Wedding Photos of Night

The following “Night” 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 “Night” 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.

Bride and groom share their first dance on the charming patio at Cascina Montena, Zenevreto, Italy, illuminated by twinkling lights against a backdrop of a beautiful night sky

Twinkling Lights Illuminate Charming Italian Patio for Bride's First Dance

At Villa Muggia, Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy: A stunning wedding moment captured as the bride and groom share a romantic kiss amidst the spectacular display of cake and firework fountains outside at night.

Villa Muggia's Nighttime Bliss: Fireworks and Romance on Lake Maggiore

Firework fountains Villa Muggia Stresa cake cutting Nighttime wedding Villa Muggia wedding Cake display

Wedding photo captured in Paris, France, featuring a couple illuminated by the photographer's light against the stunning backdrop of the city's architecture.

Parisian Splendor: Luminous Love Shines Amidst Architectural Grandeur for Wedded Couple

Parisian Wedding Elegance love story lit portrait urban France Wedding Photoshoot Night Parisian Wedding Photographer

At the Cork Factory Hotel in Lancaster, PA, a professional wedding photographer captures the joyful moment as the bride and groom pop champagne at night. The vibrant pink and black background adds a striking touch to this action shot.

Midnight Celebration: Love Sparks Illuminate Cork Factory Hotel in Lancaster

Black USA wedding photographer spray bride and groom portraits joyful newlywed portraits pink vibrant wedding photography

Newlyweds sparkle in this award-winning portrait taken in Sicily, Italy. Overflowing with joy, the couple basks in the beauty of their wedding day, posing with a vibrant blue convertible sports car.

Elegance in Italy: Newlyweds Sparkle with Joy in Sicily's Charm

joy Elegance Sicily convertible Sports Car Sicily artistic portraits italy weddings

This award-winning photo captures the wedding dinner at Villa Catignano in Siena. The deep blue sky and string lights create a dramatic atmosphere, making it a truly artistic wedding image.

Twilight Ties: A Captivating Wedding Soirée at Villa Catignano, Siena

strings of lights Siena Night dusk italy wedding photographer twilight Villa Catignano

In this documentary wedding image, waiters at the Apulia reception venue are seen swiftly gathering chair cushions to protect them from the unexpected rain

Unexpected Rain Showers Create a Chaotic But Swift Movement Among Waiters at Apulia Reception Venue

Apulia Documentary Wedding Photography vendor Night Apulia unexpected rain reception waiter chair cushions

The groom and his witnesses pose for a nighttime portrait at Les Tourelles de Fonville, Eure-et-Loir. The photo is filled with vibrant lights and wisps of smoke.

TWILIGHT ILLUMINATION: Groom's Wedding Day Portrait at Les Tourelles de Fonville

groom portrait session wedding photography Eure et Loir wedding photographer wedding photography vibrant lights portrait Les Tourelles de Fonville wedding photography night portrait

A stunning wedding photo captures a couple posing outside Syon Park's glass conservatory at night. The building's purple lights create a captivating backdrop, while the off-center composition and rim lighting add a touch of artistic flair.

PURPLE HAZE: CAPTIVATING WEDDING PHOTO AT SYON PARK'S GLASS CONSERVATORY VENUE

groom London portrait purple lights session photo glass conservatory Syon Park wedding photography

In Yvelines, in a timeless black and white portrait, the couple raise their champagne glasses in a celebratory toast, their car's headlights illuminating the night as they share a tender kiss.

Wedding Brilliance Unveiled: Timeless Yvelines Soirée Shines in Monochrome

Yvelines tender kiss car headlights Celebratory Toast day Soirée Shines timeless

Artistic wedding couple portrait from Ferme du Coudray: A married couple poses in the middle of the night at a round shaped building with a door

Ferme du Coudray Wedding: Unique artistic portrait of a couple posing at a round building at night

door married couple Night round building night portrait Eure et Loir wedding couple portrait unique

A night wedding image was created in Utrecht, Netherlands, with the groom and a friend driving a tractor outside of the barn venue hosting the party

The groom and a friend drove a tractor at a barn wedding in Utrecht, Netherlands

Utrecht Netherlands netherlands wedding Lights tractor wedding wedding barn Utrecht barn Utrecht wedding party

The wedding portrait taken in France at night is beautifully lit, with the couple framed by the romantic silhouette of tree branches overhead

France Night Wedding Portrait Beautifully Lit with Romantic Silhouette of Tree Branches Overhead

wedding night portrait Night lit portrait portrait beautifully lit France

A couple stands under the colorful lights of the Chicago Theater, embracing each other as they pose for a picture, surrounded by the charm and grandeur of the iconic building

Enchanted Love: Embracing Chicago Theater's Grandeur

Theater Wedding Portraits Night Illinois Chicago Couples Portraits Chicago Theater black and white

