Wedding Photos of Bride and groom

The following “Bride and groom” 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 “Bride and groom” 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.

Bride and groom in Trieste, Italy, gaze at a magical, Milky Way-like sparkler display.

Trieste Magic: Bride and Groom Under a Spectacular Milky Way-Inspired Sparkler Display

At The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, the bride and groom pose in front of a vibrant mural wall. This setting captures the lively artistic spirit of the city and their joyful celebration.

Couple Poses by Vibrant Mural at The Old Fruitmarket Wedding

artistic spirit Glasgow The Old Fruitmarket urban feel art wall mural wall bride and groom

China wedding in Kaifeng: Tiny bride and groom reflected in a bridesmaid's spectacles.

Kaifeng, China Wedding: Bride and Groom Reflected in Bridesmaid’s Spectacles for Unique, Artistic Portrait

sunglasses bridesmaid reflected in glasses bride and groom Kaifeng Wedding Details spectacles Kaifeng

Bride and groom joyfully ride in a car at the scenic Conde Resort in Forlì, Italy.

Bride and Groom Joyful, Face-to-Face, Framed in Car Window at Scenic Conde Resort, Forlì, Italy

bride and groom car ride Conde Resort joyful Forlì-Cesena Forlì wedding photography Forlì

At Château des Selves in Seillans, France, the bride and groom are seated and emotional, wiping tears as they are moved by a surprise slideshow.

Tears of Joy in Seillans: Bride and Groom Moved by Surprise Slideshow at Château des Selves.

Seillans emotional Seillans Wedding Photography wiping tears PACA slideshow moment Var

At La Centenaria 1779 in Barcelona, the bride and groom walk hand in hand in a park-like setting.

Barcelona love story unfolds: Bride and groom's gentle stroll at La Centenaria 1779.

Hand in hand park setting Barcelona bride and groom La Centenaria 1779 Barcelona Wedding Portrait

At the Four Seasons Bangkok wedding reception, a crying child is carried off near the bride and groom's head table.

Four Seasons Bangkok Wedding: Crying Child Carried Off Near Seated Bride and Groom

crying child Bangkok bride and groom head table Four Seasons Bangkok Bangkok wedding reception

Four Seasons Bangkok: Bride and groom prepare for their wedding with two artists each for hair and makeup. Candid getting-ready moments.

Bangkok Wedding: Bride and Groom Prepare with Hair and Makeup Artists - Getting-Ready Moments

Four Seasons Bangkok getting ready makeup artists bride and groom Bangkok Bangkok Documentary Wedding Photography

In Pickering, North Yorkshire, family and friends look on as the bride and groom enjoy their first dance under the tented reception.

Pickering Wedding: Family and Friends Watch Bride and Groom's First Dance Under Tented Reception

North Yorkshire Pickering tented reception Pickering Wedding Photography first dance bride and groom family and friends Pickering

At 1812 Farm in Bristol, Maine, the bride and groom embrace on the opposite side of a pond, their reflection visible in a small opening among the lily pads.

Bride and Groom's Reflective Embrace Amid Lily Pads at 1812 Farm, Bristol, Maine

lily pads reflection Bristol ME pond side portrait bride and groom Maine Bristol ME Wedding Portrait

In Cabo San Lucas, the bride and groom lie on the beach sand, kissing as horses walk past in the foreground.

Bride and Groom Kiss on Beach as Horses Pass By in Cabo San Lucas Wedding

Beach Portrait Cabo San Lucas Wedding Photography intimate portrait laying on beach kissing ocean backdrop Cabo San Lucas

In front of the Château de Pibrac, Haute-Garonne, the newlywed couple sits on the edge of a fountain, in a charming scene with the majestic château as their backdrop.

Newlywed Couple by Fountain at Château de Pibrac, Haute-Garonne

wedding photo couple sitting france wedding Haute-Garonne château backdrop wedding portrait elegant setting

A couple poses for a nighttime portrait at Shendish Manor. The photo captures their wedding day, with the historic building illuminated in the background.

Couple's Nighttime Portrait at Shendish Manor Wedding Day

historic venue illuminated backdrop wedding celebration couple portrait wedding night nighttime portrait elegant setting

The bride and groom walk side-by-side down the Notley Abbey driveway. A wedding photo captures the couple's progress after the ceremony.

Bride and Groom Stroll Down Notley Abbey Driveway Post-Ceremony

wedding progress wedding photo elegant setting groom Notley Abbey couple stroll Notley Abbey

A bride and groom are shown seated at Notley Abbey, drinking coffee. The photo captures a casual moment during their wedding day.

Bride and Groom Enjoy Coffee at Notley Abbey Wedding Venue

bride and groom Notley Abbey wedding photo Casual moment coffee Buckinghamshire Notley Abbey

A nighttime portrait at Froyle Park shows a couple standing together. The photo is taken outdoors, after dark, at the venue.

Nighttime Couple Portrait Outdoors at Froyle Park

venue photo couple standing couple illuminated venue Froyle Park evening shot outdoor wedding

At Schloss Gurhof, Austria, a bride and groom exchange vows. The photo captures the couple mid-ceremony, with guests observing the wedding ritual.

