Wedding Photos of Elegance

The following “Elegance” images were created by documentary wedding photographers from the WPJA, who regularly submit their best candid moments, artistic portraits, details, and scene setters for review by our WPJA competition judges.

WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS + ARTISTIC PORTRAITS & DETAILS + ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

Some of the “Elegance” marriage photography samples below may have come from the getting ready events, the actual wedding ceremony, the reception after-party, an engagement session with the couple, or possibly be artistic portraits or detail shots.

FINE ART WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: Our Artistic Guild award winners take a more creative approach to wedding day Portraits and use their innovative skills to capture the Details of each couple’s special day. The Artistic Guild’s Scene Setters are some of the most notable and breathtaking from within the artistic WPJA contest categories. Playing with light and shadow, special effects, and post-production editing, these images embrace the artistic component of wedding photography.

PRE-WEDDING ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: The story of every couple starts long before the wedding day, and the engagement marks one of the most important milestones in their story. Engaged couples often want to celebrate the occasion and announce their upcoming wedding with a photoshoot. Pre-wedding portraits of an engaged couple can be just as moving and compelling as the images taken on the wedding day. Engagement portraits can win a Diamond Award, an exclusive WPJA award whose winner is selected from the best engagement photography in the world.

Captured at the Angelbachtal, this award-winning photo showcases the allure of a bride gazing out of a church window, bathed in soft light that accentuates her elegance.

Angelbachtal's Award-Winning Bride's Gaze Through Church Window

Award-winning photographer captures the bride's elegance at her Apulia home. Multiple reflections from bedroom mirrors beautifully frame the scene as she holds her bouquet of flowers.

Apulia Reflections: Capturing the Bride's Elegance in Multiple Mirrors

Apulia Elegance mirrors bouquet of flowers multiple reflections Apulia Bridal Portrait

A documentary photographer captured this award-winning image of the bride preparing for her wedding at the couple's home in Brookline, PA. The photo shows the bride's black wedding dress hanging in her bedroom.

Brookline PA Bride: Capturing Elegance as a Gleaming Black Gown Awaits

Brookline Brookline Bride Brookline documentary photographer PA bride Elegance Pennsylvania PA

In Denver, Colorado, at a reception venue, a documentary wedding photographer captured this award-winning image of a couple's first dance. They are beautifully framed between two floating candle holders.

Denver, Colorado: Capturing the Elegance of Love's First Dance in a Stunning Award-Winning Photograph

Elegance Denver Colorado reception venue love documentary wedding photographer Colorado first dance

Wedding photo captured at Ring Oak Plantation in Leon County, Florida, Tallahassee. The couple basks in the warm tones of the fading sun, facing each other as daylight wanes through the trees.

Romantic Radiance: Love Illuminated at Ring Oak Plantation in Tallahassee

orange artistic serenity Florida Tallahassee Ring Oak Plantation in Tallahassee Newlywed portraits

An acclaimed wedding photographer beautifully captures a couple at the stunning River's Edge in Devon, AB. In this black and white portrait, they sit on a couch, illuminated by the gentle light streaming through the window, exuding elegance and charm.

Devon's Enchanting Light: A Captivating Black and White Wedding Portrait

Devon wedding photography Rivers Edge Devon Rivers Edge portrait photography Elegance Devon couple artistic wedding photographer

Wedding photo taken at The Grand Hotel, Tynemouth, England, UK capturing a black and white detail shot of the bride's dress lacing, evoking a vintage feel.

Vintage Elegance: Capturing the Timeless Beauty of a Bride's Lacing at The Grand Hotel

artistic detail shot bw photo England Elegance lace beauty lacing

Captured outside the National Gallery of Art, this couple strolls together in formal attire, exuding class and elegance against the backdrop of a cultural landmark. | Elegant Stroll: Gallery Affair Charm

National Gallery Elegance: A Stroll through Cultural Charm

Elegance cultural landmark DC engagement session National Gallery of Art formal attire Washington DC strolling couple

Newlyweds sparkle in this award-winning portrait taken in Sicily, Italy. Overflowing with joy, the couple basks in the beauty of their wedding day, posing with a vibrant blue convertible sports car.

Elegance in Italy: Newlyweds Sparkle with Joy in Sicily's Charm

Night Sicily artistic portraits creative portrait session vintage Sicily wedding photographer newlyweds sparkle vibrant

An artistic wedding photographer captured the intricacy of a hanging wedding dress at St. Charles Hall Meggen in a black and white image during the bride's wedding preparation.

Delicate Elegance: Meggen's Hanging Wedding Dress Unveiled in Monochrome

Meggen weddings black and white Elegance delicate artistic detail shot hanging wedding dress Switzerland

A detailed black and white shot captured in Wallonie, Brabant Wallon. The bride's best friend is seen closing the back of her wedding dress, revealing a tattoo.

Bridal Elegance: Revealing Ink - A Captivating BW Detail in Wallonie Brabant Wallon

revealing Wallonie captivating detail bridal bw photo tattoos artistic detail shot

Award-winning wedding day detail picture captures the elegance and artistry as the bride's legs emerge from a tub, with her dress gracefully displayed nearby, in a beautifully composed black and white frame.

