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Wedding Photos of Symbolic

For Couples / Wedding Photos of Symbolic

The following “Symbolic” 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 “Symbolic” 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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Beneath the white horse in Shanghai’s Bund, a couple shares a kiss, their engagement portrait framed by the symbolism of the Year of the Horse and the surrounding historic area.
Portrait Of A Couple Kissing Beneath A White Horse Statue In The Bund Of Shanghai
urbanSymbolichistoricaffectionateShanghaikissedShanghai white horse
The bride’s ring is elegantly displayed resting between her shoes at Villa Biloba in south Dordogne, drawing attention to symbolic details before the celebration begins.
Detail Of A Wedding Ring Elegantly Displayed Between Bridal Shoes At Villa Biloba In Dordogne
Villa Biloba weddingVilla BilobabridalDordogne detailelegantbridal shoes ringring
Along a Marseille beach chosen as the wedding venue, the couple lie in the water, pausing for a refreshing break between the civil and symbolic ceremonies.
The Couple Takes A Refreshing Break Lying In The Sea Along A Marseille Beach Wedding Venue
beachSymbolicMarseille beach weddingrefreshing sea breakwedding water portraitbreakrefreshing
During the ceremony in Tulum, a symbolic offering is made to the goddess of the ocean, illustrating spiritual themes and connections to nature within the wedding celebration.
Symbolic Ocean Offering Is Made During Ceremony In Tulum, Mexico
Symbolicoceanspiritual celebrationofferingTulummadeTulum ceremony
A wedding ring is isolated and photographed at Beijing Kunlun Hotel, the detail shot focusing on the jewelry as a symbol of the event.
Wedding Ring Photographed Alone at Beijing Kunlun Hotel as Symbolic Jewelry Detail
wedding detaileventBeijing Kunlun Hoteljewelryalonehotelring session
This lovely portrait in Sault, Provence, France, captures the engaged couple remembering their travel memories during their session, symbolizing the shared history and adventures that brought them together.
Remembering Travel Memories in Sault Provence Couple Portrait Session
portrait sessionengagedfrench countrysidejourneyoutdoorsSymbolicshared history
A close-up artistic detail created at Château du Vivier, France, shows the focused hands of a small girl intently holding a piece of paper as it burns in a quiet, symbolic moment.
Artistic Child Detail Burning Paper At Château Du Vivier France Wedding
small girlChâteau du Vivier detailSymbolicChâteau du Vivier weddinghandsSeine-et-Marnefocused
An artistic portrait at Soho House İstanbul features the bride under her veil, complemented by the gentle and symbolic placement of the groom's hand upon the delicate fabric.
This Artistic Bridal Portrait Under A Veil Was Captured At Soho House In İstanbul Turkey
handportraitbrideveil artistic portraitgroomsymbolic wedding photobridal portrait
In Domène, France, a ladybug lands gently on the bride’s wedding dress, adding a charming and symbolic detail to her bridal ensemble.
Ladybug Lands Gently on Bride’s Dress in Domène, France, Adding Symbolic Detail to Her Bridal Look
SymbolicDomène dresscharmDomène weddingdresssymbolic dress accentIsere
Budapest, Hungary: A unique love story unfolds. The bride holds a bow, while the groom poses with a military blade, striking a perfect and symbolic chord.
Budapest Wedding: Bride with Bow and Groom with Military Blade, Capturing Unique Love
Budapest Wedding Portraitlove storymilitary bladeSymbolicviolin bowunique portraitBudapest
A couple celebrates their engagement on the Bund in Shanghai, China, beautifully capturing the excitement of their union during the auspicious Year of the Snake.
Engagement Celebration on Shanghai's Bund During the Energetic Year of the Snake
joyChinaShanghaiunionYear of the SnaketraditionSymbolic
In Châtel Guyon, a couple celebrates their love with a delicate floral crown, symbolizing the elegance and magic of their unique, upcoming wedding day.
Couple Celebrates with Crown in Châtel Guyon, Symbolizing Wedding Magic
joycelebrationbeautyPuy-de-DômeElegancefloral crowndelicate
At a temple in Zhangzhou, Fujian, the silhouettes of two people are captured, creating a striking and symbolic image against the temple's backdrop, highlighting the cultural significance of the day.
Silhouettes of Two People Against Temple Backdrop in Zhangzhou, Fujian, Highlighting Cultural Significance
backdropZhangzhou Fujian templeFujian temple photographertempleBlueSymbolicZhangzhou Fujian wedding
Wedding rings rest on open palms in Saint Georges de Commiers, France.
Detail Shot of Wedding Rings Resting on Open Palms in Saint Georges de Commiers, France
jewelrySymbolicwedding photographerIserecloseupSaint Georges de Commiersrings
At Domaine Laplaud in the Vienne department, the groom is captured in a moment of preparation as he gets ready to put on his wedding shoes, a symbolic step towards the significant day ahead.
Groom Prepares to Don Wedding Shoes at Domaine Laplaud in Vienne
Vienne weddingFrench GroomSymbolicimportant stepintimate groom capturegroom shoesDomaine Laplaud Vienne
