Wedding Photos of Ceremony

The following “Ceremony” 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 “Ceremony” 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 wedding photograph at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands in Carmel, CA capturing the stunning ocean view and the ongoing ceremony. A perfect vow exchange frozen in time.

Serene Vows: Hyatt Carmel Highlands' Oceanview Wedding Ceremony Captured in Timeless Photograph

Beautiful wedding photo of bride and groom leaving ceremony at St Michael's Manor in St Albans, with groomsmen joyfully setting off confetti canons in the sunny outdoor setting.

Newlyweds Celebrate Under Confetti Canons at St Michael's Manor in St Albans Ceremony

St Michaels Manor confetti canons marriage outdoor wedding groom groomsmen celebration

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

Mantua ceremony photography wedding villa di bagno low angle Porto Mantovano

In this wedding photo, the bride and her bridal party are captured walking through the wet streets of Edinburgh towards the ceremony.

Enchanting Edinburgh: Bride and Bridal Party Walk through Rainy Streets to Ceremony

bridal party ceremony Edinburgh walking wet streets rain wedding photo

Wedding photo taken at Okyanus Yati in Istanbul, showcasing a beautiful moment between the bride and groom surrounded by stunning floral decorations during their ceremony.

Elegant Love Blooms: Bride and Groom Embrace in Okyanus Yati's Enchanting Floral Setting

ceremony Okyanus Yati floral decorations bride and groom Istanbul Ceremony Photography Face to face Istanbul

Professional wedding photographer capturing the bride and groom's kiss at the historic Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. This stunning photo captures a memorable moment from the ceremony.

Bride and Groom's Kiss at Pera Palace Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey, Captured Beautifully

Istanbul Istanbul wedding photography ceremony Hotel Reception Pera Palace Hotel historic location Turkey

Photograph taken at a wedding, capturing the bride and groom's first kiss at Hazel Gap Barn. Artistic black and white image with a low camera angle during the ceremony.

Enchanting Wedding Moment: Bride and Groom's First Kiss at Hazel Gap Barn Photography

First Kiss Nottingham Ceremony Photography burst of light Nottingham low angle black and white Nottinghamshire

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

ceremony Redwood Ridge Estate black and white Los Gatos Los Gatos Outdoor ceremony redwoods emotion

A beautiful detail shot capturing a moment from a wedding ceremony at Whitefield Synagogue in Greater Manchester.

Elegant Whitefield Synagogue Wedding Ceremony Moment Captured in Stunning Detail in Greater Manchester

Detail Shot book Greater Manchester Wedding Photography Jewish Wedding men Greater Manchester ceremony

Photographer captures a wedding couple holding smoke grenades surrounded by their family at Horton Grange in Northumberland, UK.

Enchanting Moment: Wedding Couple Embraced by Smoke Grenades at Horton Grange, Northumberland, UK

Northumberland UK grenade fog smoke grenades outside wedding Northumberland

Photograph taken at a wedding ceremony in Belin-Beliet, Gironde, France. The image features the wedding rings being exchanged in a beautiful outdoor garden setting.

Stunning Wedding Rings Exchanged in Enchanting Garden Ceremony at Belin-Beliet, Gironde, France

exchange Gironde France Gironde garden Belin Beliet Outdoor enchanting

Wedding photo capturing the couple at Charleston Harbor Beach, joyfully high-fiving guests during their recessional after the ceremony.

Charleston Harbor Beach Bliss: Newlyweds High-Five Guests in Recessional Joy

ceremony high five newlyweds guests Charleston Harbor Beach beach Charleston

The moments leading up to the wedding, from the bride's preparation to the ceremony, at Belle Signature - Casa de Beleza - Porto Alegre - Brasil, in this stunning wedding photo.

Bride's Preparation to Ceremony: Stunning Wedding Photo at Belle Signature - Casa de Beleza - Porto Alegre

ceremony Bride Photo bride Porto Alegre wedding photography Porto Alegre Brasil bride preparation Porto Alegre

Wedding photo captured at Smedmore House in Dorset, UK, with a milk tanker speeding past during the ceremony, adding a unique and unexpected element to the photo.

Milk tanker photobombs Dorset wedding ceremony at Smedmore House creating unexpected and memorable moment.

