Wedding Photos of Virginia

The following “Virginia” 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 “Virginia” 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.

At Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia, a girl sprints toward her father, who carries her wandering sister.

Young Girl Runs Toward Her Father At Meadowlark Botanical Gardens In Vienna, Virginia

At Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, Virginia, the couple stands together among rows of grapevines, with lush greenery creating a classic vineyard wedding portrait.

Among Rows Of Grape Vines At Breaux Vineyards In Virginia, The Couple Stands Together In A Classic Vineyard Portrait

grapevines vineyard classic lush wedding Breaux Vineyards wedding Virginia greenery

At Eastwood Winery in Charlottesville, Virginia, the groom’s sister excitedly shouts while being lifted into a chair during the lively Hora dance, surrounded by joyous celebration.

Excitement Fills Eastwood Winery In Charlottesville, Virginia, As Groom’s Sister Is Lifted During The Lively Hora Dance

Charlottesville Virginia dance Hora excitement Eastwood Winery wedding chair

In Leesburg, Virginia, the bride and groom are captured together during a portrait session, with the local landscape providing a serene and intimate backdrop.

Bride And Groom Stand Together For A Portrait Session In Leesburg, Virginia, The Local Landscape Providing Serene Intimate Backdrop

Leesburg Virginia portrait backdrop landscape couple portrait couple groom Leesburg Leesburg Virginia wedding

Active men fill the dance floor at Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, VA, as music and laughter fuel a vibrant wedding celebration among the rows of Virginia vines.

Dynamic Dancing Rules The Night At Breaux Vineyards In Purcellville, Virginia, Bringing Life And Laughter To The Vines.

Virginia lively celebration dancing Breaux Vineyards venue laughter Breaux Vineyards celebration vibrant dance night Breaux Vineyards

At Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, Virginia, the unconventional flower man walks confidently down the aisle, delighting guests at the indoor ceremony venue.

Unconventional Flower Man Walks Confidently Down The Aisle At Breaux Vineyards In Purcellville, Virginia, Surprising Guests

aisle Breaux Vineyards ceremony DELIGHT flower man guests Virginia walk

During the Avonlea Farms celebration in Mineral, Virginia, a father and daughter enjoy a touching dance together beneath the warm lights of the venue.

Father And Daughter Enjoy A Touching Dance Together Beneath Warm Lights At Avonlea Farms Celebration In Mineral, Virginia

celebration Virginia Avonlea Farms wedding Lights daughter Avonlea Farms Mineral venue

At The Branch Museum in Richmond, VA, a mother and son take to the dance floor, sharing an emotional dance in front of friends and family during the wedding reception.

Mother And Son Create An Emotional Memory Dancing Together At The Branch Museum, Richmond, Virginia, Surrounded By Family.

Virginia mother son memory mother family The Branch Museum memory Branch Museum venue

At Avonlea Farm in Virginia, a silhouette portrait captures the bride and groom, their outlines framed by the scenic charm of this countryside wedding venue.

Silhouette Portrait Captures Bride And Groom Framed By Scenic Countryside Charm At Avonlea Farm Wedding Venue In Virginia

Virginia bride Countryside Charm charm outlines Avonlea Farm wedding countryside

Avonlea Farms, VA - Bride swings a stick at a festive, brightly-colored piñata while cheers are enthusiastic behind her during the reception.

Avonlea Farms, VA: Joyful Bride Swings at a Piñata While Guests Cheer Enthusiastically During the Reception

Avonlea Farms reception pinata Virginia swinging festive Virginia Wedding Moment

At Avonlea Farm, VA, following their ceremony, the couple pauses to pose against a large, striking tree highlighted by a spotlight positioned behind them.

Avonlea Farm, VA: Romantic Evening Portrait of Couple Backlit by Striking Spotlight

posing couple spotlight Virginia wedding portrait Avonlea Farms Virginia large tree

Virginia, KCPC, where the bride and groom after lighting the unity candle, each gently blowing out their individual ceremonial taper candles.

In Virginia, KCPC: A Quiet Moment as Newlyweds Extinguish Tapers Post-Unity Candle

Virginia Ceremony Image blowing candles KCPC unity candle Virginia

At Virginia's Riverside on the Potomac, the bride and groom participate in an intimate indoor ritual, seated face to face and surrounded by family members laughing joyfully.

Virginia's Riverside on the Potomac: Intimate Indoor Wedding Ritual Shared with Joyful, Laughing Family

joy Virginia ritual laughing Riverside on the Potomac Virginia Wedding Moment Face to face

At Virginia's Stone Manor Boutique Inn, the bride and groom exit under a thick, joyous monsoon of bubbles released by guests, completely enveloping them in soapiness.

Virginia Wedding: Bride and Groom Exiting Stone Manor Under a Joyous Monsoon of Bubbles

Virginia Wedding Moment Stone Manor Boutique Inn exiting ceremony bubbles Virginia

This tall vertical image captures a joyful couple in Old Town Alexandria, VA, standing on the street and looking at each other, captured mid-conversation while talking and laughing with genuine happiness.

