Wedding Photos of Tears

The following “Tears” 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 “Tears” 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 photo at Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield, UK captures emotional moment as bride wipes tear during groom's speech. A deep photo with layers.

Bride Wipes Tear During Groom's Speech at Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield

Captivating outdoor wedding photo taken at Redwood Ridge Estate, Los Gatos CA. Emotion-filled ceremony surrounded by redwoods. Picture perfect moment captured by a skilled photographer.

Emotion-Filled Redwood Ridge Estate Wedding: Picture Perfect Moment Surrounded by Stunning Redwoods

Los Gatos black and white Los Gatos wedding photography California - Northern redwoods tears Los Gatos Outdoor ceremony

In this wedding photo, a photographer captured a poignant moment at the 16th Street Train Station in Oakland, CA, as the bride was moved to tears by the groom's heartfelt vows.

Bride Moved to Tears by Groom's Vows at 16th Street Train Station Wedding

groom Oakland wedding photography bride heartfelt vows California - Northern 16th Street Train Station Oakland

The bride, overwhelmed with emotion, sheds tears at the historic Basilica di Sant Ambrogio in Milan, Italy

Bride's Tears Flow at Basilica di Sant Ambrogio: Emotions Overflow at Stunning Italian Wedding

Italian emotion milan bride Basilica di Sant Ambrogio Milan tears Italy wedding

A beautiful moment captured outside Rosate Church near Milan, Italy, as the emotional bride's grandmother embraces her with tears in her eyes after the wedding ceremony

Emotional Grandmother Embraces Bride at Rosate Church in Milan, Italy

wedding Milan wedding photography Rosate grandmother embrace ceremony Italy

At the Meridian Banquet Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, a bride bids farewell to her family following the heartwarming wedding ceremony.

A Bride's Farewell at The Meridian Banquet Center

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Emotional moment captured at Malibou Lake Lodge in Agoura Hills, CA, as the parents of the bride and groom wipe away tears during the outdoor wedding ceremony.

Parents' Emotional Moment at Malibou Lake Lodge Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

California - Southern moment Outdoor wedding photo outdoor ceremony Malibou Lake Lodge chairs tears

In a serene moment at Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events in Temecula, CA, the newlyweds are caught wiping away tears of joy right after saying "I do" outdoors.

Newlyweds Embrace at Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events in Temecula

happiness serene outdoors Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events Temecula Wedding Moment ceremony Outdoor wedding photo

A bride filled with emotion as she sees her groom waiting for her on their wedding day at Viagrande - Radura dei Sogni venue.

Emotional Bride Gazes at Groom in Viagrande's Enchanted Radura dei Sogni Wedding Venue

love Catania groom vows marriage venue bride

A touching moment at Thorpe Gardens as the bride is moved to tears during the groom's heartfelt speech on their wedding day.

Bride Moved to Tears by Groom's Heartfelt Speech at Thorpe Gardens Wedding Ceremony

emotion Tamworth UK love England speech tears of joy celebration

Emotional black and white image captured at a bride and groom's home in Nances city, Savoie, France, showcasing a heartfelt first look as the bride sheds tears during an embrace on their wedding day.

Tears of Joy in Nances City: Emotional Monochrome First Look at Bride and Groom's Home

tears love first look monochrome Nances heartfelt groom

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

church memories emotional special capture Nanping Wedding Moment crouches Nanping

Emotional bride shedding tears while embracing groom at Woodlands in Cottonwood Canyon Bozeman MT, captured in a timeless black and white photograph on their wedding day.

Tears of Love: Emotional Bride Embracing Groom in Timeless Black and White at Woodlands Bozeman

timeless moment embrace Woodlands in Cottonwood Canyon bride tears capture

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

rattan Outdoor wedding photo wicker bride Isere Wedding Moment candid Isere

Emotional documentary-style photo taken on the wedding day in Marietta, GA, capturing a touching moment as the ring bearer sheds tears before walking down the church aisle.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Wedding Moment in Marietta, GA Captured During Ring Bearer's Procession

Marietta GA moment tears documentary wedding photo emotional Marietta Wedding Moment ring bearer

Groom sheds a tear on his dad's shoulder at Thorpe Garden wedding venue in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England, as emotions of the day overwhelm him, signaling a heartwarming moment of love and happiness.

Groom's Dad Brings the Waterworks at Thorpe Garden Wedding in Staffordshire

happiness love Thorpe Garden shoulder groom tears Staffordshire

At Adobe Lodge, Santa Clara University, California, the bride lovingly embraces her mother after she delivers a touching speech, leaving the emotional groom visibly moved by her heartfelt words.

