Wedding Photos of Reception

The following “Reception” 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 “Reception” 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.

Professional wedding photographer capturing Grandma at The Priests House in Yorkshire, mesmerized by a singing waiter. Beautiful candid moment captured in this wedding photo.

Grandma captivated by singing waiter at The Priests House: Wedding photo stuns with emotion

A wedding photographer captured a beautiful moment at a wedding in Haut de la Fregate, Agen, Lot et Garonne. The photo shows the couple's first dance under colorful and dramatic lighting.

Ethereal Moment: Newlyweds' First Dance Illuminated in Haut de la Fregate, Agen, Lot et Garonne

Haut de la Fregate reception darkened room dramatic lighting Agen first dance Agen Reception Photography

Wedding photo captured at Associação Atlética Banco do Brasil in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, during a rainy night as the bride and groom arrived at the reception - an unforgettable moment.

Magical Wedding Night at Associação Atlética Banco do Brasil: Bride and Groom Arrive in Rain

Porto Alegre Brasil Porto Alegre Rio Grande do Sul groom reception rain Porto Alegre wedding photography

Wedding guests play air guitars on the dance floor during a reception at OceanCliff in Newport, Rhode Island.

Guests Jam on Air Guitars at Newport Wedding Celebration at OceanCliff

air guitars Rhode Island jamming Newport RI Wedding Reception wedding guests reception dance floor

A fun image captured at Resorts Casino Atlantic City NJ as the newlyweds make a grand entrance into their reception in festive wedding attire.

Party Time in Paradise: Newlyweds Sparkle at Resorts Casino Atlantic City

festive reception Atlantic City Wedding Moment sunglasses Resorts Casino Atlantic City New Jersey grand entrance

Amidst the majestic pines of Mitchells Mountain Meadows in Truckee, California, a girl adds a touch of whimsy to the outdoor reception as she dances gracefully with her parasol. Against the backdrop of nature's beauty, her joyful movements are captured.

Dancing Under the Pines: A Whimsical Moment at Mitchells Mountain Meadows, Truckee

Truckee Wedding Moment Mitchells Mountain Meadows Truckee pines beauty Outdoor wedding photo dancing

In Tunis, Tunisia, the shadow of the singer adds an artistic touch to the reception, infusing the atmosphere with rhythm and melody as guests revel in the celebration.

Melodic Shadows: A Tunisian Wedding Celebration

Tunisia Wedding Photography Rhythm artistic wedding photo guests Africa artistic Tunis

Wedding day shot at Château de Mousens features a groom and his grandfather joyfully dancing shirtless at a lively reception celebration.

Grandfather and Groom Dance Shirtless at Château de Mousens Wedding Celebration

Chateau celebration wedding photo dance shirtless six pack Haute-Garonne Caujac Wedding Moment

Wedding day moment at Château de Terride as the bride and groom joyfully cut the cake during their reception celebration.

Joyful Cake Cutting at Château de Terride: A Bride and Groom's Memorable Wedding Moment

bride Tarn Reception Photography Memorable Tarn Tarn Wedding Moment Château de Terride groom

A joyful groom dances in front of a live wedding band, captured at Wilton's Music Hall in London on the wedding day.

Groom's Joyful Dance: Live Music Magic at Wilton's Music Hall, London Wedding Celebration

England musicians wedding band women London groom band

A romantic wedding picture taken at Cascina Montena venue, showcasing the couple's intimate candlelit dinner with a beautiful dusk blue sky backdrop through a grand open doorway.

Romantic Wedding Dinner at Cascina Montena: Candlelit Intimacy Amidst Dusk Blue Skies

celebration candlelit reception Alessandria reception venue Wedding reception picture Zenevreto

Beautiful moment in Hong Kong captured at a wedding venue, featuring a happy bride and groom surrounded by confetti during a guest-arranged celebration walk at the Popinjays reception venue.

Magical Wedding Bliss in Hong Kong: Confetti-filled Celebration at Popinjays Reception Venue

moment Hong Kong Wedding Moment confetti guest groom Popinjays Bliss

A joyful moment frozen in time at a Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain wedding venue in Marana, AZ, captured while a guest playfully tosses confetti at another guest.

Elegant Confetti Delight at Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Wedding in Marana, AZ

playfully guest confetti DELIGHT elegant Marana Wedding Moment Marana

A candid moment of a guest limbo dancing at a wedding reception held at Granite Ridge Estate & Barn in Maine, captured with a unique perspective of looking up from the floor.

Guest Limbo Dances: Granite Ridge Wedding Reception, Maine, Captured From Floor With Unique View

dancing looking up Maine Wedding Moment reception Granite Ridge Estate & Barn guest unique view

A heartwarming moment captured at a backyard wedding in Watertown, Massachusetts as the bride's brother joyfully photobombs the couple's romantic kiss, adding a touch of fun to the wedding image.

