Wedding Photos of Background

The following “Background” 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 “Background” 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 an Airbnb in Lincoln, United Kingdom, buttonholes are carefully pinned onto the wedding party while a young guest casually enjoys breadsticks in the background, adding a humorous touch to the preparations.

Breadsticks Add Humor During Wedding Preparations At An Airbnb In Lincoln, United Kingdom

At The Walled Garden in Nottingham, England, an establishing photograph of the reception space frames the seating plan in the foreground while the top table anchors the background, introducing the setting before the celebration begins.

Reception Details Welcome Guests At The Walled Garden In Nottingham, England Before The Celebration

guests background Nottinghamshire Nottingham Wedding foreground The Walled Garden venue establishing

Bridesmaids review a dance video before the reception at Lake Mohawk Country Club in Sparta, New Jersey, while the bride gets her hair done in the background.

Bridesmaids Review A Dance Video Before Reception In Sparta, New Jersey

New Jersey hair bridesmaids anticipation Lake Mohawk Country Club reception reception background

A couple stands close for a portrait in Bangkok, Thailand, their expressions reflecting a deep connection as the city atmosphere subtly frames the background, highlighting their shared happiness.

Portrait In Bangkok, Thailand, The Couple’s Deep Connection And Happiness Enhanced By Urban Atmosphere In The Background

city expressions portrait connection urban happiness close

The joy of this couple is captured gently out of focus at Belmond Hotel Villa San Michele, with the historic Florence Duomo standing crisp and timeless in the distant background.

A Joyful Engaged Couple Is Captured Out Of Focus With Florence Duomo In The Background At San Michele, Italy

out Duomo background joyful engaged portrait Florence timeless joy

Wedding rings appear elegantly presented against a vivid blue background in Venezia, Italy, their metallic shine contrasting beautifully with the striking color beneath them.

Elegant Wedding Rings Shining Against A Vivid Blue Background In Venezia Italy

background shine Venezia wedding blue color contrast elegant ring presentation Blue rings

At Château de Mauriac, a bridesmaid bursts into laughter in the background, bringing a sense of joy and spontaneity to the celebration.

Spontaneous Bridesmaid Laughter Brings Joy And Energy To The Wedding Celebration At Château De Mauriac In Toulouse

Toulouse celebration Tarn Spontaneity background laughter joy bridesmaid

In Thiers, France, a guest casually takes a selfie with a cigarette in hand, while other guests appear in the background, capturing the relaxed and candid mood.

A Relaxed Candid Scene In Thiers, France, As A Male Guest Casually Takes A Selfie With A Cigarette In Hand

casually Puy-de-Dôme Thiers France wedding expression Thiers France reception mood candid

At the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin, the couple kisses in front of the museum’s dramatic architectural wings, the striking background highlighting their connection.

Kissing In Front Of Architectural Wings At Milwaukee Art Museum, The Couple’s Connection Is Highlighted By The Striking Background

wings Milwaukee Milwaukee Art Museum portrait architectural wings kiss architectural Dramatic kiss

During blue hour in Cancun, a couple is photographed with flash against distinctive architecture, with the lighting conditions emphasizing the background and structural elements around them.

Distinctive Architecture and Blue Hour Lighting Emphasize Couple’s Portrait Session in Cancun Mexico

session blue hour wedding Distinctive flash portrait session emphasize lighting

At the Abbaye du Val des Choues, a couple is photographed at night in front of the illuminated venue, the portrait relying on low light and architectural background for atmosphere.

Illuminated Architecture and Nighttime Backdrop Set the Mood for Couple Portrait at Abbaye du Val des Choues

light background illuminated portrait atmosphere architecture low

In front of the castle known as Château de Roquetaillade in Mazères, the newlyweds pose together, the historic site providing a formal architectural background for their wedding portrait.

Historic Chateau de Roquetaillade in Mazères Provides Formal Background for Newlyweds’ Portrait

formal newlyweds chateau portrait background formal wedding castle Ariège

In La Rochelle, Charente Maritime, France, the couple stands together in front of a carousel, the background adding a sense of place as they pose for a fun portrait.

Couple Stands in Front of Carousel for Portrait in La Rochelle Charente Maritime France

fun backdrop Portrait Wedding portrait Front La Rochelle background fun

In Interlaken, Switzerland, a couple poses together on a path framed by rustic wooden railings, with a charming Swiss village and a picturesque waterfall cascading in the background.

