Wedding Photos of Family

The following “Family” 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 “Family” 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.

Wedding couple embraces at Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA, captured in documentary style as family and friends joyfully dance in a circle around them.

Embracing Love: Wedding Couple at Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA, Surrounded by Joyful Celebration

Bride's father adjusting groom's tie in black and white photo before ceremony at Chateau de Precy, capturing a tender moment of family bonding on the wedding day.

Father's Gentle Touch: Bride's Father Adjusting Groom's Tie at Chateau De Precy Ceremony

tie family Bonding groom Chateau de Precy Oise tender

A touching moment unfolds as the bride's son lovingly assists her with her shoes in a nostalgic black and white wedding day photograph taken at the venue in Milano.

Bride's Son Helps with Shoes: Tender Moment Captured in Milan Wedding Venue, Vintage Style

shoes candid son bride Nostalgic black white Milan

A heartfelt moment shared between a father and his son on the wedding day in the United Kingdom, captured from a unique birds-eye perspective.

Father-Son Embrace: Heartfelt UK Wedding Moment from Above

love perspective wedding photography uk wedding reportage moment father high angle

At Château Malvirade in Lot et Garonne, the bride's eyes are filled with emotion as she sits with the groom, both looking up at the woman giving a speech.

Château Malvirade Wedding: Emotional Bride and Groom Captivated by Family Speech

emotional bride french countryside French wedding photography speech Château Malvirade Lot-et-Garonne family

Bride at Cowdray Estate in West Sussex, UK, laughing joyfully during heartfelt wedding day speeches, surrounded by family and friends.

The Joyful Heart: A Bride's Laughter at Cowdray Estate

laughter head table joyful family england wedding venue West Sussex Cowdray Estate West Sussex

At House in Soho, London England, the bride and her family prepare for the big day, with the stunning wedding dress hanging in the background, adding to the anticipation and excitement. A beautiful wedding scene captured.

Soho House: The Bride, The Dress, The Big Day Excitement

excitement anticipation family big day beautiful wedding England weddings venue England

A documentary wedding photographer at the Domaine de Tourieux captured this WPJA Honor Award-winning image. The photo shows the bride hanging her dad's buttonhole flower, while the family looks on with happiness in the background.

Bride Pins Dad's Buttonhole Flower: Joyful Family Witnessed at Domaine de Tourieux

family happiness wedding photographer Rhone Bride Savigny weddings buttonhole flower Domaine de Tourieux

In this documentary wedding image, the bride is seen reaching out towards her grandmother, enveloped in the loving presence of her family, creating a genuinely heartwarming moment

Generations United: Capturing a Heartwarming Minnesota Family Bond

wheelchair family Minnesota Documentary Wedding Photography grandmother Minnesota bride heartwarming moment Minnesota

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the reception venue, a heartwarming moment unfolded as the bride's uncle excitedly devoured the surprise birthday cake presented by the newlyweds

Love and Laughter Collide: Witness the Joyful Surprise as Newlyweds Treat Bride's Uncle to a Special Birthday Cake in Philadelphia

Birthday Cake Philadelphia surprise birthday black and white Pennsylvania family brides uncle

During a wedding ceremony in a Beijing hotel, the groom, bride, and brothers share a heartfelt embrace, symbolizing their strong bond and the joyous union of two families

A Touch of Unity: Brothers Embrace Symbolizes Joyous Wedding Union

Beijing wedding ceremony black and white family strong bond Beijing wedding photography China Beijing

A bride in Milpitas displays a mix of joy and anticipation while her family applies turmeric to her skin, emphasizing cultural traditions through the vibrant yellow hue

Milpitas Bride Experiences Cultural Traditions as Family Applies Turmeric for Vibrant Yellow Hue

vibrant hands on face Milpitas skin turmeric family Milpitas Wedding Photography

At Humble House Taipei, Taiwan, a beautiful wedding moment was captured as the bride looked on at her father and groom hugging fondly

In Taipei, Taiwan, at Humble House, a touching wedding moment occurred when the bride witnessed her dad and groom hug warmly

father-son embrace embrace fondly embrace Taiwan beauty captured moment Taipei

At Yanik Mektep in Istanbul, a beautiful outdoor wedding image was created featuring the bride and groom hugging their loved ones in a symmetrical embrace