Bride and Groom Exchange Vows Outside at Schloss Gurhof, Austria Ceremony

wedding ritual elegant ceremony guests watching Schloss Gurhof bride and groom Schloss Gurhof Austria Austria Wedding

On Ten Mile Beach in Mendocino, CA, the bride and groom share an intimate pose, their heads gently touching as they stand on the rocks overlooking the Pacific Ocean, creating a solitary and romantic portrait following their beach wedding.

Bride and Groom in Intimate Pose on Rocks Overlooking Ocean for Romantic Portrait at Ten Mile Beach

Mendocino intimate CA California - Northern Ten Mile Beach solitary overlooking

In the park of a Budapest, Hungary hotel, the bride and groom share an intimate portrait session, embodying the sentiment of "Just me and you!" in their joyful expressions.

Bride and Groom Embrace 'Just Me and You' Sentiment in Budapest Hotel

Hungary Hotel happiness portrait session Hungary Budapest Wedding Portrait Budapest bride and groom

At a ceremony location in Budapest, Hungary, laughter fills the air as the groom playfully searches under the bride's dress for the garter to toss, adding a lighthearted moment to the celebration.

Laughter Abounds as Groom Playfully Searches for Garter at Budapest Ceremony, Sparking Joyful Celebration

Budapest wedding photography Hungary lighthearted moment bw image Budapest bride and groom search for garter

At a hotel in Nanping, Fujian, an outdoor black-and-white detail shot captures the bride and groom seated near an opening. Their hands reach toward each other, nearly in silhouette, creating an intimate and artistic depiction of their connection.

Bride and Groom's Hands Nearly Touch in Artistic Black-and-White at Nanping Hotel

artistic hands connection bw hands artistic hotel wedding connection connection fujian wedding

At Château de Pleneselve in France, the bride and groom stand still in a field, surrounded by their bridal party in motion, creating a dynamic scene with the couple sharply in focus against the blurred movement.

Bride and Groom Stand Still in Focus Amidst Motion Blur of Bridal Party at Château de Pleneselve, France

French wedding motion dynamic bridal movement Lot-et-Garonne Bon-Encontre Pleneselve field composition bridal party bride and groom

At No. 4 Hamilton Place in London, an off-camera flash expertly illuminates the bride and groom as they pose on the staircase, creating a striking portrait that highlights their elegance amidst the venue's sophisticated backdrop.

Off-Camera Flash Illuminates Bride and Groom in Striking Portrait on Staircase at No. 4 Hamilton Place, London

off camera flash bride and groom elegant London wedding elegance illuminated bridal couple No 4 Hamilton Place staircase

Bride and Groom's Silhouettes Create Striking Contrast in Elegant Portrait at Evergreen Resort Hotel, Taiwan

Jiaosi portrait art striking portrait Taiwan bw Evergreen Resort Hotel Jiaosi bride groom profile Taiwan contrast

In Vendée, France, a drone shot captures the bride and groom, both farmers, as they lay together on their field where they just got married, offering a unique and aerial perspective of their special day.

Drone Captures Aerial View of Farmer Couple Laying on Field Wedding Venue in Vendée, France

Vendée wedding field special day unique perspective drone captures couple aerial unique day view drone

In Peal de Becerro, Jaén, Spain, a drone shot beautifully captures the bride and groom riding in a horse-drawn carriage, offering a unique aerial view of their romantic journey to the venue.

Drone Captures Bride and Groom's Romantic Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride in Aerial View at Peal de Becerro, Spain

Jaén journey venue Spain Peal de Becerro Jaén horse drawn aerial view Peal de Becerro aerial

In Westfield, New Jersey, a heartfelt moment unfolds as the bride and groom hold hands during their intimate elopement.

Bride and Groom Hold Hands in Intimate Moment in Westfield, New Jersey

close knit ceremony bride and groom Westfield New Jersey couple hands intimate handholding heartfelt romantic

At Abbaye de Fontdouce in Saint Bris des Bois, the bride and groom sit on a small stone bridge in the gardens, enveloped by lush green foliage overhead and cascading down before them.

Bride and Groom Enveloped by Lush Foliage as They Sit on Stone Bridge at Abbaye de Fontdouce Gardens

garden romance serene escape Fontdouce scene idyllic French setting bride and groom tranquil garden harmonious nature

At Château Pape Clément in Pessac, the bride and groom pose on the staircase, surrounded by the warm tones of the old-world stair landing, creating an elegant and timeless scene.

Bride and Groom Pose Elegantly on Staircase, Embraced by Warm Tones at Château Pape Clément, Pessac

old world Pape Clément setting Pessac historic ambiance bride and groom graceful pose French château

In Aci Trezza, a close-up portrait captures the bride and groom sharing a kiss in front of the mythical Faraglioni rocks, with the sea and towering rocks creating a dramatic backdrop.

Close-Up Portrait of Bride and Groom Kissing with Dramatic Faraglioni Rocks Backdrop in Aci Trezza

Aci Trezza romance close up kiss Italy bride and groom sea rock backdrop Aci Trezza dramatic scene dramatic rock backdrop Faraglioni romantic portrait

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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.