Wedding Photos of Elegance

The following “Elegance” 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 “Elegance” 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.

Captivating bride portrait in a rustic building interior in Sao Paulo, with shadows cast by tall windows, captured at a wedding event.

Stunning Sao Paulo Bride: Rustic elegance captured in captivating portrait at exclusive wedding

At the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, a couple, silhouetted near a statue in front of a museum window, is captured in a monochromatic engagement portrait session, emitting a vintage elegance.

Monochromatic Elegance: Couple Silhouetted Near Museum Window in Brussels

silhouettes Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Museum monochromatic Belgium Elegance Belgium Engagement Photography

A stunning silhouette of a couple on their wedding day at Villa Parker reception venue, backlit with a warm orange gel light against a backdrop of three elegant arches. A romantic and dreamy scene capturing the love and beauty of the special day.

Ethereal Elegance: Silhouetted Love at Villa Parker

Elegance Parker CO Villa Parker love backlit elegant wedding Villa

At Valleybrook Country Club, a captivating overhead BW shot captures the bride in the midst of getting ready, delicately slipping her heels on, while her reflection in the nearby mirror adds a touch of elegance and anticipation to the enchanting scene.

A Bride Preparing at Valleybrook Country Club

BW shot New Jersey Moment New Jersey Valleybrook Country Club bride reflection shoes

At Villa Mansi in Segromigno in Monte, the bride and groom share their first dance in the grand ballroom, surrounded by friends and relatives, radiating love and joy.

Elegance and Love in Villa Mansi's Grand Ballroom: A Magical First Dance in Segromigno in Monte

Elegance bride Lucca Wedding Reception Capannori joy dance Segromigno in Monte

A striking black and white portrait showcases the groom, exuding timeless elegance and sophistication, capturing his presence with classic charm at North Cadbury Court.

Sophisticated Groom: Timeless Elegance in Black and White at North Cadbury Court

bw Wedding Photo classic Somerset Groom Portrait sophistication Somerset Artistic Portrait United Kingdom black white

At Casale De Pasquinelli, the escorted bride gracefully walks down the aisle, viewed from above, as they pass a charming stone building, encapsulating the moment.

Elegance in Motion: Bride's Journey at Casale De Pasquinelli, Capturing Love by Stone Building

Elegance Casale De Pasquinelli aisle journey love high angle Lucca

A newlywed couple happily exits a lovely church in Chalon-sur-Saône, France, captured in a timeless black and white photograph.

Newlywed Bliss: Romantic Exit from Charming Church in Chalon-sur-Saône, France in Timeless Elegance

black white newlyweds timeless Chalon sur Saône Elegance romantic Chalon sur Saône Wedding Moment

Emotional bride exiting vintage car at Domaine de Villot, France on wedding day, radiating elegance and anticipation.

Elegant Bride Steps from Vintage Car at Domaine de Villot, France, Radiating Anticipation

vintage car Domaine de Villot wedding day emotional bride Elegance limo Lot et Garonne bride

The bride elegantly arrives by inflatable boat at the Ice Wall wedding venue on the Antarctic Circle Peninsula with the assistance of a guide.

Bride's Elegant Arrival by Inflatable Boat at Ice Wall Wedding Venue on Antarctic Circle Peninsula

Ice Wall Antarctic Adventure Wedding Antarctic Wedding Moment arrival wedding venue guide Antarctic Wedding

A beautiful bride gracefully makes her way down a staircase in the prep house at Whinstone View, Middlesborough, UK, in this enchanting wedding day photograph.

Enchanting Moment: Bride Descending Staircase at Whinstone View, Middlesborough, UK Wedding Day Capture

beautiful bride staircase graceful UK Elegance house Middlesborough

A beautiful composition showcasing a bride getting ready through a barn window at Rumbold's Farm in West Sussex, UK, capturing a unique and artistic reflection.

Bride's Elegance: Glimpse of Beauty at Rumbold's Farm, West Sussex Window, UK Reflection unique

barn bride reflection west sussex bride artistic wedding photo beauty farm

The Vienne wedding preparations - the bride is surrounded by her attendants in a cozy room at home, adjusting her dress for the ceremony.

Elegance in Vienne: Bride And Attendants Prepare in Cozy Home For Wedding Ceremony

joyful Elegance Vienne Wedding Moment dress Vienne home bride

A beautiful bride getting ready with makeup and mirrors at the historic Bastide de Lussan venue, captured in a timeless black and white photograph on her wedding day.

Timeless Elegance: Bride Prepares at Bastide de Lussan in Stunning Black and White Image

timeless historic venue Lussan getting ready mirrors wedding Gard Wedding Photography

Bride reflecting in a mirror on her wedding day at Domaine de Verchant in Montpellier, creating a striking and elegant image filled with grace and beauty.

Graceful Reflection: Bride at Domaine de Verchant in Montpellier, Capturing Elegance and Beauty

radiant graceful Elegance elegant Montpellier Domaine de Verchant reflection

In Catford, London, a mesmerizing wedding moment is immortalized at the venue as the bride's sister prepares and descends the stairs, her reflection echoing in multiple mirrors.

