Wedding Photos of Golden hour

The following “Golden hour” 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 “Golden hour” 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 portrait of a bride and groom on their special day in Mallorca Island, Spain. The golden hour sunlight casts a warm, glowing halo around the couple, capturing the love and joy of their celebration.

A Stunning Wedding Portrait in Mallorca, Spain

On the stunning Mallorca Island in Spain, bathed in the golden hues of the enchanting golden hour, the bride and groom pose for a portrait that exudes timeless romance and breathtaking beauty,.

Golden Hour Romance: A Timeless Portrait of Love on Mallorca Island, Spain

destination photography enchanting Mallorca Wedding Portrait groom venue romance sunset

In a picturesque setting at Cape Cod Airfield, a couple takes a nostalgic walk beside a classic plane during the golden hour, symbolizing their timeless love.

Cape Cod Connection: Love Takes Flight Among Vintage Airplanes

Marstons Mills Cape Cod engagement session timeless walk classic plane golden hour Cape Cod Airfield

Beautiful golden hour portrait of a couple on their wedding day at Domaine de Belfonds in Provence, France, showcasing the enchanting atmosphere and connection between the newlyweds as they walk in sunshine.

Golden Hour Romance: Couple's Radiant Wedding Portrait at Domaine de Belfonds in Provence, France

bride beautiful atmosphere newlyweds couple enchanting Provence

A stunning wedding photograph at Chateau Rigaud Bordeaux, France, showcasing a beautiful bride and groom framed in golden hour light, standing in a picturesque vineyard at the venue.

Golden Hour Romance: Bride and Groom at Chateau Rigaud Bordeaux Vineyard, France

Bordeaux Wedding Portrait Scenery intimate golden hour love light sunset wedding photograph

A couple laughs during a glowy golden hour dance in Highland Park, captured by a Pittsburgh wedding photographer.

GLOWY GOLDEN LOVE: HIGHLAND PARK ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT BY PITTSBURGH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

couple dancing park setting Highland Park colorful leaves Pittsburgh Engagement Photography Pittsburgh golden hour

A fine art portrait captured by a Colorado wedding photographer in Georgetown, featuring a couple snuggling in the sunset with intimate posing.

LOVERS EMBRACE IN GOLDEN LIGHT: AN ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT IN GEORGETOWN COLORADO

Colorado hug from behind Georgetown CO Engagement Photographer sunset intimate posing snuggling golden hour

A creative couple portrait captured by an England wedding photographer in Chalfont St Giles, featuring the couple walking and holding hands during golden hour.

Golden Hour Romance: Creative Couple Engagement Portrait in Chalfont St Giles

golden hour couple Strolling England park setting holding hands Chalfont St Giles England engagement photographer

Golden hour union captured at Independence Harbor in Freetown, MA – A couple exchanging vows against the radiant sun, their silhouettes etched against the sky in a serene wedding ceremony.

Golden Hour Romance: Vows Underneath the Radiant Sun at Independence Harbor, Freetown, MA

love sun marriage Independence Harbor sunshine romance Silhouette wedding photo

A couple portrait by a Rhônes wedding photographer, capturing a golden hour scene at sunset on top of Mont Brouilly in Beaujolais, with one hand on the shoulder, overlooking a simple and beautiful setting of a field.

Golden Hour Romance: Sunset Engagement Portrait Overlooking Mont Brouilly Fields

sunset Mont Brouilly under tree Rhône hand on shoulder Beaujolais sitting on log

Finca Vikingos in Santa Barbara, Heredia, Costa Rica serves as the backdrop for a captivating lifestyle couple portrait. Bathed in warm, golden hour light, the couple sits before a charming wooden door.

CAPTIVATING LIFESTYLE COUPLE PORTRAIT | Finca Vikingos: A Costa Rican Love Story

couple sits Heredia engagements golden hour Heredia photographer Costa Rica light couple portrait session

Lifestyle couple portrait at Finca Vikingos, Santa Barbara, Heredia, Costa Rica. Couple in the midst of a picturesque coffee plantation during golden hour, beautifully highlighted by the photographer. Face to face pose with sunlight softly streaming in.

Finca Vikingos Romance | A Stunning Portrait Session in Costa Rica

Heredia engagements Santa Barbara CR photographer embrace picturesque Heredia sunlight Santa Barbara CR

Lifestyle couple portrait at Ashridge, Hertfordshire. This beautifully composed pre-wedding engagement portrait captures the couple during golden hour in an orchard, holding hands amidst a backdrop of yellow flowers and lush green grass.

ELEGANT ENGAGEMENT: Ashridge Orchard Stuns with Golden Hour Romance

lush golden hour flowers grass couple portrait session holding hands Ashridge

A talented wedding photographer created a breathtaking bridal portrait at Château la Mogère during the golden hour, resulting in an award-winning image capturing the beauty of the bride

Château la Mogère's Golden Hour: Capturing the Beauty of the Bride

Château la Mogère Montpellier wedding day portraits golden hour beauty Bride Portrait bride

An award-winning wedding photographer captures intimate pose at sunset, as the Bride and Groom share a tender embrace by the Bocconoc Estate reception venue in Cornwall UK, basking in the warm, golden hour light.

Sunset Embrace: Intimacy at Bocconoc Estate's Golden Hour Reception Venue

creative portrait grass United Kingdom warm light newlyweds wedding couple outside

Capturing love in the Italian Alps, this award-winning portrait showcases a passionate couple bathed in warm, romantic light during a breathtaking sunset in Biella, Italy.

