Wedding Photos of Ceremony

The following “Ceremony” 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 “Ceremony” 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.

A happy couple happily walks among guests at the conclusion of their wedding ceremony at Santa Venerina - i Giardini di Villa Fago, as captured in this picturesque venue setting.

Joyful Couple Stroll Among Loved Ones at Santa Venerina - i Giardini di Villa Fago

I Giardini di Villa Fago venue outdoors love Catania picturesque Catania Wedding Moment

In Bretton Woods, NH, at the Omni Mount Washington Resort, a charming detail image unfolds as the groom slips the rings onto the bride's toes amidst the White Mountains on their wedding day.

Romantic Moment: Groom Slips Wedding Rings onto Bride's Toes at Omni Mount Washington Resort

romance White Mountains intimate ceremony rings New Hampshire marriage

A bride, accompanied by her father, walks towards the ceremony at Hacienda Zorita in Salamanca, Spain, with a flower girl's Barbie doll in the foreground, adding a touch of whimsy to the wedding day capture.

Bride, Father, and Barbie: En Route to Ceremony at Hacienda Zorita in Salamanca, Spain

wedding photo funny destination walk capture bride ceremony

Wedding day moment at Millfields Farm Venue: Groom reading vows to bride during indoor ceremony, captured in a charming black and white style for a timeless touch.

Charming Black and White: Groom's Vow Reading to Bride at Millfields Farm Venue

bw Wedding Photo Millfields Farm love emotional ceremony Ashbourne beautiful

A touching scene at Schloss Herten, Germany, where the bride receives a warm kiss and hug from an elder gentleman immediately following the ceremony on her wedding day.

Elderly Gentleman Tenderly Embraces Bride After Ceremony at Schloss Herten, Germany Wedding

hug love tender groom scene bride Germany wedding moment

A candid moment captured on the couple's wedding day at their countryside French venue, showcasing a heartfelt ceremony speech amidst scattered pizza boxes that the bride had searched high and low for all morning in Nances city, Savoie.

Rustic Romance: Heartfelt Ceremony Speech Amidst Pizza Boxes at Countryside French Venue in Nances

countryside French venue Nances view country rustic heartfelt

Newlyweds exiting a gazebo ceremony at Castelvecchio, Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy, captured in a candid moment as guests shower them with rice, creating a joyful and authentic scene.

Candid Joy: Newlyweds Exiting Castelvecchio Gazebo Ceremony in Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy Amidst Rice Shower

wedding photography guests emotional Castelvecchio Italy celebration Sagrado

In Udine, Italy, a beautiful bride emerges from a convertible at her wedding venue, being gently embraced by the sun and wind on her day.

A Radiant Bride in Udine: Embraced by Sun and Wind at Wedding Venue

outdoors Udine Wedding Moment convertible beautiful love wind destination

A joyful moment captured at the end of a sunlit ceremony in Tuscany's Podere il Pino, with the bride and groom dancing amidst a backdrop of happy guests.

Sunlit Celebration: Bride and Groom Dance Amidst Joyful Guests at Podere Il Pino, Tuscany

celebration bride venue Poggibonsi happy capture joy

Beautiful wedding captured at Space Gallery in Denver, Colorado, showing flower girls and ring bearer joyfully dancing at the reception, taken from a bird's eye view in a evocative black and white shot.

Joyful Flower Girls and Ring Bearer Dance: Denver Wedding at Space Gallery in Black and White

Space Gallery Denver wedding photo birds eye view beautiful black and white shot flower girls Colorado

A beautiful moment unfolds as the Bride arrives at the wedding Ceremony at Peak Edge Hotel in Chesterfield, UK, with men assisting her out of the bridal car onto the red carpet.

Enchanting Arrival: Bride at Peak Edge Hotel Ceremony with Men Guiding Her onto Red Carpet

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A beautiful wedding image captured at Baan Dusit Thani, Bangkok, where a couple is framed through holes in a musician's notes stand during the outdoor ceremony.

Musical Notes Frame Love: Wedding Bliss at Baan Dusit Thani, Bangkok Outdoor Ceremony

stand musician framed frame couple Outdoor musical

A charming scene at the wedding venue, a young girl peacefully sits in a row of beautifully adorned guest ceremony chairs in a picturesque Nanping, Fujian park setting.

Sacred Seat of Serenity: Young Girl Relaxing in Wedding Venue Chairs at Nanping Park

adorned guests serenity sacred Nanping wedding details ceremony peacefully

A tender moment at a wedding captured at Nanping, Fujian church as a girl sheds tears and crouches with hands covering her face during the emotional ceremony.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Moment at Nanping

crouches Nanping Wedding Moment emotional emotion wedding photo girl church tender

A candid wedding day image taken at The Castlefield Rooms showcasing the groom and groomsmen studying the group shot name list before a photo is taken.

Groom and Groomsmen Reviewing Shot List at The Castlefield Rooms for Wedding Day Photo

Greater Manchester United Kingdom study The Castlefield Rooms candid shot event groom

A captivating image of a newlywed couple walking hand in hand away from a charming mountain chapel at l'Auberge Nordique in Haute-Savoie, France on their wedding day.