Old Town Alexandria Laughter: A Joyful Engagement Conversation on the Street

conversation Old Town Alexandria Alexandria engagement photography street laughing Virginia

At Hazy Mountain Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia, the bride’s father hugs her tightly and cries during the vidhai, his face filled with deep emotion.

Hazy Mountain Vineyards, Charlottesville Wedding: Bride’s Father Cries, Hugs Her During Vidhai

Charlottesville Wedding Moment vidhai father of bride crying Hazy Mountain Vineyards Virginia tight hug

Torpedo Factory, Old Town Alexandria, VA, Reception Venue — During their first dance, the couple invite all wedding guests to join them, while a high-angle shot, creative in-camera effect, and dramatic backlight isolate them under purple lighting ambiance

Purple Light Isolates Couple Under High Angle During Alexandria First Dance

high angle shot first dance Torpedo Factory purple lighting Alexandria dramatic backlight Virginia

Old Town, Alexandria — During blue hour at the reception venue, the couple stand back to back and look in the same direction, framed low and center in a minimalist wedding portrait against the twilight sky.

Old Town Alexandria Blue Hour: Couple's Minimalist Portrait Against The Twilight Sky

back to back framed low Virginia Alexandria Wedding Portrait Old Town Alexandria twilight sky blue hour

The Loft at Lena’s, Alexandria, VA — The couple share an intimate gaze during a pre-dinner portrait, seated together at a table near tall windows, with soft indoor lighting highlighting their connection in the restaurant setting.

An Intimate Gaze at The Loft at Lena's, Alexandria, VA

tall windows soft lighting Alexandria Alexandria Wedding Portrait restaurant setting Virginia The Loft at Lenas

At the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast in Middleburg, Virginia, a WPJA wedding photographer captures a poignant moment as a groom tenderly kisses his new bride's face following their emotional ceremony.

Emotional Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Wedding Kiss After Poignant Ceremony

Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Virginia groom kisses bride post ceremony moment Virginia Wedding Moment Middleburg VA

At Hazy Mountain Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia, the wedding party dumps water on the couple after the Haldi ceremony. The award-winning photo highlights the photographer's skill at documenting joyful traditions.

Wedding Party Dumps Water on Couple After Haldi Ceremony at Hazy Mountain Vineyards, Charlottesville

Hazy Mountain Vineyards Charlottesville Virginia

At Hazy Mountain Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia, the couple shares a breathtaking first look as the delicate veil separating them is finally lifted just before their wedding ceremony begins.

Couple Shares A Breathtaking First Look At Hazy Mountain Vineyards In Scenic Charlottesville Virginia

Hazy Mountain Vineyards wedding romantic pre ceremony moment reveal Hazy Mountain Vineyards ceremony romance Virginia Charlottesville

The couple shares a sexy session under the "caliente" sign at The Loft at Lena's, Alexandria VA.

Intimate Loft Portraits: A Fiery Wedding Day Session

Virginia caliente sign Alexandria vertical composition sexy session The Loft at Lenas Alexandria Wedding Portrait

Black and white solo bridal portrait, shot through the veil, at The Inn at Little Washington, Washington VA.

Black and White Solo Bridal Portrait, Veiled at The Inn at Little Washington

black and white bridal portrait looking at camera Washington VA Bridal Portrait veil Virginia The Inn at Little Washington

A silhouette of a couple is cast against colorful stained glass at The Loft at Lena’s in Alexandria, Virginia, accented by a soft and artistic lens flare.

Colorful Stained Glass Frames A Silhouette Portrait Of A Couple At The Loft At Lena’s Virginia

artistic Flare light couple silhouette stained glass silhouette colorful

The Inn at Little Washington, Washington VA: Fireworks burst in the background, with the couple's silhouettes softly blurred in the foreground as they look at each other.

Fireworks at The Inn at Little Washington: A Silhouetted Romance

The Inn at Little Washington silhouettes fireworks Virginia softly blurred Virginia wedding portrait

Bride and groom kiss joyfully in a Virginia church after signing their marriage license, celebrating their official union.

Bride and Groom Joyfully Kiss in Virginia Church After Signing Their Marriage License

official union couple kiss marriage license Virginia Church Virginia wedding photography Virginia

Families bow heads and pray together during the wedding ceremony inside a Virginia church, creating a moment of solemn unity.

Families Bow Heads and Pray Together, Creating Solemn Unity at Virginia Church Wedding

prayer Virginia Church moment of unity Virginia Virginia wedding photography bowing heads

Bride lovingly hugs her great-grandma inside a church in Virginia, capturing a heartfelt, multigenerational wedding moment.

Bride Hugs Great-Grandma in Virginia Church, Capturing Heartfelt Multigenerational Wedding Moment

Virginia great grandma Multigenerational Virginia Church Virginia wedding photography hug

Groom wipes away tears as the bride walks down the aisle at Early Mountain Vineyards, Charlottesville, VA.

Groom Wipes Tears as Bride Walks Aisle at Early Mountain Vineyards Wedding

wiping tears Early Mountain Vineyards white suit Charlottesville Charlottesville outdoor ceremony Charlottesville Documentary Wedding Photography Virginia

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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.