Destination Wedding at Palacio de Miramar, San Sebastián
A Destination Wedding at Palacio de Miramar, San Sebastián: Carly & Ben
There are venues that photograph beautifully, and then there is Palacio de Miramar: a Victorian palace perched on a cliff between two beaches, with the whole of La Concha Bay laid out beneath it like a postcard. When Carly, from the United States, and Ben, from France, chose San Sebastián for their destination wedding, they weren’t just picking a pretty backdrop. They were choosing a city that has been hosting royalty, romance and impeccable taste for over 150 years, and a palace that once belonged to a queen.
This is the story of their wedding day, told through three of Donostia’s most iconic locations: the Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, the Palacio de Miramar, and the streets of San Sebastián’s old town.
Getting Ready at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
Carly and Ben began their day at the Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, the oldest hotel in San Sebastián and one of the most storied addresses on the Basque coast. Built in 1865 on the site of a former palace where Queen Isabel II once stayed, the hotel has watched over La Concha Bay for more than a century and a half, surviving wars, hosting monarchs, and quietly becoming one of the most photogenic getting-ready locations in northern Spain.
Its high ceilings, soft natural light and uninterrupted sea views make it an exceptional setting for bridal preparations. It’s the kind of light photographers actually look forward to. For couples planning a destination wedding in San Sebastián, a morning at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra is as much a part of the story as the ceremony itself.
A Ceremony with a View: The Palacio de Miramar
From the hotel, the day moved to Palacio de Miramar, arguably the most romantic wedding venue in San Sebastián. Built in 1893 for Queen María Cristina, who wanted a summer residence overlooking the bay, the palace was designed by English architect Selden Wornum in the style of an English Queen Anne cottage. That’s a striking contrast to the Belle Époque architecture that defines the rest of the city. The gardens, laid out by Pierre Ducasse in 1889, roll gently down toward the cliffs, framing views of La Concha and Ondarreta beaches on either side.
Carly and Ben said their vows with that view as a backdrop, then moved into the palace for the banquet and dancing, surrounded by rooms that once hosted Spanish royalty. Few venues anywhere in Europe combine this level of history, elevation and coastline in a single frame. That’s exactly why Palacio de Miramar has become one of the most requested locations for couples planning a destination wedding in the Basque Country.
Couple Portraits: Palace Grounds and the Old Town
After the ceremony, Carly and Ben’s portrait session unfolded in two very different settings. First, in the palace grounds themselves: the cliffside gardens, the wide lawns, the sea as a constant presence in the background. Then, as the light softened, we moved into San Sebastián’s old town (Parte Vieja), trading manicured gardens for narrow stone streets, tucked-away doorways and the everyday texture of a Basque city that has nothing left to prove.
That contrast (a royal palace in the morning, cobblestones and pintxo bars in the evening) is part of what makes San Sebastián such a compelling destination wedding location. Couples get the grandeur they’re looking for without losing the authenticity of a real, lived-in city.
The Team Behind the Day
A wedding like this doesn’t come together on its own. Carly and Ben’s day was planned and coordinated by Lululand Weddings, with floral design by Flowers & Events and tablescape and furniture styling by Mesa Presidencial. Photography was by Jon Santamaría.
Planning a Destination Wedding in San Sebastián
If you’re considering San Sebastián for your own destination wedding, Palacio de Miramar and Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra are two of the strongest venue pairings the city has to offer: one for the ceremony and reception, one for getting ready and, often, for guests to stay. Both are within a short walk of La Concha beach and the old town, which makes logistics considerably easier for couples flying in from abroad.
A few practical notes for couples planning something similar: Palacio de Miramar can host ceremonies and receptions for up to 250 guests across its rooms, so it works for both intimate elopements and larger celebrations. May through September is generally considered the best window for good weather and long daylight hours, which matters for outdoor portraits. And because the palace, the hotel and the old town are all close together, a single day can move between three completely different visual worlds without losing time to travel.
Jon Santamaría is a wedding photographer based in San Sebastián, working with couples planning destination weddings across the Basque Country, Spain and beyond. Get in touch to talk about your own wedding at Palacio de Miramar or anywhere along the coast.
