Wedding Photos of Lights

The following “Lights” 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 “Lights” 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 beautiful wedding photo captured in Sainte Livrade, Lot et Garonne, France, showing the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready for the ceremony in a mirror with lights.

Enchanting Sainte Livrade Wedding: Bride and Bridesmaids Prepare in Mirror with Lights, Lot et Garonne

Portrait of a couple captured by a Pennsylvania wedding photographer at night in Philadelphia. The scene features a row of trees adorned with yellow lights along Addison Street. This image is a fine art representation of urban love and beauty.

Engagement Portrait: a Philly Duo Illuminated under Night Sky by PA Photographer

night engagement trees Lights Philadelphia engagement photographer urban portrait Philadelphia Addison Street PA

Newlywed couple shares a romantic dip and kiss on their wedding day at Bulção Viana bridge in Tijucas. The city's lights create a picturesque backdrop, making this image bold and strong.

Bulção Viana Bridge Kiss: Newlyweds Dip in Romance, Tijucas Lights Make Scene Bold

Tijucas Wedding Portrait city backdrop Lights love kiss bold

Bride dancing under the captivating lights at Hotel San Jose in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, during her wedding party surrounded by joyful guests, creating a magical and unforgettable atmosphere.

Dance at Hotel San Jose: Belo Horizonte bride wows guests with festive charm

Belo Horizonte Photographer atmosphere Belo Horizonte Belo Horizonte bride dance Lights dancing

Newlyweds dancing under the enchanting lights of Baronesse Tacco in San Floriano del Collio, Gorizia, Italy, capturing their romantic first dance on their wedding day.

Ethereal Elegance: Newlyweds' First Dance at Baronesse Tacco

Gorizia newlyweds Baronesse Tacco wedding venue first dance dancing Baronesse Tacco Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Lifestyle couple portrait at Albi, France. Couple posing in a graphic industrial scene, wearing formal clothes, with blue and red lights beautifully highlighting the entire frame.

STUNNING GLAMOUR: INDUSTRIAL CHIC ENGAGEMENT SHOOT | ALBI, FRANCE

engagement shoot Blue red French photographer formal attire Albi photography session Glamourous

At Valleybrook Country Club, a wedding photographer captured an award-winning, and detailed image of the couple's rings delicately placed on the stem of a wine glass, with the fire pit in the background.

Valleybrook Country Club: Rings atop wine glass, fire pit backdrop.

wedding ring tight shots Detail Shot indoor nightfall ring detail fire pit

Bathed in the glow of twilight, the award-winning photographer captures a tender embrace between the Bride and Groom at the scenic Cain Manor Hampshire reception venue, adorned with vibrant bursts of color.

Twilight Embrace: Serene Cain Manor Hampshire Delights with Bursting Colors

dusk married couple pink outdoors Hampshire nighttime bursts of color

The bride and groom embrace in an intimate pose at the enchanting Larmer Tree Gardens in Wiltshire, UK, beautifully captured by an award-winning wedding photographer.

Enchanting Embrace: Intimate Love at Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire UK

creative portrait Artful Night Artsy Lights dusk newlyweds

Captured at the Larmer Tree Gardens in Wiltshire, UK, this award-winning photograph showcases the artistry of a wedding photographer. The bride and groom gracefully stand together under an umbrella, embracing the magic of a rainy evening ceremony.

Enchanting Rainy Evening: Artistry at Larmer Tree Gardens Wedding

Artsy rainy evening creative portrait Larmer Tree Gardens darkness nighttime newlyweds

A captivating scene captured as the newlyweds dance in the enchanting glow of festoon lighting at Elsecar Heritage Centre, creating a perfect blend of romance, artistry, and nostalgia.

Enchanting Dance: Nostalgic Romance in Elsecar's Festooned Glow

Lights Festooned Glow South Yorkshire Artistry South Yorkshire Weddings Nostalgic artistry Barnsley Photographer

An artistic wedding photographer captures the intricate details of wedding rings against the rustic backdrop of a roaring fireplace at a cozy Chicago winery, embracing the romantic ambiance with warm bokeh circles.

Rustic Flames: Intimate Love Soars Amidst Chicago Winery's Warm Embrace

dusk Chicago Artistic Details wedding details nightfall evening ring detail orange lights

Wedding photo captured in Paris, France, featuring a couple illuminated by the photographer's light against the stunning backdrop of the city's architecture.

Parisian Splendor: Luminous Love Shines Amidst Architectural Grandeur for Wedded Couple

Paris ocf Lights architecture urban Night love story

At a Cleveland, Ohio reception venue, a wedding photo of the night's finale embrace. The couple, face to face, is embraced by artistic layers of darkness, lights, and bokehs.

