Wedding Photos of Special day

The following “Special day” 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 “Special day” 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.

This wedding photo captures the joy and tradition of a bride receiving a haldi shower in Kochi, India. Surrounded by loved ones, she prepares for her special day.

Celebrating Tradition: Kochi Bride Receives Colorful Haldi Shower in Preparation for Wedding

Wedding photo captured at a venue in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where the bride and her niece realize they unknowingly matched their nail polish.

Bride and Niece in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Matching Nail Polish a Serendipitous Wedding Moment!

bride Nouvelle-Aquitaine special day Nouvelle Aquitaine wedding venue serendipitous moment France wedding photography family bond

A stunning silhouette of a couple on their wedding day at Villa Parker reception venue, backlit with a warm orange gel light against a backdrop of three elegant arches. A romantic and dreamy scene capturing the love and beauty of the special day.

Ethereal Elegance: Silhouetted Love at Villa Parker

romantic wedding Villa backlit Villa Parker arches gel elegant

At St. Andrew's Church in Guernsey, after the ceremony, the bride tenderly pays her respects at her father's graveside, honoring his memory on her special day.

In Loving Memory: A Bride's Heartfelt Tribute at St. Andrew's Church, Guernsey

church father Guernsey Wedding Moment memory heartfelt Tribute cemetery

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

friends london bride bride London wedding joyous special day London

A romantic wedding portrait captured in Venice, Italy. The newlyweds are mesmerized by the beauty of the Grand Canal as they gaze affectionately, her head resting on his shoulder. A dreamy image of love and connection on their special day.

Enchanted Love On the Grand Canal: Romantic Wedding Portrait in Venice, Italy

Grand Canal Venice water love connection gaze venice wedding portrait affectionately

A wedding portrait taken on the special day in Altopiano di Asiago, Italy. The couple stands on a hill, moving towards a grand tree, lost amidst the natural beauty surrounding them.

Romantic Wedding Portrait Amidst Natural Beauty on Altopiano di Asiago, Italy Hilltop

couple special day reception venue hill Veneto black and white portrait

Wedding day portrait at Venice, Italy. Bride and groom in a tender embrace, waiting to board a gondola in a charming Venetian setting. An intimate image capturing the love and awe of the newlyweds on their special day in Venice.

Romantic Venice: Bride and Groom Embracing Before Boarding Gondola in Traditional Venetian Setting

newlyweds bride venice wedding portrait romantic embrace gondola portrait

A wedding couple enjoys their first sail together in Boothbay, Maine, near Linekin Bay Resort, captured on their special day.

Romantic Wedding Sail in Boothbay, Maine: Linekin Bay Resort Captures Love’s First Voyage

bride sail Maine happiness Linekin Bay Resort Boothbay married

In Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France, a touching moment unfolds as a guest embraces the bride with emotion on her special day, captured beautifully outside the venue.

Emotional Guest Embraces Beautiful Bride in Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France Wedding Moment

emotion beautiful venue special day Annecy Wedding Moment guest hugging

A candid image of a bride being lifted by an all-female bridal party at Hackney Town Hall on her wedding day, showcasing unity and joy in celebration.

Unity and Joy: Bride Lifted by All-Female Bridal Party at Hackney Town Hall

marriage event Town Hall wedding all female party beautiful joy

Intimate black and white portrait of a bride and groom touching foreheads captured on their wedding day at Château de Cruzy, France, showcasing the bond and love between them in a romantic setting.

Romantic French Connection: Bride and Groom Bonding at Château de Cruzy in Monochrome Beauty

unforgettable portrait Herault bride beauty celebration monochrome

A picture taken at Hacienda Zorita in Salamanca, Spain, showcasing the wedding staff cleaning up confetti outside the chapel on the couple's special day, a charming scene of post-ceremony hustle and bustle.

Chapel Cleanup Charm: Wedding Staff at Hacienda Zorita, Salamanca, Spain After the Ceremony

special day cleanup outside staff confetti bustle wedding photo

A touching moment at Thorpe Gardens as the bride is moved to tears during the groom's heartfelt speech on their wedding day.

Bride Moved to Tears by Groom's Heartfelt Speech at Thorpe Gardens Wedding Ceremony

connection event emotion tears of joy special day heartfelt happiness

A Washington DC wedding couple embraces in front of a vibrant rainbow wall, symbolizing beauty and love on their special day.

Vibrant Rainbow Wall Embrace: Washington DC Wedding Couple Symbolize Beauty and Love On Special Day

vibrant Washington DC joy love rainbow beauty wedding couple

Bride affectionately pets her dog on the wooden floor near a mirror in Trieste, Italy, in a heartwarming wedding day moment.

