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.

Captured at the Angelbachtal, this award-winning photo showcases the allure of a bride gazing out of a church window, bathed in soft light that accentuates her elegance.

Angelbachtal's Award-Winning Bride's Gaze Through Church Window

Award-winning photographer captures the bride's elegance at her Apulia home. Multiple reflections from bedroom mirrors beautifully frame the scene as she holds her bouquet of flowers.

Apulia Reflections: Capturing the Bride's Elegance in Multiple Mirrors

mirrors multiple reflections Elegance Apulia bouquet of flowers Apulia Bridal Portrait

A documentary photographer captured this award-winning image of the bride preparing for her wedding at the couple's home in Brookline, PA. The photo shows the bride's black wedding dress hanging in her bedroom.

Brookline PA Bride: Capturing Elegance as a Gleaming Black Gown Awaits

Brookline documentary photographer Brookline Brookline Bride Elegance Brookline PA wedding photography PA Pennsylvania

In Denver, Colorado, at a reception venue, a documentary wedding photographer captured this award-winning image of a couple's first dance. They are beautifully framed between two floating candle holders.

Denver, Colorado: Capturing the Elegance of Love's First Dance in a Stunning Award-Winning Photograph

candles candle holders Colorado first dance Denver Denver Colorado love

Wedding photo captured at Ring Oak Plantation in Leon County, Florida, Tallahassee. The couple basks in the warm tones of the fading sun, facing each other as daylight wanes through the trees.

Romantic Radiance: Love Illuminated at Ring Oak Plantation in Tallahassee

Ring Oak Plantation Leon County Tallahassee Ring Oak Plantation bride and groom portraits Florida wedding photography Leon County Wedding Photography warm tones

An acclaimed wedding photographer beautifully captures a couple at the stunning River's Edge in Devon, AB. In this black and white portrait, they sit on a couch, illuminated by the gentle light streaming through the window, exuding elegance and charm.

Devon's Enchanting Light: A Captivating Black and White Wedding Portrait

sit gentle light Elegance window Devon AB Alberta Photographer Alberta

Wedding photo taken at The Grand Hotel, Tynemouth, England, UK capturing a black and white detail shot of the bride's dress lacing, evoking a vintage feel.

Vintage Elegance: Capturing the Timeless Beauty of a Bride's Lacing at The Grand Hotel

creative details UK bride England wedding photography England beauty black and white

Captured outside the National Gallery of Art, this couple strolls together in formal attire, exuding class and elegance against the backdrop of a cultural landmark. | Elegant Stroll: Gallery Affair Charm

National Gallery Elegance: A Stroll through Cultural Charm

National Gallery of Art Elegance strolling couple DC engagement session formal attire cultural landmark Washington DC

Newlyweds sparkle in this award-winning portrait taken in Sicily, Italy. Overflowing with joy, the couple basks in the beauty of their wedding day, posing with a vibrant blue convertible sports car.

Elegance in Italy: Newlyweds Sparkle with Joy in Sicily's Charm

vibrant vintage italy weddings convertible Blue Night Sicily wedding photographer

An artistic wedding photographer captured the intricacy of a hanging wedding dress at St. Charles Hall Meggen in a black and white image during the bride's wedding preparation.

Delicate Elegance: Meggen's Hanging Wedding Dress Unveiled in Monochrome

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A detailed black and white shot captured in Wallonie, Brabant Wallon. The bride's best friend is seen closing the back of her wedding dress, revealing a tattoo.

Bridal Elegance: Revealing Ink - A Captivating BW Detail in Wallonie Brabant Wallon

ink Wallonie weddings creative details Elegance black and white wedding in Wallonie Brabant Wallon

Award-winning wedding day detail picture captures the elegance and artistry as the bride's legs emerge from a tub, with her dress gracefully displayed nearby, in a beautifully composed black and white frame.

Graceful Elegance: Capturing the Bride's Legs in a Tub

brides legs bw photo Elegance black and white creative details black and white artistry

Award-winning wedding day portrait captured by a talented photographer at The City Pavilion in London, UK. The groom is skillfully framed in the double doors, offering a unique perspective for this stunning image.

