Wedding Photos of Church

The following “Church” 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 “Church” 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.

A WPJA wedding photo: In a church ceremony in Zuid Holland, Netherlands, young bridesmaids are seen laying on the floor.

Zuid Holland Church: Young Bridesmaids on Floor

At Simi Panormitis Monastery, a bride and groom hold each other as they leave the church, showered with confetti by guests.

Simi Panormitis: Confetti Showered Couple

Panormitis Monastery leave church guests Greece Wedding Ceremony bride Simi Monastery leave

In Marseille, France, guests wait outside the church for the bride and groom, forming a layered scene with multiple individual stories.

Marseille Church: Guests Await Couple

outside guests wait guests church outside church Marseille layered scene

At the Church of Chantonnay in France, the bride arrives on her father's arm, beautifully silhouetted against the illuminated architecture of the church. The play of light highlights the building's grand features.

Bride Silhouetted on Father's Arm Against Illuminated Church of Chantonnay, France

illuminated light and shadow Church of Chantonnay silhouette illuminating church silhouette grand architecture striking contrast shot

At Basilica di Santi Giovanni e Paolo in Rome, the priest looks out, checking if the groom and his sister are ready to enter the church. This anticipatory moment underscores the solemnity and excitement of the occasion.

rome wedding priest moment Rome Anticipatory Scene entrance Rome anticipation

In Châteauroux, children joyfully toss confetti in front of the church, adding a festive and playful touch to the occasion. This scene captures the exuberance and innocence of the young participants in the celebration.

Children Joyfully Toss Confetti Outside Church in Châteauroux, Adding Festive Charm to Wedding Celebration

child girl joyful church celebration Innocence boy

At Santa Barbara Central Coast Church, a shot from behind captures a boy playfully tugging on his mother's hair bun during the ceremony. This endearing moment adds a touch of lightheartedness amidst the solemnity of the occasion.

Boy Playfully Tugs Mother's Hair Bun at Santa Barbara Central Coast Church, Bringing Lightheartedness to Ceremony

ceremony love mother and child Santa Barbara Wedding Ceremony California Weddings joy lightheartedness

At the church in Chantonnay, France, the bride and groom share a romantic kiss after the religious ceremony. In the background, guests display a variety of reactions—some are kissing, others look bored, and a few are engaged in different activities.

Bride and groom share a romantic kiss at a Chantonnay church; guests show mixed reactions, from kissing to looking bored and distracted.

kiss marriage Activity love background guests celebration

At Knockholt Church in Kent, UK, the bride arrives amidst wintry weather conditions. A man holds an umbrella to shield her, while another carefully lifts her white dress off the wet ground, ensuring her elegant entrance remains untouched by the weather.

Bride arrives at Knockholt Church in Kent, UK, as a man shields her with an umbrella and another lifts her dress off the wet ground.

assistance arrival white moment ground entrance care

In Cheswardine, Shropshire, UK, the bride makes a stunning entrance by arriving on horseback. She gracefully rides up the village high street toward the church, capturing the charming essence of the occasion.

In Cheswardine, Shropshire, UK, the bride makes a stunning entrance, arriving on horseback and gracefully riding toward the church, highlighting the charming essence of the occasion.

tradition church love celebration Cheswardine city Shropshire

At a church in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, the bride arrives with her father. Together, they embrace her future husband, marking a poignant and beautiful moment in the ceremony.

Bride and Father Embrace Groom in Heartfelt Ceremony Moment in Ille-et-Vilaine Church

poignant Ille-et-Vilaine atmosphere church arrival father family

In a church in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, the couple's celebration is adorned with a regal touch. They wear golden crowns, adding an elegant and symbolic element to their joyous union.

Couple Wears Golden Crowns During Joyous Church Ceremony in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany

church atmosphere celebration beauty union tradition golden crowns

In Moselle, outside the church, the groom passionately kisses his wife at the bottom of the steps, watched by all the guests, who are delighted by this romantic and heartfelt display of love.

Moselle Wedding: Groom's Passionate Kiss Delights Onlookers

celebration happiness church Moselle Wedding groom intimacy passionate kiss

In Poitiers, Vienne, a stunning perspective captures the grandeur and beauty of a church where the ceremony takes place, showcasing the architectural elegance and serene atmosphere of the Old World space.

Elegant Poitiers Church Provides Stunning Backdrop for Breathtaking Wedding Portrait in Old World Setting

Architectural Elegance Traditional timeless church Vienne reverence Poitiers Wedding

Bride gazes lovingly at her husband during their wedding vows in a Bromont, Quebec church.