Reflections of Elegance: Sister of the Bride Descends Catford Venue Staircase in London Wedding

Brides sister stairs reflection Descent London mesmerizing mirrors

Overhead shot captured during a wedding ceremony at Eglise d'Ascain, featuring a full church with white choir books standing out against dark attire in a unique high-angle view.

Choir Books In White: Aerial Elegance at Eglise d'Ascain Wedding Ceremony

Nouvelle-Aquitaine high View attire Elegance white church high angle

In a picturesque moment at Chateau de Balarin in Gers, France, the bride gazes out the window, bathed in a cascading stream of warm sunlight as she prepares for her wedding day.

Bathed in Warm Sunlight: Bride's Moment at Chateau de Balarin in Gers, France

intimate serene preparation warm Gers wedding photographer window Chateau de Balarin

A captivating black and white wedding photograph taken from above at a farm venue in São Paulo, Brazil, showcasing the bride in her flowing dress surrounded by a circle of friends, evoking a sense of timeless elegance and cherished memories.

Timeless Elegance: Bride and Friends in Flowing Dresses at São Paulo Farm Wedding

flowing dress farm venue cherished BW photograph timeless bride

A timeless black and white photo of a bride getting her final touch up by a stylist on her wedding day at the charming Borgo Fregnano venue in Faenza, Italy, evoking a sense of nostalgia and elegance.

Nostalgic Elegance: Bride's Final Touch at Borgo Fregnano Venue in Faenza, Italy

nostalgia venue stylish bride stylist Faenza Wedding Photography wedding photo

The bride's floral bouquet being prepared by a stylist in Shanghai, China, adding a touch of elegance to the wedding day.

Elegant Floral Bouquet Preparation in Shanghai, China: A Stylish Touch for the Wedding Day

scene floral preparation Shanghai wedding photography marriage China elegant wedding

A candid behind-the-scenes shot from a wedding day preparations at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou, China, showcasing the couple and their loved ones getting ready together.

Elegant Wedding Day Preparations at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou Capturing Love in Candid Moments

Hangzhou Wedding Moment Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou hotel Elegance intimate celebration moment Preparations

A unique perspective of the first dance at The Lalit, Udaipur, on a wedding day, captured in a timeless black and white photograph with a low angle shot, evoking nostalgia and elegance.

Elegant First Dance Bliss at The Lalit, Udaipur: Timeless Black and White Romance

emotional classic nostalgia timeless The Lalit love romance

Embracing bride and groom posing beneath a large, warmly lit art sculpture on their wedding day in Almería, Spain.

Bride and Groom Bask in Love under Glowing Art Sculpture in Almería, Spain

beauty Commitment celebration Unity Almería Wedding Portrait Elegance tradition

Before the bride's grand departure at Château St Roch, Martres-Tolosane, France - a serene moment captured in diagonal sunlight and shadows.

Ethereal Elegance: The Bride's Tranquil Morning at Château St Roch

Haute-Garonne sunlight Elegance diagonal serene staircase Château St Roch

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

Friuli-Venezia Giulia San Floriano del Collio wedding Friuli Venezia Giulia weddings newlyweds wedding photography Gorizia Lights Gorizia

Engaged couple's lifestyle portrait in Fort Collins, Colorado's Horsetooth Reservoir. Groom-to-be gracefully lifts his bride-to-be in a dance-like gesture, showcasing their love over the serene flat waters.

Elegance Elevated | Engaged Couple's Portraits on Horsetooth Reservoir's Serene Waters

Horsetooth Reservoir engagement photography Fort Collins lifestyle portrait photography Colorado lifestyle portrait session Fort Collins Colorado Elegance Engaged Couple Portraits

Wedding portrait captured at Kasteel Maurick, North Brabant. An intimate couple adorned in black attire stands amidst lush green foliage, showcasing an enchanting outdoor view.

Wedding Elegance: Black Attire Amidst Enchanting Kasteel Maurick Foliage

Artistic portrait photographer Black attire couple bride and groom photo greenery Elegance Intimate newlywed portrait nl wedding photography

Capturing the essence of elegance, the bride stands tall amidst the picturesque red walls and gracefully ascends the white spiral staircase, creating a timeless and artistic portrait at Chateau de Malmont.

Malmont's Majestic Moments: A Timeless Portrait of Elegance and Love

ascending stairs Elegance spiral staircase Chateau de Malmont Villeneuvette timeless Herault Bridal Portrait

Capturing the bride's anticipation and elegance, this award-winning photo frames her getting ready at Domaine de Carnavan, adding artistic allure through the arched, white doorway in Aubagne, Bouches-du-Rhône.

Aubagne's Artistic Allure: Capturing the Bride's Anticipation at Domaine de Carnavan

white doorway Aubagne archways Elegance Bouches-du-Rhône Aubagne Bridal Portrait

Pages

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.