A romantic photo of the newlyweds underneath a tree at the beautiful Le manoir du Thil in Eure, Normandy

Nature's Embrace: A Love Story at Le Manoir du Thil

picturesque Eure wedding Normandy newlyweds twinkling lights tree

This romantic image captures the bride setting up their wedding night accommodation in an outdoor tent on the stunning Island of Iona

The bride is pictured setting up a wedding night tent on Iona Island, a romantic setting

captures natural setting Bliss Scotland stunning surroundings

The first dance at Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur with fireworks was a truly special scene captured in the documentary-style wedding photo

At Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, the first dance with fireworks was magical

Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur Wedding Photography Night Jodhpur fireworks first dance

The couple posed for a save-the-date wedding announcement picture in Miami, Florida, lit up by the photographer at a nightlife city scene

Miami, Florida: Couple posed for nightlife city scene wedding announcement picture

Miami Save the Date reflection Miami Miami Engagement Photography city scene Florida Night

The couple posed for their Save the Date engagement photo in front of a red spotlight background, their silhouettes highlighted against the dark night in Çanakkale

Çanakkale: Couple silhouetted against dark night, Save the Date engagement photo in front of red spotlight

red spotlight Çanakkale Çanakkale Engagement Portrait Night silhouette

The couple enjoyed a creative portrait session indoors in Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain, with the windows revealing a deep blue sky outside

In Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain, the couple enjoyed a creative portrait session indoors with a deep blue sky outside

deep blue sky Cadiz cadiz engagement photography evening Spain Vejer de la Frontera Night

A Lost Gulch Overlook, Boulder CO couple enjoying a moment as the sun sets over the winter night scene

The couple, illuminated by photographer's light, basked in the beauty of the winter sunset as they prepared to tie the knot

lit portrait boulder Night boulder engagement photography snow winter engagement Lost Gulch Overlook

At Black Canyon Inn in Estes Park, Colorado, a portrait of the backlit couple is being taken to highlight the majestic mountain scenery at night

The mountain nightscape serves as the backdrop to a portrait of a couple, shown both in profile and facing each other

Estes Park photographer Colorado facing each other backlit portrait Black Canyon Inn in Estes Park Night

At the Fleur du Jardin Hotel in Guernsey, the reception marquee at night towards the end of the wedding with its dusk lighting created a pleasing and joyful atmosphere

At the Fleur du Jardin Hotel in Guernsey, the dusk lighting of the reception venue created a pleasing and joyful atmosphere

Guernsey Photographer Guernsey Fleur du Jardin Hotel marquee Night scene setter dusk lighting

The Chateau de la Rochelle's reception glowed warmly in the night under the dark sky, illuminated by the tent lighting

At the Chateau de la Rochelle, the tent reception party glowed warmly under the night sky

tented reception Charente-Maritime Charente Maritime Photographer La Rochelle Night warm glow tent lighting

The newlyweds celebrated their love with a fun champagne spray in the night in Stowe, Vermont

The newlyweds marked their union with a joyous champagne toast in the evening sky.

Champagne Spray New England Night Stowe evening sky Stowe Photographer Vermont

After the sun set, guests gathered outdoors at the Château de Méridon to be mesmerized by a fire-show from an enchanting fire-dancer, creating a magical atmosphere for the night

After the sun set, guests gathered outdoors to witness a fire-show from a fire-dancer and nightingale at the Château

Château de Méridon Night fire show Yvelines Photographer fire dancer Yvelines

The bride and groom in their empty reception hall in Mülheim Dusseldorf for their wedding reception are captured in a tender embrace, with the bride resting her head on his shoulder and him leaning his head into hers

In Mülheim Dusseldorf, a tender embrace captures the bride and groom in their empty reception hall on their wedding day, her head on his shoulder

Mülheim an der Ruhr Night head on shoulder tender embrace leaning Germany Mülheim

Couple dancing outdoors at night surrounded by family and friends at Oceanview, Nahant, Massachusetts

The couple celebrated their union surrounded by family and friends with an outdoor nighttime reception involving dancing

Massachusetts Nahant Photographer Oceanview Nahant dancing Nahant family and friends couple dancing Night

The newlywed couple stopped to seal the night with a romantic kiss and dip while the guests lined up the walking lane with sparklers in the backyard of the bride's parents

The couple celebrated their special night with a romantic kiss and a sparkler-lit walk down the backyard lane

GA sparklers Backyard walking lane dip romantic kiss Newlywed couple

At Help Beach, Fethiye, Turkey, a beach wedding party moment on the sand at night

Two women laid on the beach sand at night, creating a festive beach wedding party moment

beach party Turkey women Fethiye Wedding Photographer Help Beach sand Fethiye

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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.