Cigarral del Ángel

Wedding Day

Ceremonia: Ceremony

Cóctel: Cocktail Hour

La Cena: Dinner

Our Wedding

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

European Formal

Be fun, be colorful, be formal! European formal is characterized by classic silhouettes and tailored suits. Because the wedding is in the evening, longer dresses (mid-calf included) are more appropriate. The Spanish are a joyful people, so be as colorful as you desire. Accessories are always encouraged. Just don't forget your dancing shoes!

Dress Code

The bride and groom's favorite, and where they will be staying! Formerly a 16th-century palace designed by the famous artist, El Greco, as a summer residence for nobility, the Palacio de Buenavista is now a 5-star hotel and spa that overlooks Toledo. Insofar as price, this is the most expensive option as October is the high season for tourists in Toledo. However, please ask the bride for a 15% discount code should you choose to book here (the discount code can be used up until September 2026 ). In terms of convenience, this is approximately 1.5 miles from the venue and does not require weaving through the old city's narrow streets. 10 minutes in a rental car/taxi.

Hotel Eurostars Palacio Buenavista

A favorite of many who visit Toledo, very close to the city center! This charming hotel, whose garden area is surrounded by an original 11th-Century Arab wall, rests a few yards from the escalator that leads to the city center. The hotel has one of the most renowned restaurants in the Toledo, where traditional, regional cuisine draws from the freshest, local ingredients. Hotel del Cardenal is located next to the Gate of Alfonso VI. Once the main entrance into Toledo, it is the only remaining Moorish gate in the medieval walls. Parts of the gate date from the 10th century. Explore the history and culture of this beautiful city from the Hotel del Cardenal. Location-wise, this hotel is close to the train station where you arrive, should you take the train from Madrid to Toledo. Approximately 8 minutes in a car or 15 minutes via public transportation.

Hacienda Del Cardenal

This classy, continental-style hotel is situated just 5 minutes from Toledo's historic city centre. This is a 4-star, chain-style hotel that is very economical. It has a spa as well as a restaurant; however, the bride and groom encourage people to go out into the city and try the local cuisine! This hotel is right next to where the bride and groom will be staying and ideal for anyone wanting to be in close proximity to the bride and groom!

Hotel Beatriz Toledo Auditorium & Spa

Very close to the wedding venue! The Cigarral de Carvantes is located in the Los Cigarrales area of Toledo, just outside the city’s historic center. The hotel features rooms with balconies and panoramic views. Facilities at the Cigarral include an outdoor swimming pool, open during summer months (until October!). There is also a café-bar and terrace. Just 3 minutes in a rental car/taxi from the wedding venue.

Hotel Cigarral De Caravantes

The Castle of San Servando is a medieval castle in Toledo, Spain, near the Tagus River. It was begun as a monastery, occupied first by monks and later by the Knights Templar. In 1874 the castle was named a national monument. It is a hostel offering both shared and private rooms. Price-wise, this is probably one of the more inexpensive options; however, because it is a hostel, booking might be difficult as it is not a traditional hotel. It is one of the furthest locations from the venue, located in Toledo's beautiful, historic city. Approximately 10 minutes away from the venue in a rental car and approximately 50 minutes via public transportation.

Castillo de San Servando

The bride's favorite when it comes to hidden gems in Toledo! This former palace of the Empress Eugenia de Montijo offers style and comfort in the heart of Toledo, 656 feet from Toledo Cathedral. The classic-decor rooms in the Fontecruz Toledo de Montijo are decorated with hand-made carpets. This is a beautiful botique hotel, but is quite burried in the heart of the old town (or El Casco as the locals call it) of Toledo. For those who have never been to Toledo, it might be a challenge to reach via car due to the winding roads of the El Casco. It is about 10 minutes from the venue in a car and approximately 30 minutes via public transportation.

Eugenia de Montijo, Autograph Collection

The Hotel Cigarral El Bosque is considered a hillside retreat just outside Toledo’s historic center, offering sweeping views of the old city and the Tagus River. Set among traditional gardens, this 5-star property features spacious rooms, many with terraces, a seasonal outdoor pool, and free parking. Approximately 7 minutes in a rental car/taxi from the venue. No public transportation is available from this location.

HOTEL CIGARRAL EL BOSQUE

Another of the bride and groom's favorites! The Parador offers one of the best, most iconic panoramic views of Toledo's skyline that you can find. It is designed in a typical Castilian fashion and is as much a historic landmark as it is a hotel. Of note, the Parador is very busy in October and would require planning far in advance should you wish to stay here. A rental car or taxi is the best way to get to the Parador. The Parador is 10 minutes away from the wedding venue via car. Even if you do not stay here, the bride and groom highly recommend that you go and take a coffee or refreshment on the terrace and enjoy the views Toledo has to offer.

