Wedding Photos of Bridal preparation

The following “Bridal preparation” 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 “Bridal preparation” 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 The Naka Phuket in Thailand, the bride becomes emotional and can't hold back her tears as she practices her wedding vows during bridal preparation, highlighting the significance and heartfelt nature of the upcoming ceremony.

Bride's Tears Flow at Naka Phuket as Vows Bring Emotion

Toronto home wedding shot: Capturing the bride's reflection in a wall-hung mirror as she prepares for the ceremony.

Reflective Elegance: Bride's Mirror Moment Before Toronto Home Wedding Ceremony

bride reflection Canada elegant scene bridal preparation Wall Hung Mirror Reflective Elegance shot

This wedding photo captures the bride getting ready with the help of four women in the bay window room at Fanhams Hall.

Women Assist Bride in Bay Window Room at Fanhams Hall

getting ready English Venue intimate moment Four Women special occasion bride Supportive friends

A stunning bride descends the stairs at her home in Siena, Tuscany, as she gets ready for her wedding day.

Stunning Bride Gracefully Descends Stairs in Siena, Tuscany, Ready for Wedding Day

Siena Tuscany stairway elegance stairs graceful bridal descent pre wedding anticipation home gracefully

The wedding photo of a bride carefully adjusting her flower crown in a mirror at the Vermont Aparthotel in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK has been recognized with a WPJA Spotlight award.

Reflections of Elegance: A Bride's Touch at Vermont Aparthotel

mirror flower crown delicate touch reflections of elegance United Kingdom wedding Vermont Aparthotel

At the B&B Villa Jamele in Orsara di Puglia, the bride embraces her wedding gown before putting it on, as captured in an award-winning image.

Embrace of Elegance: A Bridal Moment at Villa Jamele

prewedding bride serene Elegance BB Villa Jamele bridal preparation B&B Villa Jamele

A bride gracefully stepping into her gown by the window at the Cabo San Lucas venue is captured in stunning black and white, earning a WPJA Spotlight award for its artistic and dramatic depiction of the getting ready scene.

Graceful Beginnings: Bridal Elegance in Cabo San Lucas

Dramatic gown bridal preparation Cabo San Lucas Cabo San Lucas wedding stepping picturesque

Bride showcasing her playful side as her bra soars through the air while she elegantly steps into her gown at a Cabo San Lucas wedding venue.

Whimsical Elegance: A Playful Prelude in Cabo San Lucas

unique moment Cabo San Lucas wedding fun bra wedding venue getting dressed bridal preparation

This WPJA Spotlight award-winning wedding image captures a stunning golden hour scene in Cabo San Lucas as the bride receives a makeup touch-up at the venue, with the sun setting in the background.

Golden Glamour: Sunset Preparations in Cabo San Lucas

sun setting beautiful light WPJA Spotlight wedding image makeup touch up picturesque Cabo San Lucas bride

In this award-winning wedding image from the WPJA Spotlight, captured in Lachapelle Bangkok, we see the groom preparing for the big day as the bride's reflection is captured in a small table mirror while she is getting her makeup done.

Groom Preparing, Bride's Reflection in Mirror at Lachapelle Bangkok Wedding

Lachapelle Bangkok elegant Groom getting ready detailed thoughtful bride bridal preparation

Beautiful bride preparing for her big day - a reflection of her anticipation caught in the mirror behind her.

Bride's Reflection Reflects Anticipation for Big Day

mirror Hesse bridal preparation Hesse photography wedding day bride Germany

Bride getting ready with a delicate touch to her eyelashes during her wedding day in Grenoble, France.

Grenoble Wedding Bride Prep with Delicate Eyelash Touch in France

bride getting ready eyelashes elegant wedding black and white bridal preparation Bridal Makeup Saint Jean de Chepy photography

A bride getting ready for her big day, applying makeup and getting her hair styled in a behind the scenes shot, captured at a private home in London, UK.

Behind the Scenes: Bride Prep for Wedding Day in Private London Home

big day hair styled United Kingdom Private home bridal preparation makeup bride

A candid behind-the-scenes shot from a wedding at a Vosges, France venue, showing the bride getting her makeup done in a mirror.

Bride's Beauty Prep: Vosges Venue Reflections Capture Candid Makeup Moment Before France Wedding

mirror bridal preparation makeup Vosges wedding photography getting ready bride Bridal beauty

In the lovely town of Gonzaga in Mantua, Italy, at the bride's home, a wedding photo captures the bride's shoes and her hands on her legs during her makeup session.

