Wedding Photos of Touching

The following “Touching” 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 “Touching” 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.

Wedding photo of mother & daughter in Nanning, Guangxi. Emotional moment captured as the bride gets ready. Perfect family bond on display in this touching image.

Nanning Wedding Photo: Emotional Mother-Daughter Moment Captured as Bride Gets Ready

Photographer captured a touching moment of the bride reading her vows during an outdoor ceremony in her parents' backyard in Roswell, Georgia.

Emotional Bride Reads Vows in Parents' Roswell Backyard - Outdoor Ceremony Captured Perfectly

outdoor ceremony captured moment Roswell Wedding Photography touching Backyard Roswell parents

This wedding photo was taken at the bride's home in Shandong, China on the wedding day, capturing a touching moment of reluctance between the bride and her mother.

Emotional Wedding Moment: Bride and Mother of the Bride Share Tearful Farewell in China

China bride touching emotional wedding photo moment Shandong bride farewell

Emotional moment captured during a wedding in Germany as the groom is encircled by his friends, sharing a heartfelt song together.

Groom Surrounded By Friends Singing in Germany: Touching Wedding Moment Captured on Film

Germany Reception Photography Germany groom Emotional moment dance floor Germany wedding moment heartfelt encircled

A touching moment in black and white captured at Birkby House in Leesburg, VA, as the groom's mother warmly embraces the bride, welcomed into the family after the ceremony on their wedding day.

Groom's Mother Welcomes Bride, Birkby House, Leesburg, VA, Wedding Day Bliss

smiles grooms mother family hugs candid Virginia black and white

At the outdoor wedding venue in Brittland Manor, Chestertown, MD, a little forced perspective transforms the ring bearer into Ringzilla.

Ringzilla Roams the Grounds: Outdoor Wedding at Brittland Manor, Chestertown, MD, Ring Bearer in Disguise

Chestertown Wedding Moment Brittland Manor Chestertown Outdoor Ceremony candid low perspective touching Chestertown

In a touching moment captured at Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Washington, D.C, the emotional groom is supported by the priest and best man during the bride's processional, creating a powerful scene in this BW wedding image.

Emotional Groom Supported by Priest and Best Man in BW Wedding Image in D.C. Church

processional DC Wedding Moment powerful best man wedding DC Church Ceremony bw

A tender moment was captured at the Moretti Adimari venue, as the bride share heartfelt hugs and toasts in the beautiful outdoor setting following their ceremony.

Heartfelt Hugs and Toasts: A Tender Moment at Moretti Adimari Venue Outdoor Celebration

Asti love meaningful Piedmont bw happy elegant

A touching moment between a bride and her father as she adjusts her veil in the mirror at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California, on her wedding day.

Bride and Father's Emotional Mirror Moment at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California Wedding

love bond Oakland Wedding Moment bw mirror bride affection

Emotional black and white wedding image in Belpasso capturing a tender moment between the bride and her parents, frozen in time.

Tender Moment of Bride with Parents: Emotion-filled Black and White at Belpasso

Belpasso Wedding Moment parents Sentimental touching family black and white Catania

A tender moment between a groom and his mother at a wedding in Poitiers, France, captured in a heartfelt embrace post-ceremony.

Poignant Mother-Son Embrace: A Touching Wedding Moment in Poitiers, France

wedding photo post ceremony mother of groom Poitiers groom embrace touching

Wedding day moment at Millfields Farm Venue: Groom reading vows to bride during indoor ceremony, captured in a charming black and white style for a timeless touch.

Charming Black and White: Groom's Vow Reading to Bride at Millfields Farm Venue

beautiful venue moment black and white touching Derbyshire Wedding Moment bw Wedding Photo

A touching scene at Schloss Herten, Germany, where the bride receives a warm kiss and hug from an elder gentleman immediately following the ceremony on her wedding day.

Elderly Gentleman Tenderly Embraces Bride After Ceremony at Schloss Herten, Germany Wedding

Germany wedding moment bride emotion Sentimental tender groom embrace

Father of the bride carefully placing the veil on his daughter's head at Castelnau des Fieumarcon in Lectoure, Gers, a touching moment frozen in time during the wedding ceremony.

Father of the Bride Tenderly Adorning Veil in Castelnau des Fieumarcon, Lectoure, Gers Ceremony

bw Wedding Photo Lectoure Wedding Moment bride daughter Adorning Carefully touching

A heartfelt detail shot captured on the couple's wedding day at a charming venue in Lussan, Gers, France, featuring the bride tenderly placing her hands on her husband's head in a touching black and white photograph.

