Wedding Photos of Lively

The following “Lively” 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 “Lively” 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.

The photographer captured Addington Palace wedding guests dancing; two women enjoying a party in this photograph taken at the event. A lively celebration captured in a candid moment.

Addington Palace Wedding Guests Dance: Lively Celebration and Candid Moments of Two Women

At Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vermont, the groom steals the spotlight, showcasing his moves on the dancefloor during the lively reception, adding joy and energy to the celebration.

Dancing King: Groom Shines at Top Notch Resort Wedding in Stowe, Vermont

dancefloor celebration Stowe energy Shines Stowe Wedding Moment Resort

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 shirtless lively Caujac Wedding Moment groom joyful

In Italy, at Castelvecchio in Gorizia, the bride joyfully tosses her bouquet on the venue's lawn, toward eager single ladies, creating a lively and timeless moment captured on her wedding day.

Bride Tosses Bouquet at Castelvecchio: Timeless Moment of Joyful Celebration in Italy's Gorizia

lively toss venue Gorizia Reception Photography wedding day Gorizia bride

A lively moment at a wedding celebration captured in Milan, Italy, as the Bride joins a professional dancer and her Father for a spirited Belly Dance on the elegant grounds of Castello Visconteo Di Cusago - a joyful party shot from a unique low angle.

Captivating Belly Dance: Bride, Father, and Dancer Share Spirited Moment at Milan Castle Wedding

elegant father joyful spirited Milan Reception Photography unique wedding celebration

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

vibrant festive lively napkins waving Hertfordshire Wedding Moment celebration

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

friends candid Finistère Wedding Photography happiness family Brittany Cloars Fouesnant

A romantic silhouette image as the bride and groom dance together at the historic Summit Inn Resort in Farmington, PA, captured during a lively wedding evening in the setting sun.

Summit Inn Romance: Bride and Groom Dance Silhouette at Historic Farmington Wedding Celebration

wedding Summit Inn Resort bride sun romantic PA wedding photography setting

Newlyweds exit Sollies Church in Var, surrounded by falling petals, captured in a candid moment during a lively wedding celebration.

Newlyweds Embrace Amid Falling Petals Outside Sollies Church in Var During Lively Celebration

bride happiness newlyweds Var Wedding Moment celebration groom wedding

A charming couple dances joyfully on their wedding day in the urban streets of Cazorla, Jaén, Spain, with a vibrant spray painted mural serving as a colorful backdrop. The couple exudes happiness and love in this lively image.

Charmed Couple's Street Dance: Vibrant Love in Cazorla, Jaén, Spain's Urban Mural Fête

Jaén love mural vibrant urban streets lively

Amidst the festivities at Kasteelhoeve Geldrop Wedding Venue in North Brabant, a woman's beer tumbles off her plate, as friends perform a lively sketch for the couple.

Beer Mishaps and Sketch Laughs at Kasteelhoeve Geldrop Wedding Venue in North Brabant

Mishaps Sketch woman North Brabant Kasteelhoeve Geldrop sketch lively

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 mountain top Banff Alberta fun mountain weddings Banff guests

Photographer captures guests at a wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia, dancing and enjoying donuts. The lively image was recognized with an award from the Wedding Photojournalist Association.

DANCING DONUT GUESTS DELIGHT AT CHARLOTTESVILLE WEDDING: WPJA Accolade-Winning Documentary Photo

documentary photo wedding CHARLOTTESVILLE WEDDING Charlottesville Virginia donuts photographer

The bride and groom and their friends letting loose on the dance floor outside the venue, creating a wild and energetic atmosphere in Ardeche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Unleashing the Party: A Wild and Energetic Dance Floor in Ardeche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Ardeche wedding photography lively energetic atmosphere couple with friends Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Ardeche dancing

Wedding pictures of reception limbo by Queens photographer

Wedding picture of reception limbo by a Queens photographer

Queens wedding photographer dynamic music vibrant Queens marriage venue festive venue

Trenton, Maine wedding photography of couple raised up for the Horah dance

bride and groom jewish music wedding Cultural joyful smiles

Poland wedding photograph of guests participating in racing games at the reception

The Joyous Joust: Racing Games at a Polish Wedding Celebration

bouncy toys Poland wedding picture interactive Poland reception Poland marriage venue kids exhilarating

Boston documentary wedding photo - bar harbor club groom lifted in chair

Euphoric Elevation: A Boston Groom's Cheers at the Bar Harbor Club

Bar Harbor Club Boston marriage venue chair dance tradition Boston Massachusetts photographer happiness

Wedding shoot with Blue Hill reception guest doing the worm while dancing

DANCE FLOOR MOVES: WORMING GUEST STEALS WEDDING SPOTLIGHT

dancing Maine fun event lively dance floor celebration

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.