Framed Elegance: Award-Winning Portrait in London's City Pavilion Doors

award winning portrait center framed london wedding photographer Elegance The City Pavilion unique perspective London artistic portraits

A wedding photographer captured a beautiful kiss at Santa Maria Assunta Church in Bargni, Italy. The award-winning image features a couple enjoying an intimate session inside their vintage car, shot through the front windshield from the outside

Bargni Bliss: A Vintage Kiss Immortalized Amidst Italian Elegance

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Cape Cod, Massachusetts Home- This evocative wedding photo captures the bride standing at the window, illuminated softly at sunset, in a picture of elegance and readiness for her departure to the ceremony.

Cape Cod's Charm: Illuminated Elegance and Anticipation on the Massachusetts Coast

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A beautifully composed wedding photo at District Winery in DC showcases the bride's portrait. The off-center posing and wood paneling create a minimalist frame accentuated by vertical lines.

DC's District Winery: Capturing Wedding Elegance with Off-Center Bride Posing and Minimalist Framing

DC photo bride posing wood paneling District Winery Washington DC vertical lines off center

A couple, surrounded by the serenity of The Ranch Country Club in Westminster, CO, embrace each other tenderly as the sun sets behind the majestic mountains.

GRACE AND ELEGANCE: A Mesmerizing Sunset Wedding Portrait at The Ranch Country Club Venue

tenderly The Ranch Country Club sun sets Grace majestic mountains Ranch Country Club Weddings serenity

Chateau de Farcheville, France - A close-up photograph showcases champagne glasses coming together in a toast against a striking black background

Chateau de Farcheville, France: A Toast with Champagne Glasses on a Striking Black Background

striking social gathering event romantic Elegance Chateau de Farcheville party

The bride exudes elegance in this overhead portrait at Villa Borromeo in Cassano d'Adda, Italy.

Villa Borromeo in Cassano d'Adda, Italy showcases an elegant bride in this stunning overhead portrait

Cassano dAdda Elegance Italy Villa Borromeo overhead portrait bride Italian Bridal Portrait

A black and white portrait of a couple wearing formal attire in a stunning building in Macau, evoking a sense of elegance and romance for their engagement wedding photography session

Elegant and Romantic Engagement Wedding Photography Session in Stunning Macau Building with Formal Attired Couple

Elegance Macau bw portrait Macau Engaged Couple formal attire China romance

Tuscany wedding detail image showing the elegance and refinement of the bride with her bouquet of flowers

bride flowers refinement Tuscany wedding bride detail image bouquet

A photo taken upon arrival at Church San Benedetto Abate in Cetraro, Calabria, captures the intricate detail of the wedding dress and veil

The wedding dress and veil of the bride from Cetraro, Calabria were captured in detail in her photos taken at Church San Benedetto Abate

romance Cetraro joy San Benedetto Abate wedding photography Calabria beauty

A wedding photo from Zabeel Saray Dubai shows bridesmaids slipping on their shoes

Zabeel Saray Dubai bridesmaids are pictured putting on their shoes

bridesmaids wedding Dubai shoe dresses Elegance getting ready

Captivating Reflections: Nea Ionia Attica Bride's Detail in Black and White

Reflective Elegance: Bride's Detail with Tray Mirror in Nea Ionia Attica

tray Elegance Nea Ionia bride Attica wedding picture black white detail Nea Ionia wedding photographer

Elegant Bride in Nea Ionia Attica: Exquisite Black and White Detail

Exquisite Elegance: Bride's Detail in Nea Ionia Attica, Black and White Capture

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This high-angle shot captured in South Yorkshire, is an exquisite detail of the bride, showcasing her immaculate makeup application; vibrant red lipstick adorns her lips, adding a touch of elegance to her enchanting beauty

Exquisite Detail of the Bride: Immaculate Makeup Application with Vibrant Red Lipstick

Elegance red South Yorkshire bride wedding vibrant South Yorkshire makeup

Freedom Hall and Gardens Wedding photojournalism of guys getting dressed at Mission Santa Clara

black and white Santa Clara wedding picture Santa Clara Photographer Santa Clara wedding photographer suits handkerchiefs preparation

Wedding shoot with Hangzhou City bride getting hair done with lights and mirror

Hangzhou City Miller Yao Elegance hairstyling salon Candid Moments beauty

Saint-Petersburg wedding shoot with a couple dancing on crowded dance floor with guests

Elegance in Motion: A Saint-Petersburg Wedding Celebration

dance floor motion romantic couple crowded Russia Bride Saint Petersburg marriage venue Russia photographer

Wedding photographer Rome | Bride Getting ready and into her dress

Elegance Unveiled: A Bride's Transformation in Rome

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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.