Wedding Photos of Black and white

The following “Black and white” 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 “Black and white” 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.

Black and white image capturing a beautifully choreographed dance at Chateau de Vair in Vair sur Loire, France, featuring glow sticks and glasses.

Groovy Glow and Sway: Dazzling Dance at Chateau de Vair in Vair sur Loire

In Simignano, Siena, the bride, with a young girl, tenderly helps her put on her shoes in a beautiful black and white shot during the getting ready process.

Bridal Elegance: A Touching Moment in Simignano

flower girl assisting shoe italy weddings black and white Simignano Siena

Black and white image of the bride joyfully holding her bouquet overhead with ribbons attached for a ceremonial cutting.

Amour et Bouquets: A French Wedding Celebration

bridal bouquet LOIRE VALLEY weddings destination photography bw elegant nuptials flowers Loire

Bride's veil caught by the wind as she exits the church in Lyon.

Whispers of Lyon: The Unforgettable Windblown Bride

Rhône France Bride elegant photographer romantic lyon weddings Flowing

Silhouettes of a bride and groom dancing their first dance at Villa Medicea di Lilliano in Florence, Italy. A beautiful black and white shot capturing the romantic moment.

Eternal Elegance: First Dance at Villa Medicea di Lilliano

Villa Medicea di Lilliano Florence bride romantic Florence Photographer silhouettes eternal elegance italy weddings

Emotional moment captured in black and white at Villa Gabau, Tuscany: Father of the bride embracing the groom affectionately outdoors under the sun.

Forever Bonded: A Father's Embrace in Tuscany

Italy affectionate black and white outdoors sun father Forever Bonded

At Sedona Sky Ranch Lodge, Arizona, the mother of the groom tenderly embraces her son after receiving a special gift, captured in a black and white outdoor shot.

Echoes of Love: A Mother's Embrace at Sedona Sky Ranch Lodge

Sky Ranch Lodge gift Arizona wedding groom Echoes of Love Sedona Photographer Outdoor

Laughing bride at private residence in Scottsdale, AZ, captured in black and white outdoors before wedding toasts.

Joyful Moments: The Scottsdale Bride's Laughter

joyful moments black and white wedding toasts outdoors bw AZ weddings toast

In a touching black and white photo, at the Rhône ceremony, the groom tenderly comforts his tearful grandfather at the end of the ceremony.

Rhône Reverie: A Grandfather's Embrace

grandfather photo tearful touching black and white BW photography France

In a black and white shot at a civil ceremony in Rhône, the bride and groom carefully oversee as their witness signs the marriage certificate in the correct spot.

Capturing Love in Monochrome: Witnessing the Union in Rhône

black and white union civil ceremony newlyweds bride Rhone France marriage certificate

In Gorizia, Italy, a groom shares a moment with his best men, showing off the wedding ring in a black and white shot capturing the bond between buddies.

Best Men Share a Special Moment with Groom in Gorizia, Italy

Friuli Venezia Giulia Gorizia Weddings special moment black and white bond Italy Gorizia Italy

Bride laughs as groom playfully sniffs a host’s armpit during funny games in Udine, Italy. Black and white shot captured outdoors.

Amore in Udine: Playful Moments and Wedding Laughter

black and white groom outside Udine wedding photographer bride laughter outdoors

In Trieste, Italy, the groom gazes lovingly at the bride as she arrives at the ceremony, her friend delicately adjusting her veil in a touching black and white indoor shot.

Amore in Trieste: Groom's Loving Gaze

ceremony indoor shot Friuli Venezia Giulia ceremony groom trieste photographer bw Trieste Italy weddings

Newlyweds exiting their ceremony at Cator Woolford Gardens in Atlanta, GA, captured in a stunning black and white shot.

Eternal Vows: A Moment in Monochrome

black and white ceremony moment Atlanta bw Cator Woolford Gardens Atlanta newlyweds

Newlyweds walk up immense white stairs at Andromedas Villa & SPA Resort in Santorini, Greece. Black and white shot emphasizes the contrast against the stunning sea backdrop.

Stairway to Forever: A Santorini Wedding Tale

greece weddings water bw Wedding Photography SPA Resort ocean sea view sea

A black and white image captured near Guetersloh, Germany, showcasing the getting ready moment with hairspray.

