Wedding Photos of Excitement

The following “Excitement” 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 “Excitement” 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.

Wedding photo captured in Lyon, France, featuring the bride mid-air on the dancefloor. A moment of pure joy and excitement beautifully captured by the photographer.

Bride Soars with Joy on Lyon Dancefloor: Photographer Captures Magical Moment in France

Professional wedding photo taken by a photographer at Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine. Kids are excited as the couple cuts the cake at the wedding.

Joyful Kids Watch as Couple Cuts Cake: Stunning Wedding Photo at Samoset Resort

cutting cake kids Maine Rockport excitement wedding cake Samoset Resort

In Istanbul, Turkey, the groom's excitement radiates as he gets ready, his smiling reflection captured in the mirror, signaling anticipation for the momentous day ahead.

Groom's Joyful Reflection: Preparing for Wedding Day in Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul Istanbul Wedding Moment excitement reflection getting ready Turkey Istanbul groom

Elegant black and white photograph of bride and bridesmaid entering the van outside Altis Avenida Hotel in Lisboa, Portugal on the wedding day, capturing a moment of anticipation and excitement as they make their way to the main venue.

Bride and Bridesmaid Entering Van in Lisbon: A Captivating Moment of Wedding Anticipation

Lisbon Wedding Moment ride bridesmaid portugal bride excitement Lisbon Portugal

A bride exudes anticipation and nervous excitement as she awaits the next moment on her wedding day at Spring Ranch in Mendocino, California.

The Bride's Anticipation: Nervous Excitement at Spring Ranch in Mendocino, California

bride candid happiness bw Wedding Photo excitement emotions love

A lovely moment captured in Oxford City Centre, UK, as two brides cross paths on their way to their respective wedding venues, creating a beautiful and unique scene of double anticipation and excitement in the city's historic setting.

Brides Crossing Paths: Double Anticipation in Oxford City Centre Wedding Bustle

United Kingdom Oxford Wedding Moment setting beautiful scene love bride couples

In Tennessee, a candid moment at a Gatlinburg wedding venue as a child and a bride both point excitedly at the wedding cake, symbolizing anticipation and joy.

Excitement Captured: Child and Bride Pointing at Wedding Cake in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Venue

pointing cake cutting wedding venue captured Tennessee cake boy

A joyous moment at a wedding party as a guest catches the bouquet, her expression filled with elation and excitement, captured in this candid documentary photo at The Gatsby venue.

Excitement Unveiled: Catching the Bouquet at The Gatsby Wedding Celebration

Hertfordshire catch moment candid wedding party flowers documentary photo

A sparkler moment captured at a night wedding, showcasing the joy and excitement of the newlyweds as they begin their journey into married life, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Igreja Católica Feitoria in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul.

Sparkling Joy: Newlyweds' Nighttime Celebration at Igreja Católica Feitoria in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul

love journey joy celebration Igreja Católica Feitoria newlyweds Rio Grande do Sul

In this candid shot from a wedding day in Fredericks, Islington, London, a beautiful floral bouquet is tossed playfully in the air, expertly captured in a moment of joy and excitement during the party celebrations.

Floral Bouquet Soars: Magical Moment at Fredericks, Islington, London Wedding Celebration

playful Candid Moments wedding photography Islington Reception Photography toss bouquet tossed Fredericks

At Saint Clar Bed and Breakfast, a beautiful bride is getting ready upstairs while her bridesmaids prepare on the lower level in a charming scene filled with excitement and anticipation.

Chaos and Calm: A Bride Prepares Upstairs as Bridesmaids Plan Below at B&B

France photographer chaos Saint Clar Gers wedding photographer excitement anticipation Gers

Bride joyfully tosses her bouquet under the marquee in The Walled Garden, Nottingham, UK, captured from a low angle, adding excitement and anticipation to the festive moment.

Bride Throws Bouquet at The Walled Garden in Nottingham, UK

The Walled Garden wedding Nottingham Wedding Photographer beautiful bride Nottingham weddings Nottinghamwedding uk bride The Walled Garden Nottingham

At Domaine de Villary in Nimes, the bride enters with joy, her face beaming with happiness and excitement, arms raised in celebration.

