Wedding Photos of Vows

The following “Vows” 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 “Vows” 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.

In this wedding photo, a photographer captured a poignant moment at the 16th Street Train Station in Oakland, CA, as the bride was moved to tears by the groom's heartfelt vows.

Bride Moved to Tears by Groom's Vows at 16th Street Train Station Wedding

Wedding photo captured in Ravenna, Italy, at a secluded woodland near Tre Pizzichi di Sale, showcasing the shelter-like trees where the couple exchanged vows.

Enchanting Ravenna Woodland Wedding: Couple Exchanges Vows Among Shelter-Like Trees at Tre Pizzichi di Sale

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Beautiful bride reading vows to groom at Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington. They stand toe-to-toe on a fire lookout tower, with her flowing dress billowing in the wind over the deck railing.

Unveiling Love's Promise: Vows Exchanged at Mt. Rainier's Tower

fire lookout deck railing flowing dress Mt Rainier Wedding Photography wind vows deck

A lovely moment between newlyweds as they exchange vows in front of lush greenery at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley, CA captured on their wedding day.

Sweet Vows Exchanged Amidst Lush Greenery at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley

newlyweds church Portola Valley California - Northern Valley Presbyterian Church vows exchanged

A black and white close-up shot of a couple exchanging vows at San Francisco City Hall during their wedding day, showcasing their love and commitment.

Eternal Love Captured: Vows Exchanged at San Francisco City Hall, A Black and White Moment

city San Francisco love shot California - Northern hall San Francisco City Hall

Groom writing his vows on an expedition ship in Antarctica before the Ice Wall ceremony, a unique moment captured on the wedding day at Albatros Expeditions venue.

Antarctic Vow: Groom's Writing Moment On Ice Wall Ceremony Day Captured By Albatros Expeditions

wedding day unique wedding venue captured Antarctica boat Albatros Expeditions Antarctic Groom

A heartwarming moment captured during a wedding in Sprockhövel, Germany, as the couple's loyal dog lingers at the ceremony, fixating on the priest after delivering the rings.

Loyal Dog's Loving Gaze: Wedding Bliss in Sprockhövel, Germany captured as He Watches Priest

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A bride filled with emotion as she sees her groom waiting for her on their wedding day at Viagrande - Radura dei Sogni venue.

Emotional Bride Gazes at Groom in Viagrande's Enchanted Radura dei Sogni Wedding Venue

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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

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A picturesque wedding ceremony at Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts, in warm sunlight against a beautiful blue sky, with guests seated and watching the enchanting scene unfold.

Enchanted Wedding Vows under Topsfield Sky: Willowdale Estate Promises Forever in Picturesque Setting

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A couple exchanges vows in a captivating outdoor setting at Artist Point, Washington, with the majestic mountain as the backdrop, the sun gently rising, all captured in a candid and authentic photograph that tells a touching wedding day story.

Romantic Vows at Artist Point: Majestic Mountain backdrop for Candid and Authentic Wedding Photograph

Outdoor sun water vows outdoor wedding candid Artist Point

A bride and groom exchange vows outdoors in a serene Sedona, Arizona wedding, captured in a candid documentary detail image.

Serene Sedona Vows: Candid Documentary Detail of Bride and Groom Exchanging Wedding Promises Outdoors

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Golden hour union captured at Independence Harbor in Freetown, MA – A couple exchanging vows against the radiant sun, their silhouettes etched against the sky in a serene wedding ceremony.

Golden Hour Romance: Vows Underneath the Radiant Sun at Independence Harbor, Freetown, MA

golden hour union romance sunshine silhouettes vows Independence Harbor

Embracing bride and groom posing beneath a large, warmly lit art sculpture on their wedding day in Almería, Spain.

Bride and Groom Bask in Love under Glowing Art Sculpture in Almería, Spain

love Almería Wedding Portrait Elegance Unity vows joy Commitment

In Shanghai, China, a heartfelt moment captured during a ceremony as the groom tenderly holds the bridal bouquet while exchanging vows, symbolizing a promise of everlasting love and unity.