Starry Unison: A Cleveland Nightscape Unveils the Embrace of Love

Lights darkness Cleveland Artistic Portrait Face to face Ohio bokeh red lights

This award-winning photo captures the wedding dinner at Villa Catignano in Siena. The deep blue sky and string lights create a dramatic atmosphere, making it a truly artistic wedding image.

Twilight Ties: A Captivating Wedding Soirée at Villa Catignano, Siena

strings of lights twilight Night Lights scene setter wedding soirée creative wedding in IT

A professional wedding photographer captured a special dance at the Chateau Marquis de Terme Margaux. The image shows the bride and groom's first dance on the dancefloor, with beautiful lights twinkling in the background.

Romantic Dance Under DJ Lights: Bride and Groom's First Dance at Chateau Marquis de Terme Margaux

Bordeaux Documentary Wedding Photography first dance Bordeaux dance floor Lights special dance Chateau Marquis de Terme Margaux

In a stunning vertical portrait against a dark backdrop, a couple at Hotel Hermitage in Lucerne is illuminated by the soft glow of lights, creating a romantic and enchanting scene.

LUMINOUS LOVE: A Wedding Unveiled at Hotel Hermitage in Lucerne

portrait session groom soft glow bride enchanting scene Lights a

The pre-wedding photo session in Istanbul, Turkey features a stunning display of vibrant colors illuminating the scene at the Suleymaniye Mosque

Istanbul, Turkey: Stunning Pre-Wedding Photoshoot at Suleymaniye Mosque with Vibrant Colors

Istanbul Lights Istanbul PreWedding Portrait lanterns Vibrant colors Suleymaniye Mosque

A night wedding image was created in Utrecht, Netherlands, with the groom and a friend driving a tractor outside of the barn venue hosting the party

The groom and a friend drove a tractor at a barn wedding in Utrecht, Netherlands

Netherlands night wedding Lights groom tractor tractor wedding wedding party Utrecht party venue

A romantic photo of the newlyweds underneath a tree at the beautiful Le manoir du Thil in Eure, Normandy

Nature's Embrace: A Love Story at Le Manoir du Thil

tree wedding Normandy Lights picturesque Oise Eure

The distant sound of music and laughter drifted through the balmy night air from Maceió, Alagoas, across the tranquil water to the reception venue near the big tree

A wedding photojournalist was documenting the happy couple and guests at a night reception near a big tree

Alagoas wedding photography night shot reception venue Lights Alagoas Maceió reflection

The couple's energetic first dance at Tunnels Beaches wedding venue in Devon, England was captured in a picture, showing their overflowing joy and happiness

At Tunnels Beaches in Devon, England, a picture captured the couple's joyous first dance

Tunnels Beaches first dance Devon Devon wedding reportage joy United Kingdom dancing

The couples' last dance at the reception, held at 658 Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, was captured in a documentary-style wedding photograph

At 658 Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, the couples' last dance was documented in a wedding photograph

North Carolina last dance Lights Charlotte Wedding Photography 658 Center Charlotte

The couple's joy was illuminated by the enchanting lights of the Mayflower's marquee in Washington DC, as they embraced

The couple's joy was artfully captured in the luminous ambience of the marquee filled with light bulbs

marquee light bulb The Mayflower Hotel Washington DC Lights

The couple posed for a romantic portrait at Schloss Hambach in the night, with warm toned wall mounted fixtures and a blue dusk sky overhead

At Schloss Hambach, the couple posed for a portrait at night with warm toned fixtures on the exterior building wall

romantic portrait Rhineland Palatinate warm tones night portrait Rhineland Palatinate Photographer Lights Hambach Castle

The bride was getting ready for her big day in a luxurious Zhejiang hotel, with a makeup artist by her side and a mirror with lights around the edges

The bride is getting ready in a luxurious hotel, with a makeup artist and a mirror surrounded by lights

mirror Zhejiang hotel Lights makeup artist Zhejiang Hotel bride getting ready

The bride and groom shared a kiss at sunset under the market lights at Blanc Denver wedding venue in CO

At Blanc Denver wedding venue in CO, the bride and groom shared a kiss at sunset under the market lights

market Lights Colorado Denver denver photographer sunset portrait Blanc Denver

At night, a couple embracing in front of the Hotel Zug's gazebo arbor is illuminated by lights against a dark background

The Hotel Zug's gazebo arbor is illuminated by lights at night, highlighting a couple embracing in the dark

gazebo Zug Photographer dark background Zug Hotel Switzerland Lights Zug

bride and groom towards the cutting of the cake

cake cutting Lights Italian photographer Altamura Luigi Porzia Photographer night reception Italy

A Save the Date in Denver. Colorado portrait of a Couple standing in front of Colorado flags and lights

Lights Colorado flags Mark Creery denver photographer Denver Colorado

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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.