Tender Touch: Bride's Loving Embrace at Enchanting Lussan Venue Captured in Monochrome Majesty

Lussan hug Lussan Wedding Photographer touching BW photograph heartfelt Detail Shot

At Peufeilhoux's Castle in France, a touching detail is frozen in time as the groom gallantly helps the bride free her shoe caught in the wooden planks of a quaint bridge on their wedding day, symbolizing care and support in marriage.

Groom's Gentle Gesture: Bride's Shoe Rescue At Peufeilhoux's Castle In France's Enchanting Setting

quaint Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes castle shoe wooden red groom

A candid shot of a traditional Indian wedding ceremony in Hyderabad, capturing the emotional moment as the bride receives blessings between her parents while the groom waits on the other side of the symbolic purdah veil, a touching wedding image.

Emotional Blessings: Traditional Indian Wedding Ceremony in Hyderabad Captures Bride's Tender Moment

touching groom blessings parents veil ghoonghat ceremony image

A touching pose between the newlyweds captured at the Wental Felsenmeer venue during a portrait session on their wedding day, as they share a first look embrace on a serene rocky hillside.

Newlyweds Embrace in Wental Felsenmeer: First Look Portrait on Serene Rocky Hillside

portrait session embrace wedding day first look newlywed nature portrait serene newlyweds

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

Massachusetts Dad moment bond heartwarming bride Cape Cod

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

İstanbul Address Hotel celebration father wedding photo Turkey timeless kiss

A wedding photograph taken in Ellsworth, Maine, showing the couple stealing a quiet session together by the lake just before a rain shower arrives.

Stealing a Quiet Moment: Idyllic Ellsworth Lakeside Wedding Before Rainstorm arrives

serene stolen session blissful peaceful love heartfelt Ellsworth ME

Emotional documentary-style photo taken on the wedding day in Marietta, GA, capturing a touching moment as the ring bearer sheds tears before walking down the church aisle.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Wedding Moment in Marietta, GA Captured During Ring Bearer's Procession

Georgia moment touching ceremony tears Marietta Wedding Moment Marietta GA

In Córdoba, Spain, a beautiful bride and groom embrace in a touching portrait with a stunning reflection of the sky and clouds beneath them, captured on their wedding day.

Romantic Reflection: Bride and Groom Embrace in Stunning Spanish Sunset, Cordoba Wedding Day Portrait

touching beautiful embrace clouds reflection love wedding day

In a touching black and white photo, at the Rhône ceremony, the groom tenderly comforts his tearful grandfather at the end of the ceremony.

Rhône Reverie: A Grandfather's Embrace

embrace Rhône touching groom black and white photo France

At Maple Leaf Events in Stevenson, Washington, USA, the mother of the bride shares a poignant moment with her daughter, gently wiping away a tear as they make their way up the aisle. A touching display of love and emotion on this special wedding day.

Maple Leaf Events: A Tearful Bond - A Mother's Love Unveiled

Stevenson Washington aisle wedding day washington weddings Special Wedding Day Maple Leaf Events Washington

The groom shares a heartwarming moment with his mother as they make their grand entrance on the lawn during an outdoor ceremony at Villa Grassina in Pelago, Florence, Tuscany

Groom's Touching Entrance with Mother Exudes Warmth at Tuscan Wedding

warmth Pelago Florence groom Tuscany mother Villa Grassina

The bride and groom exchange rings at The Round Chapel in Hackney, London, in a touching moment of their wedding ceremony

Wedding Ceremony in Hackney, London: The Bride and Groom's Touching Ring Exchange at The Round Chapel

ring exchange touching Round Chapel London wedding photography ceremony wedding ceremony rings

The bride and groom lovingly met in their Apulian Church, touching their foreheads in a tender embrace

A couple shared a tender embrace, touching their foreheads lovingly, ahead of their church ceremony

tender church ceremony embrace Apulia couple church loving groom foreheads

A France elegant wedding day detail picture in BW showing the brides hand touching the grooms tie

French wedding day Castille Alma bw France Lyon touching Grooms tie

An expressive San Miguel de Allende wedding day detail picture taken from above the heads of the bride and groom to frame the image well showing the hands of the couple touching and it is really loving

San Miguel de Allende San Miguel de Allende wedding picture hands touching Mexico couple Mexico bride and groom heads

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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.