A wedding photo was captured at Yanik Mektep, Istanbul, showing the bride and groom surrounded by embracing family

Istanbul symmetrical embrace wedding photo family Istanbul outdoor wedding loved ones bride

At Clos Vougeot, the newlyweds, their family, and friends celebrated a beautiful day with heartwarming speeches that made the groom emotional, resulting in tender hugs for all

The newlyweds and their family and friends celebrated a joyous day at Clos Vougeot

friends Clos Vougeot tender hugs groom emotional wedding celebration heartwarming speeches burgundy

At Oaks Farm wedding venue in Croydon, Surrey, England, the newlyweds were elated with joy during the reception speeches

The couple were delighted during the speeches at Oaks Farm, Croydon, Surrey, England

happiness Togetherness Croydon wedding groom Oaks Farm delighted bride

The bride in Noord Brabant was busy getting ready with the help of her family, ironing her dress for the big day

The bride's family lent a helping hand to her as they ironed her dress for the big day

family ironing dress Noord Brabant bride Noord Brabant dressing gown getting ready

In Utrecht, at the home of the wedding couple, after the first look the bride is greeting her lovely brother

At the home of the newlyweds, after the bride and groom's first look, the bride lovingly touched heads with her brother in a heartwarming embrace

first look Utrecht brother Thomas Jongbloed Netherlands family Utrecht photographer

Documentary style photography from an Occitanie wedding in France of The bride and groom coming out of the church

A newly married couple kissed in the sunlight outside a church in Occitanie, France, as guests cheered

church newlyweds kiss France Occitanie photographer french bride exiting church Occitanie

A France wedding photographer captured the End of the ceremony as the newlyweds cross the guard of honour

The newlyweds celebrated their union with a joyful ceremony, captured by a candid wedding photographer, as they walked across the grass under the trees to their cheering guests

guard of honor outdoors France trees France photographer family End of ceremony

Block Island documentary-style wedding image from Rhode Island as large gusts of wind blows while a bride is escorted down the aisle by her parents and sister

bride escorted Kayla Rice gusts of wind Rhode Island family Block Island Photographer Block Island

A documentary wedding photographer at the Quinta Real event venue in Oaxaca City captured this family after ceremony

Oaxaca family post ceremony Oaxaca photographer Quinta Real

A genuine wedding moment from Rio Et captured by a Thailand documentary wedding photographer showing Family love in a group hug

group hug Chaiyasith Junjuerdee Rio Et Thailand family Rio Et photographer Rio Et

Grand Luxe lifestyle portrait photography for a Chicago couple who are engaged and looking up to see entire family in a hotel room on the floor above watching the entire proposal

Illinois Grand Luxe engaged Chicago couple proposal Rue Pattison looking up

Best Fremont, California documentary wedding photography of the family wiping the brides tears

wiping CA documentary wedding photography california bride Fremont CA California Fremont tears

Best Costa Rica documentary wedding photojournalism image from La Casona Pedregal, Belén, Heredia created Just after bride was receiving her ring she turns and shows the ring to her family in a spontaneously and funny way

spontaneously bride ring Heredia Costa Rica Mauricio Urena Heredia bride

Birmingham, UK wedding documentary photographer created this image of a Muslim bride saying goodbye to her family, crying father in the background

Birmingham bride father Muslim UK crying bride Birmingham

Best Leicestershire documentary wedding picture showing A bride is greeted by her family

hat Leicestershire documentary weddings UK greeted bride family Mark Wallis

An exceptional Bruges wedding image by a pro Belgium photographer exhibiting the bride and groom waving to guests and family from a vintage convertible sports car

Sports Car Belgium bride and groom convertible Bruges Bruges wedding image Sanne De Block vintage

A top Rupert, Vermont wedding photographer captured this picture at The Old Gray Barn showing the bride is joyfully lifted off the floor during her first dance with her groom during their first dance in a barn as family and guests watch

Danielle Gardner Vermont The Old Gray Barn first dance vermont wedding photographer groom joyfully

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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.