Wedding Photos of Altar

The following “Altar” 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 “Altar” 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.

During the ceremony at St. Michael Catholic Church in Livermore, CA, the couple stands at the altar with the officiant in view, as seen from behind for a timeless perspective.

Traditional Scene Setter Of A Couple Standing At The Altar Of St Michael Church In Livermore

As the ceremony begins in Plymouth, Massachusetts, witnesses are silhouetted, their presence gently framing the heartfelt exchange of vows at the altar.

Witnesses Are Silhouetted As They Frame The Heartfelt Exchange Of Wedding Vows In Plymouth Massachusetts

silhouetted vow exchange exchange ceremony witnesses wedding altar Plymouth MA wedding vows

A page boy takes a tumble at the altar during the ceremony at Roundwood Church, bringing a touch of playful spontaneity to this heartfelt occasion.

A Page Boy’s Playful Tumble At The Red Carpet Altar During The Ceremony At Roundwood Church In County Wicklow

Roundwood Church ceremony tumble playfulness child red pageboy Spontaneity

At the Frouzins Town Hall wedding venue in Haute-Garonne, the bride's daughter exits the room laughing, while the couple embrace behind her near the altar.

At Frouzins Town Hall In Haute-Garonne, Bride’s Daughter Exits As Couple Embraces By The Altar

daughter altar Frouzins Town Hall ceremony Haute-Garonne embrace behind laughter

At Grizzley Gardens in Montana, a teary-eyed father of the bride shares a heartfelt handshake with the groom before lovingly handing his daughter over at the altar.

Grizzley Gardens In Montana Provides The Setting For A Teary-Eyed Father’s Handshake With The Groom At The Altar.

altar Grizzley Gardens groom father handshake altar handshake setting Montana

An emotional moment captured in Trieste, Italy, as the bride sits at the altar with her groom, overcome with emotion during the ceremony, beautifully documented with symmetrical framing and a massive stained glass arch as the backdrop.

Emotional Bride at Altar, Symmetrical Framing, Trieste, Italy, Stained Glass Arch

stained glass Trieste symmetrical framing Italy Emotional moment arch altar

At Arrow Park, NY, the couple bursts into laughter during their vows at the altar, surrounded by a lush garden setting and arbor, capturing joy and genuine connection in the middle of their ceremony.

Couple Laughs During Vows At Arrow Park NY Garden Ceremony

altar arbor New York Garden Ceremony Arrow Park Monroe NY vows laughter

During the religious ceremony inside the Basilique St-Sernin in Toulouse, the bride and the priest walk together toward the altar to sign the official marriage register.

Basilique St-Sernin Ceremony: Bride And Priest Walk To Sign Marriage Register

church Toulouse Ceremony Location Toulouse Basilique St Sernin altar vertical format

At the ceremony location in Pessan, Gers, young flower girls play with the draping fabric of the outdoor altar arbor while the bride and groom sit during the wedding ceremony.

Pessan, Gers Wedding: Flower Girls Play With Altar Fabric During Outdoor Ceremony

altar arbor Pessan flower girls Gers Wedding Moment playing children Gers

Black and white vertical image of a newly married couple hugging at the altar at Manor Barn, Cambridge, UK.

Manor Barn: Black And White Wedding Hug At The Altar

Cambridge Manor Barn ceremony black and white Cambridge UK Ceremony UK vertical format

At Danesfield House, a wedding photographer captures a poignant moment. The image, shot from behind the altar, shows the couple holding hands and smiling during their ceremony as their seated guests watch on.

Capturing A Poignant Moment: A Couple's Hand-Held Danesfield House Vows

Marlow On Thames ceremony Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire guests watching altar Danesfield House Buckinghamshire Ceremony Moment

A wedding photojournalist captures a couple praying at an altar, while attendants use a stone altar to block the wind so they can light candles at the Plaza Athenee in Bangkok.

Quiet Moment of Prayer and Light at the Altar in Bangkok

stone altar Bangkok altar Bangkok Ceremony Moment lighting candles Plaza Athenee praying

At a ceremony in Amsterdam, the photographer captures a charming moment as a dog sits up for a snack on the aisle runner, with the bride and groom watching from the altar, skillfully spotlighting delightful spontaneity.

Amsterdam Ceremony Dog's Aisle Snack Delights Bride and Groom with Spontaneity

charming moment Amsterdam Wedding Ceremony altar Amsterdam aisle runner dog

An artistic scene setter of the church, captured before the outdoor ceremony, features rows of empty wooden chairs facing a simple altar beneath a large, spreading tree on the sun-dappled grounds.

Guests in Sunlit Wooden Chairs Facing Altar Before Ceremony On Church Grounds In Scenic Setting

artistic empty wooden chairs tree ceremony altar Mayenne Outdoor Ceremony Mayenne sun dappled grounds

Under an altar at Elk Cove Inn, a bride and groom share their first kiss. The romantic image, marking the end of their ceremony, captures the couple's joy in Mendocino, California.