Heartfelt Dog-Parent Bond: Bride Lovingly Pets Pup in Trieste, Italy on Wedding Day

pup bride affectionate canine heartfelt dog parent wedding photo

A group of wedding guests photobomb a couple's portrait at Clos d'Hullias on their special day.

Wedding guests photobomb newlyweds at Clos d'Hullias in Provence, France

wedding guests special day portrait Saint Christol de Rodières photobomb love Gard Wedding Photography

Captured at a serene Swiss lake wedding, the couple embraces at the altar by the water, creating a timeless scene of love and tranquility on their special day in Sempachersee, Switzerland.

Swiss Lake Serenity: Couple's Timeless Embrace at Altar by Sempachersee, Switzerland Waterside Wedding

altar waterside scene Sempachersee timeless water couple

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

friends air Lecco wedding photography wedding photo cheer throw

A candid and detailed shot taken at a wedding reception in Linz Church, showcasing children and matching dress patterns in a serene setting, capturing a documentary-like moment on the special day.

Children Dressed in Matching Patterns: Candid Moment at Linz Church Wedding Reception

photography Children detailed celebration dress Patterns serene

In a wedding photo at Planet Hollywood, Goa, India, a bride, who is a dog trainer, shares an emotional moment with her beloved Indie dog, 'Panty', who served as the ring bearer on her special day.

Emotional Goa Wedding: Bride, Dog Trainer, Panty the Indie Dog at Planet Hollywood

canine special day goa bride Goa Bridal Portrait bride memories Planet Hollywood Goa

A nature portrait captured in Germany during the First Look session at a serene outdoor wedding venue, beautifully encapsulating the essence of the special day.

Enchanting First Look: Serene Nature Portrait at a German Outdoor Wedding Venue

Nature Portrait beautiful session special day venue essence serene

A captivating silhouette of a soon-to-be couple against the beautiful Breton coastline on their wedding day in France, captured in style as they celebrate their special day.

Romantic Silhouette of Bride and Groom Against Breton Coastline on Wedding Day in France

couple special day love celebrate ocean Brittany wedding photography captivating

A heartwarming black and white photo from a Hyannis, MA wedding captures a touching moment between a bride and her father, showcasing the emotional bond and connection shared on this special day.

Capturing the Embrace: Tender Moment Between Bride and Father at Hyannis, MA Wedding

family emotional bride heartwarming Hyannis Wedding Moment touching father

A romantic wedding photo of a couple embracing on a water taxi on the Grand Canal, captured during a peaceful outdoor portrait session on their special day.

Embracing Love on the Grand Canal: Romantic Water Taxi Wedding Portrait Session

Grand Canal Venice portrait special day couple venice wedding portrait peaceful water taxi

A natural wedding image of the couple holding hands and smiling in the golden glow of the sunset at Castello di Valenzano in Arezzo, Italy, beautifully encapsulating the love and romance of their special day.

Sunset Love: Couple Smiling and Holding Hands at Castello Di Valenzano, Arezzo, Italy

smiling love natural sunset hands Castello di Valenzano wedding photo

A newlywed couple stands under an umbrella on their wedding day at Barn at Flanagan Farm. The intimate image captures the romance of their special day in the rain, with a dark and moody background adding a touch of drama.

Rainy Romance: Newlyweds under Umbrella at the Barn at Flanagan Farm in Maine

York County drama special day Maine wedding photo Barn at Flanagan Farm romance

A couple on their wedding day in Fehérvárcsurgó, sitting in a classic blue convertible with big smiles and a warm embrace. The vintage car adds a touch of elegance to their special day.

Elegant Couple Embracing in Classic Blue Convertible at Fehérvárcsurgó Wedding Celebration

bride outdoors outside groom Blue Fehérvárcsurgó Wedding Portrait love

A beautiful wedding image of a newlywed couple in Dublin. The bride and groom sit on a small bench, gazing out at the breathtaking Irish landscape. This image captures the love and joy of their special day against a backdrop of lush green grass and a s

Dublin Newlyweds: Love and Joy Amidst Breathtaking Irish Landscape and Stunning Green Grass Backdrop

happiness special day bench Dublin wedding photography joy Dublin couple

A nostalgic black and white wedding photo capturing the bride and groom leaving the church with their hands raised overhead, taken at the Milano venue on their special day.

Retro Romance: Bride and Groom Exiting Church at Milan Venue on Wedding Day

black and white wedding photo Milan Ceremony Photography love church Milan groom

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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.