. Those quiet words exchanged before the day's celebrations truly began. This intimate moment allowed them to be vulnerable and present with each other without performance anxiety.
First looks offer particular advantages for destination weddings. After traveling internationally and coordinating logistics for dozens of guests, having this private moment together helps couples reconnect with why they're there — not for the production or the venue, but for each other. For Alexandra and Dylan, it set the perfect emotional tone for everything that followed.
A minimalist courtyard ceremony amidst a historic castle in Salamanca
At three in the afternoon, with spring sunshine warming the castle courtyard, Alexandra and Dylan's thirty-six guests gathered for their ceremony. The setting spoke for itself — centuries-old stone walls, historic Spanish architecture, blue sky overhead. Alejandra had coordinated a minimalist floral arch as the ceremony's focal point, understanding that elaborate decoration would compete with rather than enhance the venue's inherent beauty.
The string duet Alejandra had arranged played as guests arrived and throughout the ceremony, creating atmosphere without overwhelming the space's natural acoustics. The courtyard's intimate scale meant every guest had perfect views and could feel genuinely connected to the moment happening before them.
Spring timing proved ideal. Late May in central Spain offers comfortable temperatures perfect for outdoor celebrations, with that particular quality of light that makes everything glow. The courtyard ceremony felt both grand — because of the historic setting — and intimate — because of the small guest count and thoughtful scale.
This is what happens when you choose a venue with real character and work with a planner who understands how to enhance rather than obscure that character. The castle and the couple became the focus of their intimate wedding in Spain, exactly as it should be.
A castle stroll and comprehensive photography
After exchanging vows, Alexandra and Dylan took advantage of their venue's cinematic potential. While guests enjoyed cocktails with continued live music from the string duet, the couple explored the castle grounds with their photographer. Every corridor, every stone wall, every historic detail became backdrop for portraits that captured both the venue's grandeur and the couple's joy.
This extended photography time — built into the timeline Alejandra had coordinated — meant comprehensive documentation without feeling rushed. Wide shots showcasing the castle's full scope. Intimate portraits in hidden corners. Candid moments of genuine laughter and connection. The rolling green fields surrounding the property provided additional diversity, allowing photos that ranged from dramatic and historic to soft and pastoral.
Having a videographer from Synim Project alongside the photographer meant capturing not just images but movement and sound — Alexandra's dress moving through castle corridors, distant laughter from the cocktail hour, the way light changed as afternoon shifted toward evening. These elements combined to create documentation that would let them relive their day comprehensively for years to come.
From strings to DJ: A reception that evolved
As evening approached, the celebration transitioned from elegant cocktail hour to full reception. Alejandra had coordinated this shift thoughtfully, ensuring energy evolved naturally throughout the evening.
Dinner began in one of the castle's historic rooms, where sage green, burgundy, and blush pink florals created cohesive aesthetic without overwhelming the space.
Table centerpieces from Bedunia complemented the room's architecture. The cake from Bendito Cupcake — almond mascarpone with strawberries — provided elegant sweetness without excessive formality.
As dinner concluded, DJ Marcos took over from the string duet. This musical progression from classical strings to contemporary dance music reflected how Alexandra and Dylan wanted their celebration to feel — respectful of the historic setting yet ultimately joyful and fun.
The dance floor came alive with their thirty-six guests. The intimate size meant everyone participated rather than spectated. This is one advantage of smaller destination weddings — the celebration never fragments into separate groups, with everyone engaging together throughout the evening.
A stress-free wedding experience from start to finish
Looking back at Alexandra and Dylan's decision to fly to Spain for a castle wedding, every element aligned to create something extraordinary. The 15th-century venue provided authentic historic beauty. Spring timing offered ideal weather.
Their dedicated planner’s comprehensive coordination meant stress-free execution of every detail, from transportation logistics to music transitions to floral design.
The couple got to experience their dream destination — not just visiting Salamanca, but actually getting married inside a castle they'd only imagined traveling to before. Their guests got to participate in something genuinely special, making the international journey feel meaningful rather than burdensome.
For couples considering destination weddings in historic venues, Alexandra and Dylan's experience offers validation. Choose a location with inherent character that needs minimal enhancement. Work with a local planner who knows vendors and venues intimately.
Build in time for meaningful moments like first looks and extended photography. And most importantly, remember that the best weddings honor both tradition and joy — the historic setting and the contemporary celebration can coexist beautifully when planned thoughtfully.