Capturing the Preparations: Guetersloh, Germany

getting ready Guetersich Documentary Wedding Photography makeup applications curtains Germany Guetersloh window light

A black and white image capturing a page boy in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, walking down the aisle holding a flower in front of his face during the ceremony.

Innocence in Bloom: The Page Boy of Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire Innocence United Kingdom wedding reportage kid United Kingdom flower bloom

Black and white photograph at La Delfina in Rosario, Santa Fe capturing guests joyfully dancing at the party.

Spirited Celebration: Dancing in Black and White at La Delfina in Rosario

Rosario AR La Delfina wedding black and white spirited celebration guests dancing Argentina wedding photographer

In a black and white shot at the Santa Fe Hotel, the groom's friends are seen giving him a drink of scotch whiskey during the wedding festivities.

Brotherhood Bond: Whiskey Shots at the Santa Fe Hotel

groom party scotch Santa Fe-AR Argentina photographer black and white Argentina wedding photograph

A tender moment captured in black and white at Chenies Manor, as a young boy assists the bride, surrounded by loved ones joyfully celebrating.

Serenity at Chenies Manor: A Boy's Gentle Gesture

UK Photographer England venue kid Chenies Manor england weddings celebration young boy

A black and white shot captures the bride dancing in dramatic back-bending motions at Chateau de Clairvans in Chamblay.

Elegance in Motion: A Bride's Dance at Chateau de Clairvans

back bending Bourgogne-Franche-Comte Chateau de Clairvans Chamblay Documentary Wedding Photography Chamblay Bride dancing Jura

A black and white image captured indoors at Kiskörössy Fish Tavern in Szeged, Hungary, showing a friend sending best wishes via video call during the wedding.

Virtual Toasts: A Modern Wedding Moment in Szeged

video call best wishes call Szeged Documentary Wedding Photography Hungary black and white Szeged Kiskörössy Fish Tavern

A black and white indoor shot captures the anticipation as the bride waits for the signal to join the wedding ceremony at Abington Art Center in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Waiting in White: The Bride's Quiet Moment at Abington Art Center

descending stairs bride Pennsylvania Pennsylvania wedding photography black and white Abington Art Center Jenkintown

A black and white wedding photograph capturing a humorous moment at the ceremony in Boston, MA, where the priest appears to have the arms of a painting behind him.

Wedded Whimsy: The Serendipitous Snapshot in Boston

Boston documentary wedding photography painted arms priest Boston black and white humorous moment Boston Church

Newlyweds at Green Haven in Pomfret, CT sharing a sweet moment with a dip-kiss. The black and white image highlights the symmetry of the shot.

Symmetrical Serenade: A Dip-Kiss at Green Haven

Connecticut Green Haven symmetry Pomfret Outdoor Ceremony Pomfret Pomfret Documentary Wedding Photography black and white

Emotional bride in black and white, standing in Sunken Gardens in Florida during her ceremony filled with love and tears of joy.

Sunken Garden Serenade: A Bride's Emotional Journey

garden Ceremony St Petersburg Sunken Gardens black and white Florida Documentary Wedding Photography wiping tears emotional bride

Woodside: A couple captured in a lifestyle portrait, experiencing joyful togetherness during a leisure motorcycle ride. The image exhibits a black and white aesthetic with a slow shutter effect and a camera pan.

A Captivating Woodside Love Journey | Timeless Couple Portraits Embrace Blissful Motorcycle Adventure

California - Northern Engagement photography couple portrait photography slow shutter Woodside CA ride motorcycle

A black and white lifestyle couple portrait in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The couple is lying on a bench on their backs, facing opposite directions, while attempting to make eye contact with each other.

BW LOVE STORY | ARTISTICALLY CAPTURED ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT UNVEILS INTIMATE BENCH ENCOUNTER

Tennessee lifestyle photography engagement session black and white Tennessee bw engagement portrait intimate couple portrait session Pigeon Forge

Lifestyle couple portrait at Albi, France, featuring a couple walking on a side rail over an industrial backdrop. The black and white image showcases a scene of bike racks on the sidewalk, beautifully highlighted by the photographer.

Engaging Couple in BW | Love in Albi: Dynamic Duo on Industrial Pathway

France couple shoot black and white engaged lovebirds black and white sidewalk Albi urban

Engaging Couple in BW | Love in Albi: Dynamic Duo on Industrial Pathway

industrial backdrop photography bw rail engaged lovebirds black and white city French portrait session

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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.