Wedding Photos of Friends

The following “Friends” 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 “Friends” 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.

Photograph taken at a wedding in Aillas, Gironde, France. The groom and his friends are captured in this wedding photo, as they help him get ready to marry.

French Wedding Bliss: Groom and Friends Gear Up in Aillas, Gironde for Big Day

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

bride stunning bw Wedding United Kingdom embrace emotional Surrey wedding photography

Wedding photo taken in a mirror at Xi'an Zhuoke Hotel shows the groom and his friends assisting each other in putting on their suits.

Groom and Friends Suit Up Together in Heartwarming Mirror Photo at Xi'an Zhuoke Hotel

heartwarming mirror Xian Groom friends groom assistance Prep Wedding Photo

Inside Villa Mansi in Segromigno in Monte, the bride's sister and best friends ensure she looks flawless before her grand entrance into the ballroom, surrounded by the opulent interior.

Pre-Wedding Primping at Villa Mansi: A Moment of Beauty and Elegance in Segromigno in Monte

opulent Capannori primping villa Segromigno in Monte Ballroom bride wedding photo

In London, England, the bride dances joyously with her friends, hands intertwined in a circle around her, epitomizing the bond of friendship and celebration on her special day.

London bride dances with friends, hands intertwined in joyful circle on wedding day

celebration London Wedding Moment bride dances circle intertwined joyous

A beautiful bride, surrounded by friends, is putting on the finishing touches to her attire at Domaine Etxezahar in Bardos, France. The palpable emotion in the air is captured in this stunning wedding day image.

Bardos Bride and Friends at Domaine Etxezahar, France, Embracing the Wedding Day Emotion

friends attire Bardos Wedding Moment Domaine Etxezahar veil wedding gown

Emotional moment captured during a wedding in Germany as the groom is encircled by his friends, sharing a heartfelt song together.

Groom Surrounded By Friends Singing in Germany: Touching Wedding Moment Captured on Film

captured Emotional moment singing Germany groom Germany wedding friends

Wedding day moment at Domaine De Conseillant captures the groom playfully having his hair pulled by two friends, a fun and candid shot full of laughter and camaraderie.

Groom's Laughter: Playful Hair Pull at Domaine De Conseillant Wedding Celebration

Domaine de Conseillant Cubzac Wedding Reception Cubzac Wedding Moment hair pulling moment playful hair

A groom enjoys a casual moment with friends at the Castle of Thiene in Vicenza, Italy, playing billiards during the wedding reception.

Groom's Billiards Break: Fun Time with Friends at Castle of Thiene, Vicenza, Italy Wedding Reception

pool table Vicenza fun break friends time billiards

A beautiful bride in a white gown makes her way to the first look surrounded by eagerly watching family and friends through the windows of a private residence in Prospect Harbor, Maine on the wedding day.

Eager Eyes Witness Bride's First Look at Private Residence in Prospect Harbor, Maine

groom Private residence love friends happiness Prospect Harbor First Look gown

Wedding day moment: groom patiently being helped with his tie by friends at home in Acireale, Italy.

Groom's Tie-Tying Time in Acireale, Italy: A Discreet Delight

shirt preparation help together Catania wedding love

Groom getting his tie ready with the help of his groomsmen at Chateau-ferme d'Aboncourt venue on the wedding day, showcasing a moment of concentration and camaraderie.

Groom Tying Up with Groomsmen at Chateau-Ferme d'Aboncourt: Moment of Concentration and Camaraderie

Meurthe-et-Moselle groomsmen concentration Chateau Aboncourt friends help

Three men sit in a serene moment at a hotel in Nanping, Fujian, surrounded by a striking blue and yellow wall painting on the wedding day.

Serene Wedding Moment with Three Men at Nanping Hotel Amid Striking Blue and Yellow Wall

candid wedding photography Blue Fujian yellow painting wall

A captivating black and white wedding photograph taken from above at a farm venue in São Paulo, Brazil, showcasing the bride in her flowing dress surrounded by a circle of friends, evoking a sense of timeless elegance and cherished memories.

Timeless Elegance: Bride and Friends in Flowing Dresses at São Paulo Farm Wedding

cherished Brazil evoking Sao Paulo wedding photography farm São Paulo Elegance

A joyful bride surrounded by friends is lifted in a chair during her beach wedding in Fano, Italy, the moment captured in a candid photo filled with happiness and celebration.

Bride Surrounded by Friends Lifted in Chair at Beach Wedding in Fano, Italy

surrounded Marche celebration moment chair dance bride dancing friends

Bride dancing energetically under DJ lights with her friends at Fazenda Fernão Velho venue on the wedding day.

