Kelly + Nathan | Osmaston Park Wedding
In my experience, military weddings are always brilliant, not just because of those eye-catchingly smart uniforms, but because armed forces personnel know how to have an epic party! Kelly and Nathan’s celebration at Osmaston Park in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, was everything I could have hoped for and more on a sensational August bank holiday weekend.
Kelly and Nathan had already married in the months prior to their day at Osmaston Park, primarily due to the fact Nathan was shortly being deployed in his role within the armed forces. So whilst their day in Ashbourne wasn’t technically a wedding, it had all the hallmarks of one – and what a day it was!
I spent the morning with Kelly and the girls, including her two bridesmaids, at a cool little roundhouse accommodation a few minutes away from Osmaston Park. We were surrounded by some friendly chickens and Derbyshire’s peaks, which of course it’s famous for. Once Kelly was ready, she and her Dad took a classic wedding car ride over to the venue which, I cannot stress this enough, had *the* most amazing vista as you entered the park. I don’t know how Kelly was feeling, but when the rolling landscape came into view along with seeing the guests seated outside in the distance, my stomach did an excitable flip!
Kelly’s aunt did a lovely informal ceremony which was accompanied by two readings. As I was snapping I could see some dramatic clouds forming overhead as everyone enjoyed the breathtaking surroundings of the outdoor event, and once Kelly and Nathan had kissed and made their way back up the aisle, the heavens opened! The dramatic clouds had held off as long as they could, and almost comically it began to bucket down as guests made a dash for Osmaston Park’s marquee. Thankfully it was only a passing shower, and soon enough the sun came out again, and there it stayed for the whole of the day.
There was some incredible and I mean INCREDIBLE entertainment from Paul Guard who I would thoroughly recommend, and he got the party started even before the partying was due to start!!
I particularly loved the speech from Nathan’s best man Ollie, who dropped an absolute belter in his speech which had the whole room wincing with embarrassment for a good few minutes; I can’t say too much but Ollie’s anecdote about his university days along with Kelly and Nathan was hilarious! I loved seeing everyone grimacing with awkward horror around the marquee!!
After we’d done a few more photos just before the sun went down, the party really kicked off in booze-filled fashion, and at that time I really didn’t want to have to leave, but I was heading back to Essex that night, so I reluctantly left them to it.
This wedding really was one of the best days I’ve had as a photographer, and I’m so glad Kelly and Nathan chose me to capture it. Scroll below to see what I mean – the best of times.
