Experience an atmospheric and relaxed woodland wedding at De Boskas in Nijmegen, photographed by Angela Bloemsaat. In this inspiring wedding feature, we capture a summer wedding set amidst lush greenery, from intimate vows amongst the trees and wedding photos in the rain to an energetic evening of celebrations. Are you looking for an artistic and documentary-style wedding photographer for a wedding in the woods or at De Boskas? Be inspired by this unique, nature-filled wedding story of Hanne & Jilles.
A SUMMER WEDDING SURROUNDED BY NATURE
A beautiful summer day in July, surrounded by the greenery of Nijmegen. From the moment I arrived at De Boskas, the atmosphere was already there. Hanne was surrounded by her friends while getting ready, while Jilles got ready together with his brother and sister. There is something so special about sharing these moments with the people closest to you. Getting ready might seem like just a small part of the wedding day, but it often creates some of the most personal moments.
Their first look also took place right in the middle of the forest. Hanne and Jilles chose to share their vows here, before the ceremony. Just the two of them, without all their guests around. They would exchange their vows again during the ceremony later that day, but I loved that they intentionally created this intimate moment just for themselves first.
We barely had to go anywhere for their wedding portraits. The forest surrounding De Boskas was beautiful, with warm summer light filtering through the trees and little spots everywhere where we could play with light and composition. As a wedding photographer, I absolutely love photographing forest weddings because the light, greenery and surroundings create a different atmosphere everywhere you look.
We did, however, make a little detour to their wedding car. If you have deliberately chosen such a beautiful car for your wedding day, I think it deserves to become part of the story. Ten minutes was all we needed to add a completely different feel to their wedding photography.
Their favourite photo from the entire wedding gallery? One of those shots.
“We never thought we would have such a beautiful, cool photo of ourselves. We don't often take photos together, but with Angela's guidance, we now have some incredibly cool images.”
GETTING MARRIED AT DE BOSKAS IN NIJMEGEN
The ceremony took place right between the trees. There is something about getting married in the forest that simply cannot be recreated anywhere else. A gentle breeze moving through the leaves, the sound of the trees rustling above you, leaves occasionally floating down and perhaps even a squirrel deciding to make an appearance during your ceremony.
Afterwards, everything became wonderfully laid back. Drinks, speeches, guests chatting with each other around the grounds and eventually everyone coming together at long tables for dinner. De Boskas in Nijmegen is one of those wedding venues where indoors and outdoors flow naturally into one another, allowing you to keep that forest wedding feeling throughout the entire day.
And yes, this is still the Netherlands.
Towards the end of dinner, it started to rain. And as a wedding photographer, these are exactly the moments I love to embrace. What an opportunity. I asked Hanne and Jilles if they were up for stepping outside for five minutes to take a few photos in the rain. Luckily, they were immediately on board. Sometimes it is precisely those unexpected moments that add something extra to a wedding story.
“Angela was so much more than just our wedding photographer. She gave us great advice on the best moments for photos and, most importantly, on how to make sure we could truly experience our wedding day together. She has a clear vision and knows exactly when to guide us and when to simply let things unfold. It was wonderful to trust her and go along with it. The result is a wedding story that truly feels like us.”
– Hanne & Jilles
FROM FOREST WEDDING TO A PACKED DANCE FLOOR
And then it was time to party.
So much energy, so many happy people and a dance floor that was hardly ever empty. Exactly the combination that made this wedding at De Boskas so much fun to photograph: intimate moments, nature, a relaxed summer atmosphere and, ultimately, one hell of a party.
That is also what makes wedding photography so interesting to me. It is not just about the picture perfect moments, but everything that happens in between. From a quiet moment together in the middle of the forest to five minutes of dancing in the rain and everyone letting loose on the dance floor later that night.
Curated Gallery
Editorial Credits
Photographer /@angelabloemsaat,
Location / The Boskas, Flowers /Little Swan, Styling / The Boskas, Wedding Dress / Wild at heart, Designer / Katherine Tash,
Wedding Suit / Walther Apparel for Men