Amore in the Italian Alps: A Passionate Couple's Breathtaking Sunset

Italian Alps wedding photography romantic bride and groom passionate wedding couple Piedmont Artful romantic married couple

Wedded bliss captured at Domaine de la Chopiniere, Indre-et-Loire - a sunset masterpiece. The bride and groom bask in the golden hour glow, their love radiating through an expertly captured tender embrace.

Golden Hour Love: A Sunset Masterpiece at Domaine de la Chopiniere

Domaine de la Chopiniere Artsy wedding photographer creative portrait nature wedding couple newlyweds

In the warm glow of golden hour, the silhouette of the couple stands out against the serene backdrop of Evergreen Lake, creating a captivating image as they pose back to back. - Golden Silhouettes: Love's Embrace

Golden Silhouettes: Love's Embrace at Evergreen Lake

mountains back to back golden hour Colorado opposite directions Evergreen Evergreen Lake

This award-winning portrait captures the bride and groom at 1C Barn in Colorado Springs. The photographer used beautiful lighting during golden hour to create a stunning black and white image.

Golden Hour Bliss: A Timeless Black and White Portrait in Colorado Springs

wedding couple bride and groom creative portrait Artsy Colorado Springs Artistic Portrait monochrome 1C Barn

At Schlösser Gutenberg in Lucerne, this engagement shoot captures the couple at golden hour. The scene features a tender embrace and face touching on the grass field, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere. - Golden Hour Embrace

Golden Hour Embrace at Schlösser Gutenberg: A Warm and Romantic Engagement Portrait

Switzerland Schlösser Gutenberg touching face golden hour tender embrace warm atmosphere Lucerne Engagement Photography

Sunset in the Forest - Captured by a wedding photographer in Dortmund, this engagement portrait depicts a couple in the warm glow of a sunset within the forest - The soft hues and enchanting atmosphere frame of romance

Enchanted Forest Love: A Sunset Engagement Portrait

Dortmund Dortmund Engagement Photography forest setting romance warm glow golden hour soft hues

Engaged couple basks in the warm glow of the setting sun, seated on a tranquil dune at Les Sables d'Olonne, France. This enchanting portrait, captured by a top France wedding photographer, exudes timeless love in soft pastel hues.

Love Transcends Time: A Captivating Engagement Portrait at Les Sables d'Olonne, France

setting sun golden hour Vendee Engagement Portrait Vendee Les Sables dOlonne soft pastel hues warm glow

The young son of the wedding couple directs them to pose for a photo during golden hour near the wedding venue in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Amsterdam Bliss: WPJA Purple Award Winning Wedding Couple Lifted in Joyful Chairs

Amsterdam wedding photography directing Amsterdam golden hour Noord Holland couples son

In Hertfordshire, UK, a couple about to tie the knot had an enchanting engagement photoshoot at Rowney Warren Woods. During the golden hour, they posed under a breathtaking canopy of trees surrounded by a lush carpet of ferns.

A Captivating Engagement: Lovebirds Embrace Nature's Splendor at Rowney Warren Woods in Hertfordshire, UK

ferns Hertfordshire golden hour canopy of trees UK Hertfordshire Engagement Portrait Rowney Warren Woods

In Hertfordshire, UK, a couple prepares for their wedding with a lifestyle engagement photoshoot in Rowney Warren Woods, capturing the golden hour light and highlighting their love in dark-toned, dramatic images using off-camera flash.

Golden Hour Love: A Dark and Dramatic Engagement Portrait in Rowney Warren Woods

dark tones golden hour United Kingdom Hertfordshire Hertforshire Engagement Photography Rowney Warren Woods

An engagement shoot took place at golden hour in Rowney Warren Woods, Hertfordshire UK. The couple sat on a fallen tree trunk, surrounded by soft and warm tones.

Golden Hour Glow: Enchanting Engagement Portrait Captures Love Amidst Nature's Palette

Hertfordshire Rowney Warren Woods warm tones golden hour tree trunk Hertfordshire Engagement Photography UK

In the scenic Donner Lake Lookout, California, a couple embraces at sunset. Their eyes meet the camera as they hold hands, illuminated by the photographer's lighting.

Golden Hour Love: A Wedding Embrace at Donner Lake Lookout

Donner Lake Lookout outdoor wedding photography golden hour California - Northern wedding photographer scenic wedding photos lighting

A bride and groom share a kiss at the beautiful Domaine du Bois Saint Mard in Oise, as the golden hour casts a warm glow on them, framed by lush green foliage.

GLAMOROUS WEDDING: A COUPLE EMBRACING ROMANCE UNDER THE GOLDEN HOUR AT DOMAIN DU BOIS SAINT MARD

Oise wedding photography wedding day portraits bride and groom golden hour wedding photography Oise Wedding Portrait romantic wedding

During a pre-wedding photoshoot at Ouddorp Beach in the Netherlands, the couple is captured at sunset, sitting on the dunes, with beautiful pockets of dune grass surrounding them

Captivating Coastal Love: Enchanting Engagement Portrait Amidst Ouddorp Beach's Serene Sunset Bliss

Netherlands dunes sunset Ouddorp Engagement Session Ouddorp Beach dune grass golden hour

A wedding day picture taken during the golden hour in the countryside outside Amsterdam, Noord-Holland. The couple is standing on a deserted road, embracing each other lovingly.

Golden Romance: A Country Wedding Affair Amidst Amsterdam's Countryside Bliss

Noord Holland countryside Amsterdam deserted road Amsterdam Wedding Portrait golden hour middle of road

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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.