Charming Newlyweds Walking Away from Mountain Chapel at l'Auberge Nordique in Haute-Savoie, France

mountain wedding photo Haute-Savoie romance walk chapel Haute Savoie wedding photography Hand in hand

Captivating aerial view of a bride being escorted by her father to St. James Church in Liverpool, England, on her wedding day, with a unique shot showcasing a clock in the foreground as she arrives 35 minutes late for the ceremony.

Stunning Aerial Moment: Bride's Luminous Walk To St. James Church in Liverpool, England

church arrival birds eye church wedding photo Liverpool late father

Newlyweds on their special day at a charming farm venue in Estancia, Rosario Argentina - the bride and groom walking hand in hand near fields at the close of their celebration.

Romantic Newlyweds Stroll Through Fields at Charming Farm Venue in Estancia, Rosario Argentina

groom venue celebration Wedding Newlyweds marriage ceremony Argentina

A joyous couple laughs during their lakeside ceremony in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, framed by vibrant, beautiful flowers capturing a unique and charming moment on their wedding day.

Lakeside Laughter: Vibrant Flowers Frame Joyous Couple's Charming Lake Tekapo Wedding Moment

groom wedding photo celebration beautiful water laughing framed

A funny moment at Wild Basin Lodge in Colorado captured on the wedding day, as the groom warms up by the fireplace after the chilly ceremony, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere.

Groom's Charismatic Cozy-up by Fireplace at Wild Basin Lodge Wedding In Colorado

romantic cozy Colorado ceremony fireplace groom Allenspark wedding photographer

A low angle image captured at Convento de Penedo, as the bride and groom's hands touch beneath the ancient fresco of the chapel on their wedding day.

Tender Touch at Convento de Penedo: Bride and Groom's Hands Beneath Ancient Fresco

hands timeless bride ceremony photography groom wedding day Convento de Penedo

A romantic image taken on a wedding day at Hi-Level Golf Course in Kossuth, PA, where a couple is sharing a tender kiss amidst lush green foliage before heading back to their reception.

Romantic Kiss at Hi-Level: Couple Embraces in Lush Garden at Kossuth Wedding Reception

marriage ceremony love celebration photography Hi Level Golf Course reception golf

A candid outdoor wedding moment captured at Château de Périgny, 86190 Vouillé, where the bride and her two witnesses walk to the ceremony, with one using a towel to shield from rain, while the other carries a makeup kit in a lighthearted documentary photo

Bride and Witnesses: Rainy Day Stroll at Château de Périgny- Joyful Documentary Capture

Château de Périgny Outdoor Documentary Chateau lighthearted makeup candid wedding moment

A candid shot of a bride and groom shedding tears during their outdoor wedding ceremony at Saint Joseph de Riviere, France, seated in matching rattan wicker chairs, capturing a raw and emotional moment

Emotional Tears: Bride and Groom's Raw Moment in Saint Joseph de Riviere, France

raw chairs bride Isere candid rattan Outdoor wedding photo

A couple exchanges vows in a captivating outdoor setting at Artist Point, Washington, with the majestic mountain as the backdrop, the sun gently rising, all captured in a candid and authentic photograph that tells a touching wedding day story.

Romantic Vows at Artist Point: Majestic Mountain backdrop for Candid and Authentic Wedding Photograph

vows Captivating Story Outdoor outdoor wedding Artist Point reflections candid

A joyful moment from a wedding day captured in Berkshire, as the bride and groom playfully dodge confetti thrown by guests during the ceremony's finale, showcasing the fun and celebratory atmosphere of a wedding celebration.

Berkshire Bliss: Bride and Groom Dodge Delightful Confetti at Wedding Finale Festivities

celebratory outside atmosphere newlyweds bride Berkshire Wedding Photography celebration

Emotional moment captured in black and white at Benvenuto Banquet Facility in Boynton Beach, FL as groom shares a heartfelt handshake with his father, watched over by his adoring mother, just before the wedding ceremony begins, evoking a sense of family.

Father and Mother Witness Emotional Groom's Handshake Before Wedding at Benvenuto Banquet Facility

ceremony wedding father Emotional moment Florida love Sentimental

A candid hug shot of a heartfelt moment between mother and son at Offley Place in Hertfordshire on the day of the wedding ceremony.

Mother-Son Embrace: Touching Moment Captured at Offley Place in Hertfordshire During Wedding Celebration

hug Offley Place emotion wedding photo Hertfordshire Wedding Moment son ceremony emotions

At Caesar Palace, Dubai, the varmaal exchange ceremony of a south Indian wedding where the bride and groom are lifted up high by their friends and family and have to garland each other in the most fun manner possible!

Vibrant Varmala Exchange: South Indian Wedding Extravaganza at Caesar Palace, Dubai

South Indian Caesar Palace bride exchange family groom ceremony

Golden hour union captured at Independence Harbor in Freetown, MA – A couple exchanging vows against the radiant sun, their silhouettes etched against the sky in a serene wedding ceremony.

Golden Hour Romance: Vows Underneath the Radiant Sun at Independence Harbor, Freetown, MA

sunshine vows ceremony golden hour Massachusetts sun union

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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.