Elk Cove Embrace: Our First Kiss in Mendocino

Mendocino California - Northern First Kiss Elk Cove Inn altar Mendocino Wedding Ceremony End of ceremony

Bride and groom joyfully clasp hands and raise arms at Villa Regina Teodolinda altar, Lake Como, celebrating their wedding ceremony.

Bride and Groom Joyfully Celebrate Wedding at Villa Regina Teodolinda, Lake Como Altar

Lake Como Lake Como Documentary Wedding Photography hands raised lakeside ceremony Lake Como outdoor ceremony celebrating marriage altar

At Nora Buri Resort, Koh Samui, Thailand, a wedding takes place on the lawn with a stunning beach backdrop. A low-angle shot captures petals on the grass, with the couple facing each other at the altar.

Love blossoms on the lawn, beach whispers romance, petals paint the path as hearts unite in Koh Samui.

beach ceremony low angle lawn Nora Buri Resort altar Koh Samui Ceremony Photography Surat Thani

Four Seasons Bangkok wedding image. Bride, Daddy's Girl, embraces her father at the altar. Shot in black and white over the groom's shoulder.

Bangkok Wedding Emotions: Bride Embraces Father at Altar in Black and White, Over Groom's Shoulder

giving away bride Daddys Girl Bangkok Four Seasons Bangkok altar emotion black and white

In the Basilica of Saint Sernin in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, the newlywed couple sits before the altar, captured in reflection and tranquility within the historic and beautiful setting.

Wedding Couple Seated Before Altar in Basilica of Saint Sernin, Toulouse

wedding portrait Church wedding newlyweds historic setting romantic setting peaceful atmosphere reflection

In Budapest, Hungary, at the ceremony location, the bride and groom sit in chairs outside at the altar, holding hands and sharing a laugh, highlighting their joyful connection.

Bride and Groom Sit Holding Hands and Sharing a Laugh at Altar in Budapest, Hungary

Hungary altar groom Budapest venue marriage joy candid photography laughter

A wedding photograph shows a bride kissing the groom. The couple is at the altar at The Guild Inn.

Bride Kisses Groom at The Guild Inn's Wedding Ceremony

wedding emotional altar The Guild Inn love Toronto ceremony

The bride and groom stand together at the altar in Estancia Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. The wedding ceremony has concluded.

Bride and Groom Stand Together Post-Ceremony at Altar in Estancia Rosario, Argentina

bride groom Argentina Santa Fe wedding post ceremony Estancia Rosario altar

At Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL, the couple stands at the altar during a dramatic, astro-themed wedding ceremony, framed by a giant moon, all in striking black and white.

Couple at Altar with Giant Moon at Adler Planetarium

giant moon Chicago moon planetarium ceremony darkened image altar Chicago Wedding Ceremony Image

At The Gathering Barn in Wiltshire, laughter fills the air as the smiling bride and her mum arrive at the end of the aisle, where the groom waits eagerly at the altar.

Bride and Mum's Joyful Arrival at Wiltshire Barn Wedding

love mother anticipation smiling emotion atmosphere mom

Outdoor wedding at Deer Park Villa in Fairfax, CA. Smiling groom at the altar as a guest makes a funny comment. Couple holds hands.

Laughter at the Altar: Lighthearted Moment During Deer Park Villa Wedding Ceremony

couple holding hands Funny Comment Laughter at Altar outdoor wedding CA Joyful Wedding Smiling Groom San Francisco

The awarded BW shot captures the beautiful moment of a bride and groom holding hands before an altar, receiving the blessing of a priest during their wedding ceremony in an Haute-Garonne church.

Sacred Union: Hand in Hand at the Altar in Haute-Garonne

capture Haute Garonne church bride groom ceremony beautiful blessing

In the park of Château de Justiniac, the bride holds her mom's arm as they approach the altar. She smiles at guests, standing outside on the terrace in sunlight.

Bride Walks w/ Mother Toward Altar at Château de Justiniac - Smiling at Guests in Sunlit Terrace

Ariège Approach park french wedding venue sunlight bride wedding in France

In Zug, Switzerland, at the ceremony location, guests sit outside in the rain while the couple sits at the altar under an umbrella.

Rainy Wedding Ceremony in Zug: Guests Sit Outdoors With Umrellas as Couple Sits Under Umbrella at Altar

Switzerland celebration altar romantic guests rainy umbrellas

A bride smiling at her groom as she reads the joke written on his shoes by his friends before a wedding at Campione d Italia Church in Italy.

Bride's smile beams as she discovers groom's shoe joke at Campione d'Italia Church wedding

Como Wedding Photography message on shoes Lombardy bride smiling altar Campione d Italia Church Como

As the sun shone down on the beautiful outdoor ceremony, the bride couldn't hold back her tears at the altar in Virginia.

Virginia Vows: A Beautiful Outdoor Ceremony Makes the Bride Shed Happy Tears

altar outdoor vows beautiful bride happy vows brides tears

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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.