Wedding Photos of Black and white

The following “Black and white” 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 “Black and white” 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.

Beautiful black and white wedding photo taken at Soho House Istanbul, capturing the love from the parents. The bride is seen laughing in the foreground as they toast during speeches outdoors.

Parental Love in Black and White at Soho House Istanbul Wedding Celebration

Chateau de Kergrist in Brittany, France. Wedding photo of a couple in the garden taken from a high angle in black and white with a tilt shift effect.

Romantic Nuptials at Chateau de Kergrist: High Angle Garden Wedding in Tilt Shift Monochrome

garden bw Wedding France black and white monochrome Brittany Wedding Portrait tilt shift

A black and white wedding photo of a couple kissing on the wall at the breathtaking Castelnau des Fieumarcon in Lectoure, Gers.

Eternal Love: Couple's Kiss at Castelnau des Fieumarcon in Lectoure, Gers, Black and White Beauty

kiss eternal Castelnau des Fieumarcon romantic wedding love couple Gers Wedding Portrait

Wedding photo taken at Villa di Bagno in Porto Mantovano, Mantova, capturing a black and white image from a low angle during the rice throwing ceremony.

Elegant Rice Toss: Black and White Wedding Moment at Villa di Bagno Mantova

Rice toss mantua wedding photography Mantua black and white wedding low angle villa di bagno

Photographer captured bride and groom dancing at Bodrum Villa Maçakızı in a black and white image with high contrast, taken at their wedding.

Bodrum Villa Maçakızı: Stunning Black and White Wedding Dance Shot with High Contrast

Bodrum wedding photography sunlight black and white Turkey high contrast bride and groom dancing

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

Redwood Ridge Estate California - Northern Los Gatos Los Gatos Outdoor ceremony tears ceremony Los Gatos wedding photography

A photographer captured a picture at a wedding in Lot et Garonne, France. The photo shows soap bubbles in front of the bride and groom at Église Pont du Casse.

Enchanting Soap Bubble Moment: Bride and Groom at Église Pont du Casse in France Wedding

soap bubbles Lot-et-Garonne ceremony exit celebration Lot et Garonne Wedding Photography black and white Église Pont du Casse

A photographer captured a black and white image of the bride and groom kissing in a car at a wedding in Budapest, Hungary.

Newlyweds Share Romantic Kiss in Budapest Wedding Car - Breathtaking Black & White

vintage Hungary bride and groom Hungary photographer auto car romantic Budapest Wedding Portrait

A stunning black and white image taken at a wedding in Wadhurst, UK, capturing the bride and her father waiting to enter the church.

Breathtaking Wadhurst Wedding: Father and Daughter Wait at Church Entrance in Timeless Image

Wadhurst bw image Wadhurst Wedding Photography black and white timeless United Kingdom bride

Wedding photo taken at Old Thorns Hotel in Surrey, UK, featuring friends embracing the emotional bride in a striking black and white image.

Emotional Bride Embraced by Friends at Old Thorns Hotel in Stunning Black and White Photo

friends United Kingdom Old Thorns Hotel Surrey UK emotional Surrey embrace stunning

An intimate moment of a bride getting assistance with her dress at home in Brittany is captured in black and white with powerful contrast at this wedding event.

Breathtaking Bridal Moments: Elegant Bride in Brittany Receives Dress Assistance in Stunning Monochrome

monochrome elegant intimate black and white assistance brittany bride dress

Captured in San Francisco, a couple lovingly embraces on a city street in a black and white urban shot, with a garage door framing their romantic hug.

BW City Romance: Embracing Love in Urban San Fran Portraits

SF E Shoot urban portrait black and white sunlight and shadows city street San Francisco framing in door

A wedding image captured at Whirlowbrook Hall, Sheffield, showing the Bride getting ready as she puts on her dress, presented in black and white.

Elegant Bride at Whirlowbrook Hall: Captivating Black and White Wedding Beauty Unveiled

elegant dress black and white Whirlowbrook Hall Sheffield Bride getting ready Sheffield

Capturing the essence of romance in Venice, Italy, this engagement portrait focuses on the intricate detail of the engagement ring, with profiled faces on the verge of a kiss. The high key, high contrast monochromatic tones exude a vintage feel.

Essence of Love: Venice Engagement Portrait with Intricate Details

high contrast monochromatic tones vintage feel Italy close up black and white engagement ring

A pre-wedding portrait of a couple taken at La Alhambra in Granada, Spain, features a black background and soft lighting highlighting their faces, creating a vintage monochromatic look.

Vintage Elegance in BW: La Alhambra Portrait in Granada

Granada Engagement Portrait La Alhambra monochromatic Granada soft lighting faces highlighted Spain

The engaged couple poses underwater in a vintage-inspired black and white portrait session at Plage Guadeloupe, showcasing their love in a unique and timeless style.

Vintage Love Beneath the Waves: an underwater engagement at Plage Guadeloupe

vintage black and white Guadeloupe Plage Guadeloupe Underwater Guadeloupe Engagement Session

In Newport, RI, a couple embraces on a historic wharf for their engagement session. The black and white portrait exudes a timeless, vintage vibe.