Parador de Toledo

Set in a renovated 17th-century bakery, Pintor El Greco is located 164 feet from the El Greco Museum in Toledo’s historic Jewish quarter. It offers a cocktail bar, and rustic rooms with free Wi-Fi. The chic rooms at Pintor El Greco include authentic wooden beams and exposed brick work. A buffet breakfast is served. This is 6 minutes from the wedding venue in a rental car and 22 minutes from the venue using public transportation.

Hotel Pintor El Greco

Hotel Los Cigarrales in Toledo, Spain is a modest, budget-friendly hotel set on a quiet hillside across the Rio Tajo, known primarily for its sweeping panoramic views of Toledo’s historic skyline. The property offers clean, simple rooms with essential amenities, making it a comfortable but no-frills place to stay. The pool is open into mid-October. While breakfast is not included in the stay, a modest breakfast is avaliable for under 10 euros.

Hotel Los Cigarrales

AC Hotel Ciudad de Toledo is a stylish, modern 4-star Marriott hotel set on a hillside near the Rio Tajo, offering sweeping panoramic views of Toledo’s historic skyline while maintaining close proximity to the old town. Designed in the traditional Cigarrales architectural style but with contemporary interiors, the hotel provides a more upscale experience than many nearby options, with well-appointed rooms featuring minibars, comfortable bedding, and optional terraces with city views. Guests benefit from amenities like a fitness center, on-site restaurant and lounge, free Wi-Fi, and parking, all supported by a higher level of service typical of AC Hotels by Marriott. Overall, it’s a strong choice for travelers seeking a balance of comfort, scenic surroundings, and easy access to Toledo’s cultural landmarks.

AC Hotel Ciudad de Toledo

Dating from 1815, this converted blacksmith’s is located in Toledo's beautiful Old Town, next to Puerta del Sol and Cristo de la Luz Mosque. Located 1476 feet from Zocodóver Square, it offers superb views over the River Tajo. The hotel has a bar, and the central location means lots of shops and restaurants are only a short walk away. The Palacio de Congresos El Greco Conference Center is 1148 feet away. An airport shuttle service can be arranged for an additional cost.

Hotel Abad Toledo

Travel

Hotels

Toledo's Cathedral is one of Spain’s most magnificent Gothic cathedrals and a must-see for visitors to the city. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries on the site of a former mosque, it blends Gothic architecture with Mudejar, Renaissance, and Baroque touches, culminating in a unique style known as "Mozarabic." The cathedral is located in the old-town of Toledo, the entirety of which is very walkable. 6 minutes from the town's main plaza, Zocodover. There are guided tours that can be booked in front of the cathedral itself or online.

Catedral Primada de Toledo

This is where the bride's father, Alejandro, was born and lived until the age of 10. His family were the caretakers of the synagogue. The bride also took her senior photos here. It is a must see! The synagogue is located in the former&nbsp;Jewish quarter&nbsp;of the city between the&nbsp;Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Synagogue of El Tránsito. It is one of three preserved synagogues constructed by Jews in a&nbsp;Mudéjar&nbsp;(Moorish)&nbsp;style under the rule of the Christian&nbsp;Kingdom of Castile.&nbsp;In 1930, the building was added to the list of monuments of&nbsp;Spanish Cultural Heritage.

Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca

The bride's favorite tapa bar ever! See the photo above for the bride in her younger days at Ludeña! Bar Ludeña is the oldest bar and restaurant in Toledo. Existing now for over 100 years, it has been passed down from father to son. It just so happens the bride's father grew up with the current owner, and the bride is friends with the son, Sergio! But what is truly enchanting about this place is that it makes the best carcamusas ever. Caramusas are a traditional dish from Toledo, and it is said that the dish was first created by Ludeña's original owner. The bride can confidently say that Ludeña's caramusas are the one food she looks forward to over all else when she visits Spain. Located just a short walking distance from Plaza Zocodover, if you do go, please tell the young bartender, Sergio, you know the bride! And definitely order carcamusas!

Bar Ludeña

The Serrano family has been one of the best ceramic makers and stores in all of Toledo for well over 50 years. They specialize in replicas from the 12th to the 18th century and are unmatched, both in quality and uniqueness. The store itself has Roman caves that you can enter, hung with hundreds of unique, ceramic pieces. The Serrano family has been friends of the bride's family, especially the Mother of the Bride, for 40 years. The store is located in the Jewish Quarter of the old city (El Casco Antiguo).

Cerámica J Serrano

What's better than an afternoon coffee? Afternoon coffee with a view, of course! The Parador de Toledo has one of the best, if not the best, views in all of Toledo. So why not enjoy the views having a mid-afternoon beverage on the terrace?