Graceful Elegance: Capturing the Bride's Legs in a Tub

milan weddings wedding day detail bw picture artistry tub Milan wedding photography artistic detail shot

Award-winning wedding day portrait captured by a talented photographer at The City Pavilion in London, UK. The groom is skillfully framed in the double doors, offering a unique perspective for this stunning image.

Framed Elegance: Award-Winning Portrait in London's City Pavilion Doors

uk weddings unique perspective The City Pavilion UK Photographer bw center framed london wedding photographer

A wedding photographer captured a beautiful kiss at Santa Maria Assunta Church in Bargni, Italy. The award-winning image features a couple enjoying an intimate session inside their vintage car, shot through the front windshield from the outside

Bargni Bliss: A Vintage Kiss Immortalized Amidst Italian Elegance

Bargni italy weddings captured Elegance church immortalized outside

Cape Cod, Massachusetts Home- This evocative wedding photo captures the bride standing at the window, illuminated softly at sunset, in a picture of elegance and readiness for her departure to the ceremony.

Cape Cod's Charm: Illuminated Elegance and Anticipation on the Massachusetts Coast

Massachusetts ma wedding photographer sunset Cape Cod bride ceremony massachusetts weddings

A beautifully composed wedding photo at District Winery in DC showcases the bride's portrait. The off-center posing and wood paneling create a minimalist frame accentuated by vertical lines.

DC's District Winery: Capturing Wedding Elegance with Off-Center Bride Posing and Minimalist Framing

DC photo District Winery bride posing Elegance off center Washington DC DC wedding

A couple, surrounded by the serenity of The Ranch Country Club in Westminster, CO, embrace each other tenderly as the sun sets behind the majestic mountains.

GRACE AND ELEGANCE: A Mesmerizing Sunset Wedding Portrait at The Ranch Country Club Venue

serenity sun sets wedding day portraits bride and groom Grace CO Newlyweds portrait embrace

Chateau de Farcheville, France - A close-up photograph showcases champagne glasses coming together in a toast against a striking black background

Chateau de Farcheville, France: A Toast with Champagne Glasses on a Striking Black Background

sparkling wine party Clinking Glasses luxury Essonne event black background

The bride exudes elegance in this overhead portrait at Villa Borromeo in Cassano d'Adda, Italy.

Villa Borromeo in Cassano d'Adda, Italy showcases an elegant bride in this stunning overhead portrait

Italy Cassano dAdda bride overhead portrait Italian Bridal Portrait Elegance Villa Borromeo

A black and white portrait of a couple wearing formal attire in a stunning building in Macau, evoking a sense of elegance and romance for their engagement wedding photography session

Elegant and Romantic Engagement Wedding Photography Session in Stunning Macau Building with Formal Attired Couple

Macau Engaged Couple formal attire China Macau romance bw portrait Elegance

Tuscany wedding detail image showing the elegance and refinement of the bride with her bouquet of flowers

refinement bouquet flowers Elegance Tuscany wedding bride

A photo taken upon arrival at Church San Benedetto Abate in Cetraro, Calabria, captures the intricate detail of the wedding dress and veil

The wedding dress and veil of the bride from Cetraro, Calabria were captured in detail in her photos taken at Church San Benedetto Abate

wedding dress romance moment veil joy bride photography

A wedding photo from Zabeel Saray Dubai shows bridesmaids slipping on their shoes

Zabeel Saray Dubai bridesmaids are pictured putting on their shoes

shoe UAE luxury Dubai getting ready bw dresses

Captivating Reflections: Nea Ionia Attica Bride's Detail in Black and White

Reflective Elegance: Bride's Detail with Tray Mirror in Nea Ionia Attica

Nea Ionia bride Nea Ionia Attica getting ready Attica photographer Elegance black white reflections

Elegant Bride in Nea Ionia Attica: Exquisite Black and White Detail

Exquisite Elegance: Bride's Detail in Nea Ionia Attica, Black and White Capture

white detail Attica photographer sophisticated Attica wedding picture Attica wedding photographer Black

This high-angle shot captured in South Yorkshire, is an exquisite detail of the bride, showcasing her immaculate makeup application; vibrant red lipstick adorns her lips, adding a touch of elegance to her enchanting beauty

Exquisite Detail of the Bride: Immaculate Makeup Application with Vibrant Red Lipstick

South Yorkshire bride enchanting beauty exquisite wedding application Elegance

Freedom Hall and Gardens Wedding photojournalism of guys getting dressed at Mission Santa Clara

Freedom Hall and Gardens moments Elegance pocket bw masculine Santa Clara wedding picture

Wedding shoot with Hangzhou City bride getting hair done with lights and mirror

bridal salon lighting photographer glamour Miller Yao Elegance

Saint-Petersburg wedding shoot with a couple dancing on crowded dance floor with guests

Elegance in Motion: A Saint-Petersburg Wedding Celebration

Russia Bride motion wedding celebration Saint Petersburg marriage venue guests Russia wedding picture romantic couple

Wedding photographer Rome | Bride Getting ready and into her dress

Elegance Unveiled: A Bride's Transformation in Rome

Rome wedding picture Italy pre ceremony image getting ready transformation dress Elegance bride

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WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.