At Domaine des Ferréols in Tarn, France, the bride and groom come together to cut their wedding cakes. This symbolic moment is shared with joy and anticipation, marking a sweet highlight of their celebration.
Bride and Groom Joyfully Cut Wedding Cakes at Domaine des Ferréols, Tarn Celebration
eventWedding cakessweetcelebrationcuttingTarnTarn bride and groom
In a church in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, the couple's celebration is adorned with a regal touch. They wear golden crowns, adding an elegant and symbolic element to their joyous union.
Couple Wears Golden Crowns During Joyous Church Ceremony in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany
churchIlle-et-VilaineBrittany weddingelegantbeautyBrittany Ceremonylove
At Campo Lago in Lindora, Costa Rica, the bride and groom share a laugh in front of their wedding ceremony setup, with a magnificent tree prominently featured, symbolizing an important element of their outdoor wedding day.
Joyful Couple Shares Laugh Before Ceremony Under Magnificent Tree at Campo Lago in Lindora, Costa Rica
Campo Lago WeddinglaughProminentloveLindoradayLindora Venue
In Rocamadour, France, during the ribbon bouquet ritual, the bride reaches up with scissors to cut through the ribbons, which form a striking pattern of triangles above her head, in a symbolic and picturesque scene.
Bride Cuts Ribbons in Rocamadour's Triangular Display
OccitaniecandidMemorableRocamadouruniquebeautifultriangles
In this captivating WPJA Spotlight award-winning image, captured at Domaine du Clos des Liesses in the Rhône region, a newlywed couple is seen walking hand in hand into the setting sun, symbolizing their eternal happiness.
Into Forever: Love's Journey at Domaine du Clos des Liesses
Domaine du ClosbeginningcouplenewlywedsDomaine du Clos des Liessesjourneytrees
Pyrenees-Atlantiques award-winning image captures the newlyweds celebrating with a champagne toast. Against a stark white background, the groom stands in a dark suit while the bride, dressed in white, stands against darkness.
Contrasts of Celebration: A Toast to Love in Pyrenees-Atlantiques
elegantstark white backgroundjoyousChampagne toastDramaticPyrénées-Atlantiquescontrast
Capturing the essence of rustic charm and symbolic of the preparations for the big day, a WPJA Spotlight award-winning image showcases a wedding dress adorned in front of a picturesque house in Béarn, France.
Wedding Dress Displayed Beautifully at Picturesque House in Béarn, France
enchantingBasque Countryrustic charmidyllic settingPreparationssereneadorned
The winning WPJA Spotlight image captured the sentimental moment of a bride and groom surrounded by their families at the Loyola at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills, Illinois, as they released pigeons in front of the wedding venue.
Sentimental Moment: Bride and Groom Release Pigeons with Family at Loyola Cuneo Mansion, Vernon Hills Wedding
groomfamiliesgardensVernon Hillsemotionalwedding venueSymbolic
In Vadodara, India, during the kanyadaan ritual, a bride's mother lovingly washes her daughter's feet with milk and rose petals, offering blessings and love.
Bride's Feet Lovingly Washed with Milk and Rose Petals by Mother During Kanyadaan Ritual in Vadodara
ritualstraditionsmeaningfulIndian traditional ceremonyVadodarawashesheartfelt
In a church in Brabant Wallon, a young man plays the guitar beside a painting of a finger on lips, symbolizing silence.
Young Man Plays Guitar Beside Silence Symbol Painting in Church, Brabant Wallon - Black and White Shot
expressionsilencereflectionartistic contrastatmosphereQuietnesscontrast
A visually striking wedding photograph of a tender detail - a groom placing a ring on his bride's finger in black and white, captured by a Pigeon Forge, Tennessee photographer.
Timeless Ceremony Vows: Black and White Wedding Elegance in Pigeon Forge, TN
ringbrides fingerbeautifultimelessmarriageBW wedding photographromantic
Captivating black and white detail shot showcasing the union between a bride, groom, and their spiritual leaders in Pigeon Forge, TN. A unique photo captured by a talented wedding photojournalist.
Black and White Wedding Ring Ritual in Pigeon Forge, TN
candidbrideblessedspiritual leadersmeaningfulunique photoTennessee
Discover the artistry of wedding photojournalism through this black and white detail shot, showcasing the delicate placement of a bride's hand and her elegant engagement ring in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
A Black and White Bridal Hand and Dress Detail in Pigeon Forge, TN
Pigeon ForgeCommitmentelegantTennesseecandiddelicatemarriage
At a reception venue in Paris, Île-de-France, the bride and groom participate in the tradition of sawing a tree trunk together during the cocktail hour.
Bride and Groom Embrace Tradition by Sawing Tree Trunk at Paris Reception, Île-de-France
logoutdoorstraditionlawnsawing togetherSaw horsecocktail hour
Moselle wedding day detail shot of bride and groom's hand-in-hand with their wedding bands in front of a picturesque field at sunset.
MOSELLE WEDDING DAY DETAIL | Couple is Hand-In-Hand with Sunset Field Backdrop
scenicsereneMoselle couple detailSunset FieldnatureSymbolicbride and groom

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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.