One of the groom's favorite tapa restaurants. El Trébol is a lively tapas bar &amp; brew-pub with a mix of traditional and modern Spanish flair. It boasts Roman caves that can be seen from inside. What is most famous about this bar is the “bomba” (a fluffy, deep fried potato “bomb” with spicy/picadillo-style meat on top) — many visitors (and locals) say it’s a must. Right next to Plaza Zocodover.

El Trébol

Alcázar is the city’s most commanding landmark — a fortress that has watched over the city for centuries. Originally a Roman palace, and later transformed by successive kings, its massive stone walls and four corner towers showcase the evolution of Spanish architecture from medieval to Renaissance styles. Today, the Alcázar houses the Army Museum and the Regional Library of Castilla-La Mancha.

Alcázar de Toledo

Housed in a stunning 16th-century former hospital commissioned by Cardinal Mendoza, the Museo de Santa Cruz is one of Toledo’s cultural treasures. Its elegant Plateresque façade and serene cloister make it a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Inside, visitors discover an exceptional collection spanning fine arts, archaeology, and decorative arts — including works by El Greco, intricate Mudéjar ceramics, and artifacts that trace Toledo’s rich blend of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim influences. The museum beautifully captures the spirit of the city itself: a crossroads of history, art, and faith.

Museum of Santa Cruz

The Museo del Greco is dedicated to the life and legacy of one of the city’s most famous resident, Doménikos Theotokópoulos — El Greco. The museum recreates the atmosphere of a 16th-century Toledo home and showcases an outstanding collection of the artist’s dramatic, expressive paintings. Highlights include View and Plan of Toledo and The Apostles Series, displayed alongside period furniture and artifacts that evoke the world in which El Greco lived and worked. Surrounded by peaceful gardens, the museum offers a vivid journey into the art and spirit of Spain’s Golden Age.

Museo de El Greco

If you are looking for Spanish-made, leather goods, look no further! This store, owned by Patricia Serrano and her family, is a must stop if you're looking for leather shoes, bags, purses, fan-holders, etc. Just ask the groom about his fabulous leather loafers. The bride and her family are long-time clients of this store and can attest that leather goods purchased from this store decades ago, are in as great condition today as the day they were purchased.

Cuerho House of Leather

A fantastic restaurant hidden away in the old city (El Casco) of Toledo. Featuring typical, Toledo-style food, it is definitely a must for any visitor with an adventurous palate. The bride recommends one of her favorite dishes, "Ciervo al Pedro Jimenez." This translates to deer filets, cooked in a Spanish, port-like wine sauce.

Taberna Embrujo

If you're interested in cocktails or just enjoying the vibes of a very cool place in the old town of Toledo, visit Botero. This little bar is often filled with what can only be described as people enjoying a typical Spanish evening of tapas and drinks. Botero is also home to a restaurent, reservation only, that offers Spanish-Asian fusion food. The bride and groom recommend "Carbones de Bacalao" that is cod fried in a tempura-style batter that is died with squid ink.

Taberna el Botero

Mudehar Medina is a boutique hotel that also offers a traditional, Arabic bath experience. The baths themselves maintain the original, historical structures of the location, including an interior patio, a traditional feature of Toledo homes, a 15th-century cistern, a 12th-century Islamic wall, and Roman columns with original domes supporting the pools. The site itself is a testament to the three cultures (Christian, Jewish, and Arab) that lived in the city of Toledo together up until the 15th century.

Medina Mudéjar Toledo

Things to Do

Registry

Toledo stands as one of Spain’s most historically layered cities, shaped by centuries of cultural, religious, and political exchange. Originally a Roman settlement known as Toletum, the city gained prominence for its strategic location above the Tagus River. After the fall of Rome, Toledo became the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom in the 6th century, serving as both a political and religious center. The Visigothic councils held there helped define early Christian doctrine in Iberia, leaving a legacy of law and governance that endured long after their rule ended. In 711, Muslim forces conquered Toledo as part of the Islamic expansion into the Iberian Peninsula. Under Arab rule, the city became a flourishing center of learning, architecture, and multicultural coexistence. Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived side by side in what later became known as convivencia. Toledo’s Jewish community in particular thrived, contributing significantly to philosophy, science, medicine, and commerce. After the Christian reconquest of the city in 1085, Toledo retained its multicultural character and became famous for the School of Translators, where scholars worked together to translate Arabic and Greek knowledge into Latin and Castilian, helping fuel the European Renaissance. By the late 15th century, Toledo had become a symbolic heart of Christian Spain. The reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, marked a turning point in the city’s history. Their unification of Spain and the completion of the Reconquista in 1492 brought religious unity under Catholicism, but also the expulsion of Jews and later Muslims, ending centuries of pluralism. Despite this, Toledo’s architecture, art, and urban fabric still reflect the profound influence of its Roman, Visigothic, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian past—making it one of Europe’s most compelling historical cities.

Ava & Derek

Ava & Derek

Q + A

Where should I stay?

How do I get from Madrid to Toledo?