Couple Poses On Path In Interlaken With Wooden Railings, Swiss Village, And Waterfall

Switzerland background waterfall scenic picturesque path outdoors

In a Saint Malo restaurant, the couple is silhouetted in the window, sharing a kiss with the sea in the background.

Silhouetted Kiss by the Sea in Saint Malo Restaurant Couple Portrait Session

portrait session Pre Wedding kiss couple France romance Saint Malo

In the church at Ascain, France, the organist plays as the bride and groom appear in the background, adding music and elegance to the ceremony.

An Organist Plays While The Bride And Groom Appear In The Church Background At Ascain France

ceremony Pyrénées-Atlantiques plays Elegance organist ceremony Ascain groom

A couple kisses in Zermatt, Switzerland, with the iconic Matterhorn visible in the snowy background. The romantic moment captures their affection amidst the stunning winter landscape.

Couple Shares a Kiss With the Snowy Matterhorn as a Breathtaking Backdrop in Zermatt, Switzerland

scenic affection couple snowy Matterhorn mountains Switzerland

In the countryside near Frouzins, France, the bride and groom embrace in a green meadow while a group of curious sheep wanders toward them in the background.

The Bride And Groom Embrace In A Green Meadow With Curious Sheep In The Countryside Near Frouzins, France

bride frouzins france countryside embrace sheep meadow wedding session group green countryside

At Hilton Taipei Sinban, a soft-focus bride gets her hair curled in the foreground, while a tired groom yawns in the background.

Hilton Taipei Sinban: Morning Wedding Preparations

Hilton Taipei yawns Hilton tired groom hair foreground soft focus

At a private villa in Symi, a busy scene unfolds as a woman changes her son's diaper in the foreground, while another dresses her baby in the background.

Symi Villa: Motherhood Wedding Day Moments

unfolds foreground son Symi Private Villa baby background

At Espaço Welucci – São Paulo, Brasil, the bride and groom share their first dance, positioned to the far right, with a row of guests filling the background.

Espaço Welucci: First Dance with Guests

guests background Brasil Espaço Welucci bride São Paulo guests background

The bride wipes away tears while her groom holds her bouquet and her brother also gets emotional in the background at Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia, California.

Bride Wipes Away Tears While Groom Holds Bouquet and Brother Gets Emotional at Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia California

bouquet bride California - Southern groom supports bride Alta Vista Country Club emotion feelings

At Reception Venue Den Dungen, white wine is poured into a glass, as a little girl in the background stares, her blue and red water bottle nearby.

Den Dungen Reception: Wine Pour and Curious Child

nearby glass blue and red water bottle Den Dungen white wine background Reception Venue Den Dungen

In Ancona, a unique wedding circus features a majestic giraffe in the background, adding whimsical charm to the celebration.

Whimsical Wedded Bliss: Giraffe Graces Unique Wedding Circus in Ancona

Circus background animal Ancona wedding celebration bw circus wedding

At Hotel Park in Hungary, a portrait captures the couple bathed in afternoon light, with fountains gracefully running in the background.

Couple's Portrait Amidst Flowing Fountains at Hotel Park, Hungary

scenic hotel park fountains Hungary Hotel Park pose Hungary background couple

At Conrad Bangkok, the bride's dress elegantly hangs on the doorway, framing a bustling getting ready scene in the background.

Dress Frames Lively Preparations at Conrad Bangkok Wedding

dress conrad bangkok scene bride hangs conrad bangkok preparation background Bangkok

At Hampton Court House, London, two deer unexpectedly appear in the background, adding a magical touch to the scene.

Deer Surprise Adds Charm at Hampton Court House, London

deer Hampton Court House scene London London marriage charm Hampton Court House photography

A passionate kiss between a couple in Venice at sunset, captured in a dramatic dip with an old-world domed building in the background.

Dramatic Dip and Kiss in Venice with Old-World Dome Backdrop

scenic domed building background elegant architecture Passionate old world

A couple with their dog walking along a street in Somerville, MA, USA, with the neighborhood convenience store in the background.

Neighborhood Stroll: Couple and Dog Walking Past Somerville Convenience Store, Capturing Local Charm

urban background casual convenience store friendly neighborhood Massachusetts

A bride and groom pose for a wedding photo, recreating a kiss from a mural. The couple stands close, mimicking the artwork in the background. Photo taken at The Bond.

Bride and Groom Recreate Mural Kiss for Wedding Photo at The Bond, Standing Close to Mimic Artwork in Background

artwork bride The Bond venue groom Pennsylvania York PA The Bond

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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.