Endearing Vows: Bride's Loving Gaze in Bromont, Quebec Church Ceremony

intimate celebration emotional scene Sacred Setting ceremony Heartfelt Expression wedding day Bromont Church

At the Santa Rita church in Milan, Italy, the newlyweds are showered with rice and petals as they exit the church. A beautiful tradition captured in this photo.

Joyful Exit: Newlyweds Showered with Rice and Petals at Santa Rita Church in Milan

church Milan exit wedding photography tradition church ceremony Santa Rita

From behind and with a low angle, the minimalistic beauty of a couple at their wedding ceremony in Brasilia. The white church roof sets the perfect backdrop for this moment.

Minimalist Grace: Low-Angle Couple's Ceremony Moment Against White Church Roof

church setting Minimalistic minimalist beauty white Brasília white roof ceremony

Newlyweds captured in a BW shot behind a vintage car window at Church of Santa Maria del Mercato in Iseo (Bs).

Timeless Love: Vintage Car Reflections at Santa Maria del Mercato Wedding

Church Mercato bw car Iseo black and white Mercato vintage car

Newlyweds steal a kiss outside the church in Geislingen an der Steige, while an elder man sneaks around them.

Stolen Kiss: Newlyweds' Tender Moment in Geislingen an der Steige

outside unexpected wedding guest Geislingen church wedding scene elder man newlyweds moment

This WPJA Spotlight award-winning photograph showcases a peaceful moment as the newlyweds pray inside the magnificent Eglise Saint Sour in Terrasson-Lavilledieu.

Sacred Serenity: A Newlywed Prayer at Eglise Saint Sour

wedding ceremony prayer Dordogne Love and Devotion moment inside Terrasson Lavilledieu

The spotlight-winning image captures a moment of pure joy as the newlyweds receive a blessing at the Église de la Couronne in Charente.

Blessed Beginnings: A Joyful Union at Église de la Couronne

love Charente wedding Église de la Couronne church Charente sacred Église de la Couronne moment

At San Cosma e Damiano Church in Tuscany, the Velatio Rite features a symmetrically framed scene with the wedding party holding a lace canopy above the couple.

Velatio Rite at San Cosma e Damiano Church: Wedding Party Holds Lace Canopy Over Couple in Tuscany Ceremony

San Cosma e Damiano Church Rite framed church symmetrically scene couple

In a church in Brabant Wallon, a young man plays the guitar beside a painting of a finger on lips, symbolizing silence.

Young Man Plays Guitar Beside Silence Symbol Painting in Church, Brabant Wallon - Black and White Shot

artistic contrast expression Young Guitarist art Church Guitar Performance music scene

In Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, outside the church, someone sweeps flower petals, captured in a black-and-white low-angle photo of the action.

Person Sweeps Flower Petals Outside Church in Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire - A Black-and-White, Low-Angle Photo

church sweeping ceremony outdoors preparation France low angle photo

The wedding party bravely made their way to the church through the grounds of Hale Park House, ready to face whatever the weather may bring.

The Wedding Party Headed to Hale Park House for the Ceremony

church outdoors Hale Park House wedding Hampshire anticipation journey

At Chiesa di San Cristoforo in Siena, the bride gracefully enters the ancient church accompanied by her father.

Bride Gracefully Enters Ancient Chiesa di San Cristoforo in Siena, Accompanied by Her Father

Aboncourt Meurthe-et-Moselle church candid Italy father processional

In Cleveland, Ohio, during the ceremony, the couple happily shows their wedding rings to the guests, sharing their joy.

During the Ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio, the Couple Happily Displays Their Wedding Rings to the Guests, Sharing Their Joy

guests wedding Ohio showing celebration wedding rings happy

Outside the church in Roiffé, France, the bride and groom share a heartfelt double hug with their parents as they exit.

Bride and Groom Embrace Parents in a Heartfelt Double Hug Outside Roiffé Church, France, Post-Ceremony

wedding Roiffé emotional bride joyful heartfelt post ceremony emotion

Outside the church in Entrehiedra, Torredelcampo, Jaén, Spain, the bride is joyfully lifted by a group of women, creating a lively scene.

Joyful Wedding in Entrehiedra: Bride Lifted by Women Outside Church in Torredelcampo, Jaén

fun tradition Torredelcampo Jaén candid Spain women

A radiant bride, adorned in timeless elegance, gracefully makes her grand entrance at a Toulouse church, under a romantic rainfall, captured in stunning black and white.

Beautiful Bride Shines in Timeless Elegance Outside a Toulouse Church, in Romantic Rainfall, in Stunning Black and White

beautiful rain Haute-Garonne black and white classic.church vintage grace

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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.