Wedding Photos of California

The following “California” 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 “California” 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.

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At a private residence in Oakland, CA, the bride and groom share a joyful session, captured mid-air as they jump together beneath a canopy of lush trees, their happiness radiating.
Joyful Leap Under Lush Canopy: Bride and Groom Capture Happiness at Oakland Private Residence Wedding
At Spring Ranch in Mendocino, California, a black-and-white shot captures the bride's bridesmaid practicing fluffing the wedding dress by a window. The scene exudes elegance and anticipation before the ceremony.
Elegance in Motion: Bridesmaid Perfects Dress Fluffing at Spring Ranch
In Yosemite National Park, California, the couple joyfully grasps each other’s hands as they exchange vows at dawn. Their expressive faces and body language radiate sheer glee, capturing the profound happiness and excitement of their wedding.
Couple's Joyful Hand Grasp and Radiant Glee in Yosemite National Park, California
An engagement photo captured by a wedding photographer in Oakland, CA. The couple stands in warm afternoon sunlight, with the groom tenderly snuggling up behind the bride's neck.
Sunlit Embrace: Tender Moments in Oakland's Warm Glow
Engagement portrait taken by a wedding photographer in the charming setting of a retro camper van setup in San Jose, CA.
Vintage Love: Retro Camper Romance in San Jose
At a reception venue in Southern Los Angeles, California, during the Horah, the groom starts slipping out of his chair while the bride, lifted in the air next to him, holds on with a look of surprise.
Groom Slips During Horah, Bride's Surprise Captured at LA Wedding
A wedding couple at a sweetheart table adorned with stunning floral arrangements, captured on the day at the MacCallum House Inn in Mendocino, California.
Elegant MacCallum House Inn Wedding: A Sweetheart Table Surrounded by Lush Floral Beauty
An engagement photo of a couple in black and white, taken inside a greenhouse in San Jose, CA. The couple is framed perfectly in the center of the image.
Love Blooms in a San Jose Greenhouse: A Romantic Black and White Engagement Photo Shoot
Beach couple braves tropical storm for stunning wedding portraits in Los Angeles, California.
Stormy Romance: Beachside Wedding Portraits Amidst Los Angeles
The whimsical touch of the furry ring bearer peeking out from under the bride's dress made this photo from Crazy Diamond, Ventucopa, CA a well-deserved recipient of the WPJA Spotlight award.
Charming Surprise: A Furry Ring Bearer's Moment at Crazy Diamond
A captivating moment captured in Orange County, California as the flower girl slips off her shoes and peers curiously at the bustling bridesmaids in the midst of an Egyptian wedding.
Innocent Curiosity: A Flower Girl's Gaze Amidst Celebration in Orange County
Amidst the sun-kissed gardens of Calistoga Ranch, California, a poignant moment shared between a mother and her beaming daughter during an outdoor ceremony has been captured in a WPJA Spotlight award-winning photo.
Radiant Bonds: A Mother and Daughter's Moment at Calistoga Ranch
In Skylandia, Tahoe City, a couple stands before a majestic pine tree as the low sun peeks through the forest trunks, casting an enchanting glow around them.
Enchanted Glow at Skylandia: Couple Stands Before Majestic Pine, Sunlight Peeking Through Forest, Creating a Magical Scene in Tahoe City
A WPJA Spotlight award-winning wedding image captures the intimate and rustic beauty of Mammoth Lakes, California as the newlyweds share their first dance illuminated by the warm glow of a campfire.
Fire & Night Beauty: WPJA Award-Winning Wedding Portrait in Mammoth Lakes, California
Love may be sweet, but the bride's aim needs some work as she attempts to feed her groom a candy during their playful wedding in Mammoth Lakes, California.
Bride's Candy-Flinging Aim Goes Awry at Playful Mammoth Lakes Wedding
Captured in Tiburon, CA by a WPJA photographer, this portrait features an engaged couple embracing tenderly in front of a white wood church nestled on a hill.
Tiburon's Serene Chapel: Enchanting Engagement Photo Venue Location
Bride walks down stairs with bridesmaid at Regale Winery and Vineyards in Los Gatos, CA. Black and white photo captures the moment.
Bride Walks Down Stairs with Bridesmaid at Regale Winery and Vineyards in Los Gatos, CA—Black and White Photo Captures the Moment
A wedding guest tends to her baby in the corner of the reception at Smogshoppe in Los Angeles, California.
A Candid Look at Family Life at Smogshoppe's Los Angeles Reception
In the serene setting of St. Michael's Convent,  young flower girls engage in a quiet conversation during the ceremony
Flower girls bond in the tranquil atmosphere of St. Michael's Convent wedding
Cafe Fiore, Ventura Ca: Classic romance captured as bride and groom sway in an intimate dance and share a tender kiss. Timeless moment in a black and white vertical photo.
Cafe Fiore, Ventura Ca: A Timeless and Intimate Moment of Classic Romance Captured in Stunning Black and White
In this image captured by a wedding photographer at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, the bride, groom, and officiant can be seen laughing together amid a snowy ceremony, braving a near blizzard with their ski gear.
Blissful Trio Brave Stormy Slopes at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort for Snowy Wedding Ceremony
In Los Angeles, Calif., a couple celebrates on the dance floor during their reception, with a clean white brick wall in the background.
Couple Joyously Celebrates on Dance Floor Against Minimalist White Brick Wall at Los Angeles Wedding Reception
At Zephyr Lodge Northstar California, the newlyweds steal some time of intimate isolation as they ride the gondola, framed by the vast open space and the stunning mountain views.
Stunning Scenery Enhances Newlywed's Gondola Ride at Zephyr Lodge Northstar California
A unique wedding scene captured at the rustic barn venue in Loyalton, CA. The bride stands serenely in the center while her bridal party trails around her in blurred motion, framed beautifully in vertical composition.
Bridal Party Captured in Blurred Motion around Serene Bride at Loyalton, CA Barn Wedding
A candid and heartwarming moment at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, CA, as the bride lays surrounded by flower girls during the reception.
Bride Surrounded by Flower Girls: Heartwarming Wedding Moment at American Jewish University, Los Angeles
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

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