Timeless Embrace on Newport Wharf Bench

Wharf Rhode Island Newport RI Engagement Session vintage vibe black and white timeless Newport

A romantic engagement portrait captured in black and white at Catton Park, Norwich. The groom kisses his soon-to-be bride's forehead in a wildflower meadow, exuding a timeless and vintage aesthetic.

Captivating Affection: Groom Kisses Bride's Forehead at Catton Park, Norwich Before Wedding Day

kiss forehead wildflower meadow Norwich UK Engagement Photography black and white Norwich-UK Catton Park

On a watertaxi in Bacino San Marco, Venice, Italy, the bride and groom bask in post-ceremony bliss after exchanging vows at Palazzo Cavalli, epitomizing romance against the picturesque Venetian backdrop.

Eternal Love Afloat: Newlyweds on a Watertaxi in Bacino San Marco, Venice

picturesque bouquet black and white water taxi Venetian backdrop Bacino San Marco post ceremony

At North Cadbury Court, groomsmen in suits engage in a game of pool, captured in timeless black and white, blending elegance with camaraderie in a classic scene.

Suited Groomsmen at North Cadbury Court: Poolside Elegance and Camaraderie in Monochrome

groomsmen black and white pool table classic scene uk wedding photography North Cadbury Court game of pool

At Nobu Hotel in London, the joyous celebration unfolds as a Jewish groom is joyfully lifted and tossed in the air above everyone on the dance floor, capturing the exuberance of the moment.

Airborne Groom: Jewish Wedding Bliss at Nobu Hotel, London Dance Floor Celebration

London groom lifted in air London groom lifted black and white dance floor London Wedding Moment

A newlywed couple on their wedding day is seen toasting with their friends on another boat at Prince Island. The happy couple raises their glasses in a celebratory gesture while enjoying their special day with loved ones.

Seaside Celebration: Newlyweds and Friends Toast on Boat at Prince Island Wedding

Prince Island Wedding Moment celebrations Sea of Marmara Adalar silhouettes black and white Raising glasses

This beautiful black and white image captures the sweet embrace of a newlywed couple on their wedding day at a private residence in Saratoga, CA, during an outdoor ceremony in a garden setting.

Saratoga Garden Love: Newlyweds share a sweet embrace at a private residence outdoor ceremony

outdoor ceremony Saratoga Wedding Moment Saratoga CA black and white wedding photo California - Northern couple

A captivating black and white detail on a wedding day at Villa Contarini Giovanelli Venier - Padua, Italy, featuring a bride elegantly ascending a staircase in a dreamy backlight, accentuating the intricate details of her dress.

Enchanting Bridal Staircase at Villa Contarini Giovanelli Venier - Padua, Italy: A Timeless Moment

Padua bride elegant reception venue staircase enchanting Backlight black and white

A wedding portrait taken on the special day in Altopiano di Asiago, Italy. The couple stands on a hill, moving towards a grand tree, lost amidst the natural beauty surrounding them.

Romantic Wedding Portrait Amidst Natural Beauty on Altopiano di Asiago, Italy Hilltop

reception venue romantic captivating special day bw bw Wedding Photo portrait

Beautiful candid moment of newlyweds cutting their wedding cake, captured in black and white at CAV Restaurant in Providence, RI, USA, showcasing the humorous and endearing confusion of the couple as they navigate this traditional task together.

Elegant Cake Cutting Delight: Newlyweds at CAV Restaurant in Providence, RI Show Humorous Confusion

endearing wedding cake Traditional beautiful shot newlyweds smiles candid moment

A candid black and white shot from a wedding celebration at Newport Marriott Hotel captures joyous guests, immersed in the music, dancing energetically to a classic tune on the luxurious ballroom floor in Newport, RI.

Energetic Guests Dance Joyously to Classic Tune at Newport Marriott Wedding in Luxurious Ballroom

New England classic Joyously Tune candid shot Newport RI Reception Photography Newport

Black and white wedding photo captured at Top of the Town in Arlington, VA, showcasing a groomsman clinking a glass of water to signal the kiss between the newlyweds.

Groomsman's Toast: A Black and White Moment at Top of the Town in Arlington, VA

newlyweds Top of the Town arlington wedding photography wedding reception venue moment bw candid

A touching moment in black and white captured at Birkby House in Leesburg, VA, as the groom's mother warmly embraces the bride, welcomed into the family after the ceremony on their wedding day.

Groom's Mother Welcomes Bride, Birkby House, Leesburg, VA, Wedding Day Bliss

bride grooms mother Leesburg smiles family Virginia black and white

A captivating black and white wedding portrait captured at Victoria Peak Garden, Hong Kong. The bride and groom are framed by a vintage lamp and the silhouette of trees, creating a romantic and enchanting scene.

Enchanting Black and White Wedding Portrait at Victoria Peak Garden, Hong Kong: Vintage Love

lamp Hong Kong Wedding Photography BW wedding portrait enchanting groom black and white vintage

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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.