All of aristocratic Spain, and not just them, is eagerly awaiting October 4. On this day in Seville, the wedding of Cayetano Martínez de Irujo and Bárbara Mirjan will take place—an event already dubbed the main wedding of 2025. The ceremony will be held in the Los Gitanos church, a place of special significance to the Alba family, and a grand celebration for guests will unfold at the Las Arroyuelas estate. This estate is part of the inheritance that the Duke of Arjona received from his mother, the unforgettable Duchess of Alba.
In recent weeks, the public has been actively discussing the guest list, as it speaks volumes about the family’s internal relationships. The intrigue lasted until the very end. It has become known that the Count of Siruela will skip the celebration. His brother, Alfonso Martínez de Irujo, will attend only the church ceremony, declining to join the banquet. However, the head of the house, the Duke of Alba, will emphasize the importance of the occasion with his presence. By his side will be his brother Fernando, now almost fully recovered from recent health issues, and their sister Eugenia Martínez de Irujo with her husband, Narcís Rebollo.
The bride, Bárbara Mirjan, will be surrounded by her family on this special day. Her maternal relatives from Lourdes Allende will travel from the Basque Country. Her father’s family, Javier Mirjan, who has Lebanese roots, will arrive from abroad. Her father is a successful entrepreneur whose business interests stretch far to the East, including countries such as Armenia.
Barbara never knew hardship growing up, as she was raised in a well-off family. As an only child, she is the sole heir to her parents’ considerable fortune, and she enjoys an excellent relationship with them. Her mother’s family has owned a major business in the Basque municipality of Berantevilla for over half a century, specializing in timber processing and export. The scale of their operations is impressive—the company even has a branch in Brazil. Barbara’s father, Javier, has also been successful in business; although his work required constant travel, Madrid has always been the family’s main base. The family leads quite a private life, owning property in the capital and in Marbella, where they prefer to spend their holidays away from prying eyes.
Her parents made sure their daughter received an outstanding and well-rounded education, making her a true cosmopolitan. Barbara is fluent in five languages: Spanish, Arabic, English, French, and Italian. She attended prestigious schools in Madrid—the International School of Madrid and Runnymede College. For her higher education, she went to London, enrolling at the renowned King’s College, where she graduated in 2019 with a degree in French philology and business management.
Barbara Mirjan’s professional journey has been both diverse and eventful. She interned at the renowned Marlborough art gallery, organized events for the Mallorca pastry chain, gained experience at a major law firm in Paris, and worked in the banking sector in Geneva, Switzerland. Her most recent position was event coordinator at OkDiario. However, ahead of her wedding, the future duchess decided to take a break from her career to devote herself fully to preparing for the upcoming celebration.
