Cortijo María Luisa
Cortijo María Luisa, Nerja
Cortijo María Luisa is a colonial-style villa on the edge of Nerja, the whitewashed town at the eastern end of the Costa del Sol. It sits in roughly 10,000 square metres of grounds planted with avocado trees (Nerja Weddings by Sonya), with the Sierra Almijara rising behind and the Mediterranean in view below. The house is hired privately for the day of the event, so the whole estate belongs to you and your guests.
A wedding here feels like a private garden party that turns into a proper night out. You can say your vows outdoors in the gardens, move on to drinks by the pool and on the terraces, then dine and dance on a large dance floor with the mountains turning pink at sunset. With room for around 100 guests (Nerja Weddings by Sonya), it suits couples who want something relaxed and personal.
The spaces
Landscaped gardens
Lawns and planting among the avocado trees, used for outdoor ceremonies with the mountains as a backdrop.
Pool and paved terraces
A large outdoor pool framed by wide terraces, ideal for welcome drinks and canapés.
Indoor and outdoor bars
Two bars, so drinks can flow whether the party is inside or under the stars.
Lounge area
A cosy indoor lounge where guests can take a break from the dance floor.
Dance floor
A dance floor of around 250 square metres (Perfect Spanish Weddings) for the evening party.
A private villa above Nerja
Exclusive use of a hillside estate, with the sierra behind you and the Mediterranean in front.
What makes Cortijo María Luisa special is the feeling of having a beautiful private home all to yourselves. The grounds cover around 10,000 square metres (Marbella Bride), so there is space for a ceremony in the garden, drinks by the pool and a long dinner on the terraces without ever feeling crowded. Nerja's old town, its churches and its seafront are only minutes away, which makes it easy to combine a ceremony in town with a party at the villa.
Enquire about Cortijo María Luisa.
Tell us your date and guest numbers and we will check availability and start planning your celebration.
The details
What's here
- Exclusive-use villa hired for the event
- Around 10,000 m² of private grounds
- Gardens planted with avocado trees
- Mountain backdrop and sea views
- Outdoor ceremony area in the gardens
- Large outdoor swimming pool
- Indoor and outdoor bars
- Dance floor of around 250 m²
- Wedding season May to September
- Minutes from Nerja town centre
Accommodation at Cortijo María Luisa
There are no bedrooms for guests at Cortijo María Luisa (Perfect Spanish Weddings; Marbella Bride), so everyone stays nearby. Nerja is a few minutes away and has everything from beachfront hotels and boutique guesthouses to self-catering villas and apartments, which makes it easy to keep the whole group together for a long weekend.
What a wedding here costs
Venue hire at Cortijo María Luisa is around €3,000 to €3,500 (Nerja Weddings by Sonya, 2026). On top of that you budget for food and drink: sample wedding menus are listed at €90 to €102 (Nerja Weddings by Sonya, 2026), covering a canapé hour, a three-course meal and drinks with dinner. Ceremony flowers are quoted at €1,200 and a celebrant from €650 (same source). For context, the average wedding in Spain costs €25,183 (Bodas.net, 2026), so a party of around 100 guests here can sit comfortably close to that figure.
How we help
Whether you need us from the very first idea or just for the day itself, we shape our service around you.
Wedding Planning
Full-service planning from the first idea to the last dance. We shape the concept, manage the budget, book every supplier and build the timeline for your wedding at Cortijo María Luisa.
Learn more →Wedding Coordination
Planned it yourselves? We take on your suppliers and running order in the final weeks, then run the day itself so you and your families can be fully present.
Learn more →Venue & Vendor Sourcing
We know the venues and suppliers across Nerja and the Axarquía. From securing your date to sourcing florists, photographers and entertainment, we handle every introduction.
Learn more →Why we love
Cortijo María Luisa
Cortijo María Luisa is one of the most relaxed and personal ways to marry on the eastern Costa del Sol: a private villa, a big garden and a proper party.
- Exclusive use, so the whole estate is yours
- Garden ceremony with mountain and sea views
- Pool, terraces and two bars for a lively evening
- Sized for weddings of up to around 100 guests
- Nerja's hotels, beaches and old town minutes away
Common questions about Cortijo María Luisa
Where is Cortijo María Luisa?
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It is on the outskirts of Nerja, in the Axarquía area of Málaga province, a few minutes from the town centre and roughly 50 to 60 minutes' drive from Málaga Airport (Perfect Spanish Weddings; Marbella Bride).
How many guests can Cortijo María Luisa hold?
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The villa takes up to around 100 guests (Nerja Weddings by Sonya), which makes it a good fit for small and mid-sized weddings.
Can guests stay at the venue?
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No. There is no accommodation on site (Perfect Spanish Weddings; Marbella Bride), but Nerja is a few minutes away and has a wide choice of hotels, guesthouses and holiday villas.
Can we hold the ceremony there?
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Yes. Ceremonies usually take place outdoors in the gardens, and the reception follows on site. Couples who want a church ceremony can marry in Nerja first and then travel to the villa.
How does catering work?
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The villa is hired without in-house catering, so food is provided by an outside caterer (Perfect Spanish Weddings). Options range from fine dining to buffets, barbecues and food stalls (Nerja Weddings by Sonya).
How much does a wedding at Cortijo María Luisa cost?
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Venue hire is around €3,000 to €3,500, with sample menus listed at €90 to €102 (Nerja Weddings by Sonya, 2026). The average wedding in Spain costs €25,183 (Bodas.net, 2026).
Is there a music curfew?
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Music is expected to finish by 2.30am, with guests leaving by 3am (Nerja Weddings by Sonya).
When is the wedding season?
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Weddings run from May to September (Nerja Weddings by Sonya), when the gardens and pool are at their best.
Can we have a legal wedding at the villa?
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A legal civil wedding in Spain usually requires at least one partner to be resident, so most couples from the UK and Ireland marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at the venue.
Do you plan weddings at Cortijo María Luisa?
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Yes. Swish Soirées can plan your whole wedding at Cortijo María Luisa at €75 per hour plus VAT, with a 10-hour minimum, or coordinate the day itself from €750 for a half day or €1,400 for a full day, plus VAT.
See all our FAQs
Where to find
Cortijo María Luisa
Cortijo María Luisa
Cortijo María Luisa
29780 Nerja
Málaga, Spain
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- About 50 to 60 minutes from Málaga Airport
- A few minutes from Nerja town centre
- About 45 minutes from Málaga city
- About 1 hour 15 minutes from Marbella
Tips, ideas & inspiration
Advice and inspiration from the weddings and events we plan across Europe and the UK.

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With thanks to Cortijo María Luisa and to the talented photographers whose work appears on this page. Images courtesy of Cortijo María Luisa.
Did you take one of these photographs? Get in touch and we will happily add your name and a link to your work.