Joyful Bride Embracing Fun Moments with Friends at Fazenda Fernão Velho Wedding Celebration

Fazenda Fernão Velho Alagoas Wedding Moment love fun venue dancing energetic

A dashing groom triumphantly flies over his cheering friends against the backdrop of the historic Innominato Castle in Vercurago, Lecco, Italy on his wedding day.

Groom Soars Over Joyous Friends at Innominato Castle in Vercurago, Lecco, Italy Wedding

toss photo fly Lecco air laughter special day

At Caesar Palace, Dubai, the varmaal exchange ceremony of a south Indian wedding where the bride and groom are lifted up high by their friends and family and have to garland each other in the most fun manner possible!

Vibrant Varmala Exchange: South Indian Wedding Extravaganza at Caesar Palace, Dubai

ceremony groom exchange fun Varmala Dubai UAE friends

In Cloars Fouesnant, France, this candid shot captures the bride surrounded by guests playing the ribbon game at a lively wedding celebration.

Bride Embraced By Guests Playing Ribbon Game At Lively Cloars Fouesnant Wedding Celebration

Reception Wedding Photo ribbon game joy Cloars Fouesnant celebration candid Finistère Wedding Photography

Wedding couple embraces at Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA, captured in documentary style as family and friends joyfully dance in a circle around them.

Embracing Love: Wedding Couple at Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA, Surrounded by Joyful Celebration

memories circle happiness Sheraton Station Square love joyful friends

Bride joyfully dances in the pool at The Ritz in Duck, NC, while her friends playfully stretch out her dress in the water, surrounded by about 20 guests joining in the celebration, some fully clothed.

Dunkin' Diva: Bride Dances in Pool at The Ritz, Friends Help Stretching Dress

pool NC wedding Outer Banks pool party pool reception North Carolina water

At the lovely Village Hall in Blackpool, UK, a joyful bride is captured during her reception receiving a warm hug from a female friend.

GIDDY BRIDE GETS A SQUEEZE FROM BESTIE AT VILLAGE HALL WEDDING RECEPTION

Blackpool wedding venue United Kingdom warm hug friends joyful Blackpool reception party village hall

A stunning image capturing the groom's grand entrance in a rose adorned Maserati Sangeet at Hilton Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD, surrounded by cheering friends.

Groom's Grand Entrance in Rose-Adorned Maserati: Sangeet Spectacle at Baltimore Hilton Inner Harbor

car Maserati Grooms Grand Entrance Baltimore roses convertible ride

A bride surrounded by friends joyfully gets into dancing at Notley Abbey in Buckinghamshire, holding her dress up as they celebrate together.

Dancing Queen: Bride Twirls with Friends at Notley Abbey Wedding Celebration in Buckinghamshire

holding Notley Abbey weddings together friends Notley Abbey in Buckinghamshire Wedding Celebration in Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire

Dancing Queen: Bride Twirls with Friends at Notley Abbey Wedding Celebration in Buckinghamshire

Notley Abbey celebrate together surrounded Buckinghamshire Wedding Celebration in Buckinghamshire friends

In Monticelli Brusati, Italy, the bride and groom's car is stopped in the road by friends for a toast before arriving at the villa for the reception.

Cheers in Monticelli Brusati

drinking Lombardy wedding Lombardy blue sky streets groomsmen reception

Surrounded by friends, the groom is lifted into the air in celebration at Salones Maria Luisa, Torredonjimeno, Jaén, Spain wedding.

Joyous Lift: A Wedding Celebration in Torredonjimeno

Torredonjimeno venue tossed wedding celebration friends Jaén Spain Salones Maria Luisa

Bride at Cowdray Estate in West Sussex, UK, laughing joyfully during heartfelt wedding day speeches, surrounded by family and friends.

The Joyful Heart: A Bride's Laughter at Cowdray Estate

Cowdray Estate friends speeches joyful uk weddings West Sussex England

In a black and white shot at the Santa Fe Hotel, the groom's friends are seen giving him a drink of scotch whiskey during the wedding festivities.

Brotherhood Bond: Whiskey Shots at the Santa Fe Hotel

whiskey wedding festivities friends Argentina photographer Santa Fe Hotel bw black and white

This award-winning photograph showcases the groom and his friends enjoying a game of pool at the elegant Orangerie des Demoiselles, creating a timeless black and white portrait.

Elegant Orangerie: A Timeless Black and White Portrait of Groom's Playful Moments

black and white portrait pool hall Haute Garonne Weddings game Groom Pose Frouzins Frouzins wedding photography

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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.