Joyous Entrance: A Nuptial Celebration at Domaine de Villary

Domaine de Villary happy face wedding venue bride Nimes professional photographer excitement

At House in Soho, London England, the bride and her family prepare for the big day, with the stunning wedding dress hanging in the background, adding to the anticipation and excitement. A beautiful wedding scene captured.

Soho House: The Bride, The Dress, The Big Day Excitement

Soho House House of Soho Wedding England weddings venue big day bride the dress excitement

At Private Residence in Nobleboro, Maine, the bride and her mom share a sweet moment, blowing kisses to each other before the wedding ceremony. A heartwarming image capturing the love and excitement of this special day.

Nobleboro, Maine: A Mother-Daughter Bond in Sweet Wedding Bliss

Maine bride Nobleboro Midcoast Maine Nobleboro bride Mother Daughter Bond Maine special day

At the end of the wedding in Metz, the happy couple announces the bride's pregnancy to their guests with an outdoor celebration on the grass. Love and joy fill the air as they share this exciting news with their loved ones.

Metz Wedding: A Celebration of Love and Future Blessings Unveiled

Happy couple Metz Documentary Wedding Photography announcement excitement Emotional moment Metz

In Istanbul, a Blue award-winning photo captures the heartwarming moment when a toddler son joyfully runs towards his mother, overwhelmed with excitement, as he sees her for the first time as a bride

A Heartwarming Capture: Toddler Son's Joy as He Sees His Mother as a Bride in Istanbul

excitement Istanbul wedding photography heartwarming moment Istanbul toddler brides son

At the Fazenda Verde of Praia do Rosa, a SC guest is excited to pick up the bride's bouquet with the reaction of the other guests

At the wedding reception party, the guests erupted with delight as one of their own reached up to grab the bride's bouquet

Fazenda Verde brides bouquet excitement Santa Catarina Santa Catarina Photographer Praia do Rosa

Topanga Canyon, California wedding photography showing The bride and her maid of honor share their excitement before the ceremony

California wedding photo maid of honor Topanga Canyon California bride CA excitement

The bride and her sister excited during the preparations

home Travagliato excitement bride italy weddings italy wedding photographer

Lytham St Annes Engagement Picture - Happy excitement before big day

Lytham St Annes Engagement Picture of Happy excitement before big day

Lytham St Annes excitement Janina Brocklesby pre wedding session Lytham St Annes happy Lytham St Annes engagement photographers UK

excitement for the bride and groom outside at ceremony

Zhejiang Zhejiang wedding photography Shihao Yang the bride and groom Zhejiang outdoor ceremony outside ceremony excitement

The bride and groom show their excitement after being pronounced man and wife

pronounced man and wife excitement NC wedding photography the bride and groom NC outdoor ceremony

Getting ready for the wedding at the Kilworth House, Leicestershire, UK

Dreams Unfolding: The Kilworth House Wedding Preparations

Leicestershire photographer reception ceremony vows Leicestershire wedding photographer Leicestershire Bride excitement

Documentary wedding photograph of Jenga wood block tower falling at Goldstone Hall, Market Drayton, Shropshire

Toppling Tradition: The Jenga Tower at Goldstone Hall

game night tower strategy falling Shropshire wedding picture Shropshire wedding photographer Jenga

Wedding photojournalism at Tianjin | Grossman inflates balloons as part of the pre-wedding games

Balloons and Love: A Wedding Journey in Tianjin

excitement Teamwork Festivities surprise tianjin wedding photographer China photographer Tianjin wedding picture

Anoush Banquet Hall Bouquet Toss during Wedding Reception

Caught in the Moment: The Excitement of the Anoush Banquet Hall Bouquet Toss

bouquet moment Los Angeles marriage venue Los Angeles wedding photographer reception excitement Los Angeles

Bucharest couple during their wedding - a DJ dance party with lights and lasers

Electric Love: A Bucharest Wedding Celebration

dance Lights love lasers celebration Bucharest marriage venue party

Rio de Janeiro bride during the getting it ready rituals before the actual ceremony on wedding day

Bridal Preparations in Rio: A Bride's Journey to 'I Do

bridal Rio de Janeiro bride details emotions Rio de Janeiro wedding preparations Brazil photographer

Wedding photojournalism image of flower girls having fun at Blue Hill, Maine

BLOOMING BLISS: Flower Girl Power on Blue Hill Wedding Day

excitement Maine wedding picture Blue Hill Blue Hill marriage venue laughing Cheerful happiness

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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.