Wedding Photos of Joyous

The following “Joyous” 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 “Joyous” 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 Voiron city, France. Groom's father thrown into the air by surprise.

Groom's Father Launched into the Air at Voiron City Wedding Celebration

Photography of a bride and groom embracing and smiling at Domaine des Plagnes, St Hilaire de Brens, Isère, France. Detailed shot of rings and joyous couple at a wedding.

Joyous Couple Embracing and Smiling at Domaine des Plagnes, Isère, France

Isere Wedding Photography rings joyous bride and groom smiles Isere detailed shot

At Nobu Hotel in London, the joyous celebration unfolds as a Jewish groom is joyfully lifted and tossed in the air above everyone on the dance floor, capturing the exuberance of the moment.

Airborne Groom: Jewish Wedding Bliss at Nobu Hotel, London Dance Floor Celebration

London groom dance floor groom lifted celebration Nobu Hotel lifted in air joyous

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

bride intertwined dances joyous London wedding London Wedding Moment hands

A couple laughs in front of Église de Bardos in France on their wedding day. The charming church serves as a beautiful backdrop as they share a joyous laugh standing by the priest.

Joyful laughter at Église de Bardos: French couple's charming wedding moment with a priest

Basque Country joyous Charming Bardos Wedding Ceremony Église de Bardos priest laughter

Wedding day bliss at Aragosta Deer Isle Maine, as the couple shares a joyous embrace on the rocky Maine shore, wrapped up in each other's arms and beaming with happiness.

Blissful Embrace: A Wedding Day at Aragosta Deer Isle Maine Shore

blissful laughing happiness candid Memorable Aragosta Maine

A joyous moment at Villa Boscarello, Siena, Tuscany, captured after the wedding ceremony as the newlyweds share a kiss amidst a backdrop of happy guests and radiant sunshine.

Radiant Sunshine Kiss: Newlyweds' Joyous Moment at Villa Boscarello, Siena, Tuscany Wedding

sunshine moment celebration radiant love happy wedding ceremony

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

documentary photo elation guest celebration joyous excitement candid

Vibrant wedding celebration captured at Offley Place in Hertfordshire, guests joyously waving napkins during the festive party atmosphere, a candid and lively moment documented in this wedding photograph.

Vibrant Wedding Celebration with Guests Waving Napkins at Offley Place, Hertfordshire: A Joyous Moment

candid Reception Party Vibes waving Offley Place guests party atmosphere festive

A touching black and white wedding moment is frozen in time as a bride lovingly embraces her father before a kiss, captured at İstanbul/Adress Hotel during a joyous celebration.

Father's Last Embrace: Bride and Dad Share Emotional Moment at İstanbul Address Hotel Wedding

Istanbul Wedding Moment Istanbul timeless hands touching joyous black white

A joyous celebration captured at Sítio da Figueira in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, as the bride and groom share a happy moment with their guests, showcasing the festive atmosphere and love in a candid wedding shot.

Festive Love: Bride and Groom Share Happy Moment at Sítio da Figueira in Porto Alegre

candid celebration guests moment groom festive Porto Alegre Reception Photography

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

Jaén Jaén groom groom Torredonjimeno venue in the air Salones Maria Luisa Spain wedding venue

A professional documentary wedding photographer based in Chicago captures the joyous celebration of a bride and groom after their wedding at the Bottom Lounge. This image has been recognized with a prestigious award from WPJA.

Chicago Love on Display: Bride and Groom's Blissful Rendezvous at Bottom Lounge Wins WPJA Accolade

weddings in Chicago celebration Illinois Rendezvous Chicago Chicago wedding ceremony wedding

A happy bride and groom leave their ceremony at Fort Collins, Colorado, as guests cheerfully shower them with flowers and plants, creating a joyous and colorful scene

Capturing Euphoric Bliss: Fort Collins Nuptials Bloom Amidst Radiant Floral Celebration

joyous Fort Collins Documentary Wedding Photography Fort Collins outdoor ceremony exiting ceremony flower shower Colorado

Guests celebrate at the Castello Lanza Branciforte di Trabia in Palermo, where a destination wedding takes place, as the bride and groom sit on elevated chairs during the joyous occasion

Unforgettable Destination Wedding: A Joyous Celebration at Castello Lanza Branciforte

Palermo Documentary Wedding Photography Castello Lanza Branciforte di Trabia Guests celebrate dancing elevated chairs Palermo bride and groom

A bride and her mother step out of a large van, ready for the wedding ceremony at Little Wold Vineyard in Yorkshire, England

Vows Amidst the Vines: A Mother-Daughter Journey at Little Wold Vineyard

Little Wold Vineyard weddings england weddings east yorkshire vineyard weddings England joyous entrance

Guests raising their glasses in a toast at Ashridge House wedding reception

Ashridge Toast: Capturing the Joyful Cheers of a Memorable Wedding Celebration

Wedding Occasion bride and groom couple joyous toasting Weddings in England United Kingdom

At the wedding in Freudenstadt, the Groom's witness was seen laughing in front of the camera while in the driver's seat, adding a lighthearted moment to the special day

The groom's witness brought joy to the wedding with their laughter in the driver's seat

cheery joyous joy groom's witness Freudenstadt wedding day happiness

A wedding photo taken at Areias do Seixo in Portugal shows the joyous celebration of the special day, captured with water from the outdoor pool cascading over the brim

The wedding revelry at Areias do Seixo, Portugal was captured in a photo with its pool water cascading over the brim

Portugal receptions water pool Areias do Seixo Portugal wedding Portugal wedding venue cascading

Wedding reception picture of guests having fun

wedding reception mumbai wedding photographer special event India india wedding photographer candid photo having a good time

Murcia Engagement Photograph of Couple Jumping at Sunset

In this engagement photograph, the couple jumps at sunset against a yellow-orange sky, with the action and fun adding a playful and joyous element to the scene

joyous playful yellow and orange sky couple jumping silhouettes Murcia engagement photography Murcia

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.