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE BRINGS TEARS TO GROOM'S EYES WITH TOUCHING SPEECH

California wedding visibly moved lovingly bride California - Northern embraces mother of the bride

A tearful groom watches in awe as his bride and her mother make their way down the outdoor aisle in the sunshine at Willow Heights Mansion in Morgan Hill.

Tender Moment: Groom Overwhelmed by Bride's Walk to Him at Willow Heights Mansion

Tearful groom outdoor aisle Morgan Hill weddings groom sunshine tears Willow Heights Mansion

A bride at Can Xicarro in Sitges, Spain, with a single tear falling as she opens a small gift box, her white dress hanging in the background.

Bride's Emotional Moment Opening Precious Gift At Can Xicarro Wedding

gift box tear falling Can Xicarro memorable moment Sitges Sitges wedding venue Spain

Bride wipes a tear from her cheek during an emotional exchange of rings at a beautiful indoor wedding in Grand-Sommartel, Switzerland.

Whispers of Love: Emotional Exchange in Grand-Sommartel

Grand Sommartel Switzerland Switzerland weddings tear bride and groom indoor ceremony Switzerland photographer

Emotional Maid of Honor sheds tears during heartfelt wedding ceremony at Secrets Akumal in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Tears of Love: Emotional Maid of Honor at Secrets Akumal

maid of honor secrets Mexico Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya tears wedding ceremony love

Emotional bride wipes a tear while exchanging vows at Villa Punto de Vista in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Waves of Love: Emotional Vows at Villa Punto de Vista

bw emotional Costa Rica Wedding brides waves Villa Punto de Vista Costa Rica

An artistic wedding photographer captured an award-winning detail picture at Chateau de Balarin in Montréal du Gers, France. The image shows a hidden tissue for tears, showcasing an emotional ceremony to come.

Montréal du Gers Unveiled: Emotional Tissue Concealment at Chateau de Balarin

Chateau de Balarin Gers chair emotional Montreal FR Gers wedding photography outdoors

Women guests at a ceremony in Ardeche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, sharing emotional moments as they leave - some shedding tears while others bursting into laughter

Ardeche Emotions: A Captivating Wedding Celebration in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

wedding celebration ceremony Ardeche Ardeche wedding photography Ardeche outdoor wedding Emotional moments Ardeche weddings

In Paris, the heartfelt speech by the groom's mother brings tears to the bride and groom's eyes during their wedding celebration

A Touching Moment in the Heart of Paris

bride and groom eyes Heart of Paris touching moment heartfelt speech France wedding speech Paris wedding photography

A heartfelt moment captured in Zenderen, Netherlands as kids surround the bride and groom; one girl is in tears, while another puts on a sad face, while their dad holds another child

Zenderen, Netherlands: Emotions Unveiled in a Wedding Day Surrounding

Dad Zenderen love story tears Netherlands kid Emotional moments Netherlands romance

At the Jio convention in Mumbai, the groom is moved to tears as he lays eyes on his bride for the first time. This touching moment captures the love they share and their hopes for the future.

Heartwarming Tears of Love: Mumbai Jio Convention Chronicles the Groom's Unforgettable Reaction

Mumbai venue unforgettable India groom Jio Convention Mumbai wedding photography

A skilled wedding photographer in Shanghai captures a moving moment during a ceremony. The groom, visibly emotional, wipes away tears while holding a microphone at the altar.

Shanghai Unveiled: Emotional Groom's Tearful Vow, Captured by Skilled Wedding Photographer

China wedding photography Shanghai wedding Somerset wedding venue China tearful vow crying Shanghai ceremony

A touching moment as the bride embraces her wheelchair-bound grandmother, shedding tears of joy after the ceremony at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean Resort, Herradura Beach

Capturing Love's Embrace: A Bride's Tearful Joy with her Wheelchair-bound Grandmother at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean Resort

wheelchair Herradura Beach post ceremony moment Costa Rica Documentary Wedding Photography Los Sueños Marriott Ocean Resort Costa Rica Bride tears

The bride is seen tearfully embracing her father in the cool shade of the trees during her wedding at Domaine de Rennepont

Emotion-filled Wedding Moment: Bride and Father Embrace at Domaine de Rennepont

Rennepont Wedding Photography Haute-Marne trees tears emotion Domaine de Rennepont father of 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.