Brotherly Love: Fun Photobomb at Backyard Wedding in Watertown, Massachusetts Captures Heartwarming Moment

brother romantic heartwarming moment Brotherly Love kiss fun image beautiful bride

A beautiful bride boards a water taxi in Portland, Maine, heading towards her Peaks Island wedding ceremony on a sunny day.

Bride Boards Water Taxi for Peaks Island Wedding in Portland, Maine on Sunny Day

water Portland-ME Portland ME Wedding Moment Maine gown destination dock

A candid moment at the wedding venue, Chateau des Anges in Saint Just de Claix, as a glass of red wine accidentally spills on the bride's dress during the dinner reception.

Red Wine Mishap: Candid Capture at Chateau des Anges in Saint Just de Claix

Saint Just de Claix moment gown spilled stained dress candid wedding photo Isere

Beautiful wedding captured at Space Gallery in Denver, Colorado, showing flower girls and ring bearer joyfully dancing at the reception, taken from a bird's eye view in a evocative black and white shot.

Joyful Flower Girls and Ring Bearer Dance: Denver Wedding at Space Gallery in Black and White

moment Space Gallery Denver reception dancing love Denver Colorado

A romantic wedding photo captured at the Barn at Smugglers Notch in Vermont, where a couple gazes at fireworks during their reception against a beautiful dark blue dusk sky.

Romantic Fireworks Moment: Celestial Bliss at The Barn at Smugglers Notch, Vermont

Sky romantic wedding Barn at Smugglers Notch marriage fireworks Night Bliss

A romantic image taken on a wedding day at Hi-Level Golf Course in Kossuth, PA, where a couple is sharing a tender kiss amidst lush green foliage before heading back to their reception.

Romantic Kiss at Hi-Level: Couple Embraces in Lush Garden at Kossuth Wedding Reception

kiss celebration photography event couple golf green Wedding Romance

Bride and groom in wedding attire playfully swing golf clubs on the driving range at Arrowhead Golf Course in Colorado, creating a unique and engaging image full of fun and personality.

Swinging Golf Clubs: Bride and Groom Have Fun at Arrowhead Golf Course in Colorado

groom foliage wedding fun playful golf Arrowhead Golf Course bride

A candid documentary shot taken at the wedding reception venue, Domaine de l'Écart in Burgundy, France, showcasing the bride's elegant dance moves as her feet gracefully move across the floor, emphasizing her shoes and dress during a festive day.

Elegant Dance Amidst Festive Atmosphere: Bride's Graceful Moves at Domaine de l'Écart, Burgundy, France

burgundy bride dress photography Burgundy Wedding Photographer Domaine de l Ecart shoes

Guests joyfully celebrating at a wedding reception in Villa Santorini, Brazil, captured through nostalgic black and white style.

Nostalgic Elegance: Guests Celebrating a Wedding in Villa Santorini, Brazil in Classic Black & White

joyful Brazil wedding photography memories reception Villa Santorini guests Nostalgic

A romantic couple embracing in front of a starlit wall on their wedding day at a Moselle reception hall. The bride and groom share a kiss in a beautifully illuminated setting, in an unforgettable scene.

Starlit Splendor: Romantic Couple Embracing in Front of Moselle Reception Hall at Night

hall embracing kiss unforgettable Moselle Wedding Portrait scene couple

Newlywed couple sharing a joyous first dance outdoors at their wedding reception at Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort.

Romantic Rhythm: Newlyweds Cut a Rug at Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort Wedding Reception

reception dance Romantic Rhythm California - Northern first dance outdoors Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort

A spontaneous moment captured at Schloss Lüntenbeck in Wuppertal: an expressive woman making a face during the champagne reception, flanked by two men in suits.

SILLY GUESTS GOOF OFF AT SCHLOSS LÜNTENBECK WEDDING RECEPTION

face captured suits Schloss Luntenbeck champagne Germany men

At a private home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a clown on stilts leads the beaming bride through the reception, creating a whimsical and unforgettable moment.

CLOWN ON STILTS LEADS BRIDE: WHIMSICAL WEDDING RECEPTION IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

reception unforgettable Mexico bride stilts mexico wedding photographer clown

Bridesmaids, groomsmen, bride, and groom having fun playing a game of flip cup at Sugarbush Resort in Vermont before the reception.

Wedding Crew Battle: Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Bride, and Groom Face Off in Flip Cup!

Vermont red cups.Vermont marriage photos fun playing game blue sky bride Flip Cup

A bride at her wedding reception at Château de Castelneau, Saint Léon, France, sitting at the head table, attentively listening to a heartfelt speech during the meal.

French Fairytale: Bride Captivated by Heartfelt Speech at Château de Castelneau Reception

Allier bride french head table fairytale Bride at Château de Castelneau wedding france wedding photographer

Black and white action shot of the wild dance floor at the Banff Gondola reception. Hands in the air, guests having a great time.

Dancing Among the Rockies: A Spirited Banff Gondola Reception

mountain top Banff marriage celebration Alberta marriage guests mountain fun

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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.