Memorable Smedmore House Dorset UK farm milk tanker truck funny wedding photo Dorset

Befuddled dog ring bearer searches for direction at wedding ceremony in Old Thorns Hotel, Surrey, UK as guests point the way to the altar.

Puzzled Pooch Seeks Path: Ring Bearer Dog's Confusion Delights Guests at Old Thorns Wedding

England guests pet Surrey wedding photography ceremony ring bearer Surrey

The moment when the groom and his friend participate in traditional gatecrashing games to pick up the bride at a wedding held at the Grand Hyatt Xi'an.

Grand Hyatt Xi'an Wedding: Groom and Friend Take on Gatecrashing Games to Pick Bride

ceremony games friend Gate crashing Games gate crash Xi'an Xian groom door games

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

ceremony embrace emotional bride Italy wedding Rosate Church church

At Gables LBI, NJ, a bride adorned in a maroon tuxedo reacts emotively as the bride gracefully walks down the aisle during a garden LBI Gable wedding ceremony.

Emotive Moments at a Garden Wedding Ceremony in Gables LBI, NJ

adorned New Jersey moment graceful bride react maroon

At La Ferme d'Armenon in Paris, France, the gentle wind delicately caresses the bride's veil, creating a captivating dance of fabric moments before the ceremony, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the enchanting scene.

Veiled in Love at La Ferme d'Armenon, Paris

windy Paris wedding photography wind fabric bw bridal enchanting wedding venue

At Silver Bay YMCA in Silver Bay, New York, guests huddle under umbrellas, embracing an unexpected downpour, fostering warmth and camaraderie amidst the elements.

Love Reigns: Embracing the Unexpected at Silver Bay YMCA, New York

rainy ceremony guests New York - Upstate Silver Bay NY Silver Bay YMCA umbrellas Silver Bay Outdoor Ceremony

A beautiful image of a bride and groom on their wedding day in Zurich. The couple is side by side, gazing lovingly at each other as they exit the ceremony, with confetti and flower petals falling around them.

Zurich Nuptials: Bride and groom blissfully exit ceremony, surrounded by confetti and flower petals

Switzerland Zurich Wedding Moment Zurich Ceremony Photography flowers Zurich blissful tossed

Wedding day moment captured at Saratoga Springs in Saratoga, CA, showcasing a beautiful shot filled with loving gazes towards many persons.

A Saratoga Springs Wedding Celebration with Beautiful Moments and Loving Glances

California - Northern kiss on head outdoor ceremony father of bride ceremony Saratoga Springs Saratoga Wedding Moment

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

Leesburg Wedding Moment bw Birkby House hugs smiles touching Virginia

A timeless black and white image taken at Tivoli Oudenbosch capturing the bride and groom gazing towards guests arriving for the ceremony on their wedding day.

Elegant Romance at Tivoli Oudenbosch: Bride and Groom Await Guests on Wedding Day

ceremony timeless bw Wedding Photo romance bride Tivoli Oudenbosch black white

Captivating black and white wedding photo taken at Pembroke Lodge, London, of a church ceremony and a reflective composition capturing the grand scene at the bottom of the frame.

Black and White Wedding at Pembroke Lodge - London Church Ceremony Beauty

London artistic United Kingdom captivating ceremony bw London church ceremony

A heartwarming moment captured during a wedding in Sprockhövel, Germany, as the couple's loyal dog lingers at the ceremony, fixating on the priest after delivering the rings.

Loyal Dog's Loving Gaze: Wedding Bliss in Sprockhövel, Germany captured as He Watches Priest

canine ceremony loving loyal gaze Sprockhövel Wedding Photography Bliss

Emotional black and white wedding photo of bride and groom sharing an intimate moment by touching foreheads at their civil ceremony in Borchen, Paderborn.

Whispers of Love: Bride and Groom Embrace in Borchen Civil Ceremony, Paderborn

ceremony civil ceremony Germany emotional intimate moment love

A beautiful bride tosses rose petals as part of an Indian wedding tradition, captured in a candid moment at Mount Palomar Winery in Temecula, CA.

Indian Bride Tosses Rose Petals: Candid Moment at Mount Palomar Winery, Temecula, CA

happiness ceremony Temecula Wedding Moment Temecula Mount Palomar Winery roses candid

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

embrace i do Temecula ceremony joy serene nature

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

groom Catania marriage romance wedding embrace love

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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.