GORGEOUS GONZAGA: Bride's Preparations Reveal Beauty from Feet to Fingertips

Gonzaga black and white photography wedding in Mantua beauty feet creative wedding shots bridal preparation

At an Airbnb in York, England, the bridesmaids are seen adjusting the bride's dress and veil in preparation for her departure to the wedding ceremony

The bride and her bridesmaids prepared in an Airbnb in York, England

York Airbnb veil adjusting bride's dress bridesmaids prepared English Airbnb wedding preparation United Kingdom

At Centre-Val de Loire, the reception venue for their wedding, the bride and her family prepared under window lighting with her mom, sister and niece

The bride and her family prepared for their wedding at Centre-Val de Loire, illuminated by windows

niece window lighting reception venue bridal preparation bride family sister Family wedding

At Villette Castle in Menestreau en Villette, this wedding photograph captures the special moment of the bride and her family getting ready together

The bride and family prepped at Villette Castle, Menestreau en Villette

bride and family Loiret wedding prepping bride castle wedding Loiret Castle bridal preparation bride preparation

At a home in Florissant, Colorado, a beautiful image of the bride getting ready for her wedding day was captured while one of her bridesmaids shed tears of joy upon seeing her dressed for the ceremony

A picture of the bride in Florissant, Colorado preparing for her wedding brought tears of joy from a bridesmaid

Colorado bridesmaid beauty tears of joy bride getting ready happiness Florissant

The bride's maid of honor was helping her prepare for the big day as she sat, getting ready for the Fox Hotel Wedding Hall in Kutno, Poland

The bride's maid of honor lovingly assisted her as she nervously sat, ready to embark on her special day

maid of honor Poland Fox Hotel Lodz bride bridal preparation Lodz Lodz Photographer

In Ruse, Bulgaria, a talented photographer captured the moment of a bride putting on her dress during her bridal preparation for her special day

From a low camera angle, the moment of a bride slipping into her dress amidst her bridal preparation is captured in this beautiful wedding picture

ruse photographer putting on dress bridal preparation Bulgaria Ruse

Saint Tropez wedding photography contest award winning candid moment in French Riviera during the bridal preparation

bridal preparation Saint Tropez wedding photography Saint-Tropez Saint Tropez bride French Riviera French Riviera weddings

Vosges Grand Est artistic wedding photo of Brides make up at home

An artistic wedding photo of the backlit bride doing and getting her makeup and hair at home, gazing into the mirror

wedding makeup Wedding hair Wedding Prep bridal session Vosges Vosges Grand Est wedding France Bride beauty

wedding detail picture of the Brides shoes light by table lamp in hotel while getting ready

Providence Providence hotel getting ready Providence wedding bridal accessories bridal preparation bridal shoes

Villa Necchi alla Portalupa, Gambolò, Pavia fine art wedding portrait image of the bride at the window checking the weather before leaving her room

wedding portrait image of the bride at the window checking the weather before leaving her room

Pavia Gambolo wedding portrait photography bridal preparation Villa Necchi alla Portalupa Pavia weddings checking the weather

The beautiful wedding dress of the bride-to-be hung from the ceiling of her home in Florence, Il Rinuccino

The bride-to-be's wedding dress hung from the ceiling of her home

hanging dress Florence bridal preparation brides home wedding details image Florence wedding photography

Grand Hotel Sofia wedding venue photo | A wedding detail during the bride's getting ready

An artistic composition and lighting highlighted the details of the bride getting ready at her hotel wedding venue

Grand Hotel Sofia details bride bridal details Grand Hotel Sofia Grand Hotel Sofia wedding venue photo

A black and white image of a pet dog being present while the bride was receiving a pedicure was taken at Haute Garonne on the wedding day

A photo of a bride getting a pedicure with her pet dog nearby was taken at Haute Garonne

pets posh salon Haute Garonne bw pet dog black and white bridal preparation

duesudue wedding | tuscany wedding photography | getting ready

wedding photography of the bride getting ready

bride getting ready pre-wedding preparation Tuscany wedding photography Tuscany duetsdue wedding wedding photos bridal preparation

wedding photo of bride getting ready near window

getting ready wedding photography France bride window window wedding bride near window france wedding

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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.