A Tender Moment in Shanghai: Groom Holding Bridal Bouquet Exchanging Vows for Everlasting Love

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A beautiful couple on their wedding day in Dublin, Ireland. They stand in front of a statue of Jesus, his hands extended over them in blessing. Perfectly captured just after the ceremony, this stunning image radiates love, faith, and the start of a union.

Blessed Love: Wedding Day Bliss in Dublin, Ireland Under Jesus' Watchful Eyes

wedding couple portrait Dublin cherish groom blessed blessing

The bride passionately speaks into the microphone at Domaine de Baldassé, Saint-Affrique, Aveyron, as she joyfully says I do to her partner.

Cherished Vows: A Wedding at Domaine de Baldassé, Saint-Affrique

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Emotional bride wipes a tear while exchanging vows at Villa Punto de Vista in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Waves of Love: Emotional Vows at Villa Punto de Vista

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Bride standing in Castelvecchio, Sagrado, Gorizia Italy, reads her vows to the groom in a symmetrical outdoor ceremony shot.

Whispers of Love: A Castelvecchio Wedding

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Dormont Rec Center in PA sets the stage for a unique wedding ceremony. The bride, groom, and their daughter exchange vows, with the Elvis impersonator's famous jacket stealing the spotlight in this award-winning artistic photograph.

Dormont Rec Center Bliss: Unique Wedding Ceremony Stealing the Show

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Neuilly sous Clermont, France: A close up photo captures the touching details of hands intertwined, as the bride recites her vows during the wedding ceremony.

Intimate Gestures: Capturing the Ties that Bind in Neuilly sous Clermont, France

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A beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California, as the couple says their vows surrounded by trees and a rock formation

Nature's Symphony: A Moment to Remember - A Documentary Wedding at Calamigos Ranch, Malibu

Moment to Remember rock formation Malibu wedding photography California - Southern couple Nature Symphony California

Istanbul, Turkey: This heartwarming image captures the bride's emotional reaction upon seeing the groom for the first time following their heartfelt vows

Istanbul's Tears of Joy: A Glimpse of True Love

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A talented documentary wedding photographer captured a stunning black and white image of a winter wedding ceremony in Silverthorne, Colorado. The photo shows the couple with guests braving the snowy weather to exchange their vows outdoors.

Snowy Silverthorne: Capturing the Elegance of a Winter Wedding Ceremony

Colorado Silverthorne vows outdoors winter wedding ceremony Summit County Silverthorne wedding photography

The bride in Corolla, NC throws her head back and laughs during her wedding ceremony

A Moment of Bliss: The Delighted Bride Embraces Joy in Corolla's Enchanting Wedding Sanctuary

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In this candid shot taken at the bride's home during a celebrant-led wedding in Berkhamsted, the bride is overcome with emotion as a tear escapes her eye while reading her personalized vows to her groom, who is unseen in the photo

A Tearful Moment: Bride's Candid Emotion Captured in Emotional Wedding Vows

Berkhamsted Bride black and white vows reading Berkhamsted emotion Hertfordshire wedding photography

A couple in Yosemite National Park plays rock, paper, scissors to decide who will share their vows first during their wedding ceremony

Love amidst Nature: Couples' Decision-making Ritual Steals Yosemite's Spotlight

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At The Woods at Eisler Farms in Butler, PA, the groom tenderly kissed the bride's shoulder as she became emotional during her maid of honor's speech

The groom kissed the bride's shoulder tenderly at The Woods at Eisler Farms, Butler, PA

bride emotional embrace groom kisses bride bride’s shoulder The Woods vows

Jeremy Sauterel is an artistic wedding photographer for Fribourg

Photo by: Jeremy Sauterel - Villaz-Saint-Pierre Fribourg

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The couple shared an intimate moment of saying their vows at an elopement on a wood deck in the snow in Denver, Colorado

In Denver, Colorado, the couple eloped, saying their vows on a wood deck in the snow

Denver Elopement Photography Colorado snowy landscape vows intimate ceremony wood deck Denver

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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.