The aqueous solvation shell of a Na⁺-Cl^- pair is studied using Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations. Water-mediated and contact states of the ion pair are investigated. The first hydration shell of the Na⁺ ion is found to be octahedral with one vacant position for both states. In the contact state one of the water molecules is substituted by the Cl^- ion. The first hydration shell of the Cl^- is less structured and strongly effected by the proximity of the Na⁺ in the contact state. The oxygen coordination numbers for Na⁺ and Cl^- are 4.9 and 5.6 for the water-mediated state, and 3.6 and 6.4 for the contact state. The corresponding hydrogen coordination numbers are 10.9 and 5.2; 9.2 and 3.9, respectively.