Wedding Photos of Bride getting ready

The following “Bride getting ready” 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 getting ready” 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 Prepares for Special Day at Beautiful Hotel in Spain: Light Through Window Highlights Artist Carefully Applying Eye Makeup to Bride's Profile

A beautiful bride getting ready for her wedding at Palacete de Cázulas, with a close-up shot capturing her delicate hand and the final touch of her veil.

Beautiful Bride Prepares for Wedding at Palacete de Cázulas: Close-Up Captures Delicate Hand Adjusting Final Touch of Veil

Granada Spain Granada Wedding Photography final touches bride getting ready placing veil Palacete de Cázulas

Bride getting ready for her day at the Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa. Captured in a simple black and white photo, framed perfectly in a doorway.

Bride Preparing for Her Wedding Day at Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa: Simple Black and White Photo Perfectly Framed in Doorway

bride getting ready Cadiz wedding photography Cadiz framed in doorway Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa Spain bw image

In Austin, Texas, the brother of the bride keeps an eye on the littlest wedding guest as the bride gets her makeup done.

A Glimpse of Family Bonds During a Southern Wedding Beauty Prep

Texas - Central make up application Austin Wedding Photography brother of bride bride getting ready Austin

In her chamber at Domaine du Vautrait, Cabanac-et-Villagrins, Gironde, the bride is captured as she gets her hair styled on her wedding day.

A Moment to Remember: Bride Getting Hair Styled at Domaine du Vautrait, Cabanac-et-Villagrins Wedding

bride getting ready hair styling Domaine du Vautrait Gironde Gironde Wedding Photography Cabanac et Villagrins

The bride getting ready at her home, helped by her bridesmaids and mother in Serreslous-et-Arribans, Landes.

Bride, Bridesmaids, and Mother come together in Landes for a Picture Perfect Morning in Serreslous-et-Arribans

Serreslous et Arribans mother of bride bride and bridesmaid Landes bride getting ready Landes Wedding Photography

A beautiful bride getting ready for her big day in her bathroom in Segré, France. The black and white photo captures the peaceful and intimate moment as she applies her makeup.

Monochrome Photo Showcases Bride's Wedding Day Beauty Ritual in Segré

France Segré photography intimate moment Segré weddings Segré big day peaceful

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

delicate Bridal Makeup eyelashes wedding day bridal preparation Saint Jean de Chepy photography Feminine Touch

Located in the Pays Basque region of France, this BW wedding photograph captures the beautiful bride getting her make up done alongside her mother in the comfort of their own home.

French Wedding Image Captures Beauty and Bond Between Mother and Daughter

Basque Country Wedding Photography mother makeup Basque Country black and white France mother of bride Bridal Makeup

At the bride's home in Rodengo Saiano (Bs) the groom's sister offers a helping hand as the bride gets dressed for her wedding day.

Bride's Home in Rodengo Saiano (Bs): Groom's Sister Helps Bride Get Ready for Wedding Day

helping hand grooms sister Rodengo Saiano brides home bride getting ready Brescia Brescia wedding photography

In Herault, the bride getting ready for her big day, surrounded by the love and hands of her mother and aunt.

HERAULT | Bride Getting Ready for Her Big Day Surrounded by Loving Hands

love Herault Hérault photographer hands Herault bride Herault wedding venue aunt

A beautiful black and white photo captures the bride getting ready at her home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK, with her bridesmaids eagerly watching as she sits in a chair getting her hair done.

Bride Prepares in Doncaster with Bridesmaids by Her Side: Black and White Wedding Photo

watching bride getting ready brides home Doncaster hairstyling South Yorkshire black and white

The bride getting ready at her parents' home, with her mom helping fix a last-minute issue on her wedding dress using scissors. Mom's assistance makes for a memorable and heartwarming moment captured by the photographer.

Behind the Scenes: A Mother's Touch on Her Daughter's Wedding Dress Captured by Photographer

Utrecht bride getting ready last minute fix parents home Utrecht wedding photography scissors

In this wedding photo, we see the beautiful bride getting ready for her big day at her home in Viterbo, Lazio. Through the reflection of a mirror, she smiles joyously at someone off camera, surrounded by her hairdressers.

Behind the Scenes: A Bride's Pre-Wedding Ritual in Viterbo, Italy

Viterbo hair dressers mirror reflection Lazio Viterbo wedding photography at home bride getting ready

Bride getting dressed with the help of her witness while sharing a lighthearted moment at her wedding in Neuville, Vienne, France.

Behind the Scenes: Bride Shares Laughs with Witness in French Wedding Preparation

bride getting ready laughing Neuville Vienne Wedding Photography Vienne lighthearted moment

Bride getting ready for her special day at Verdun, France. She stands on a chair while a woman adjusts her dress hemline. The prelude to a wedding celebration.

Candid Captures: A Woman's Touch before the 'I Dos' in Verdun, France

fixing hemline standing on chair Meuse adjusting dress Verdun bride getting ready Verdun Wedding Photography

Bride at Château Saint Denis, France, takes a break from getting ready while her nails dry. Captured by an award-winning WPJA wedding photographer.

Château Saint Denis Bride Takes Break for Nails in Award-Winning Wedding Photo

bride getting ready feet drying nails Saint Denis Wedding Photography France Château Saint Denis

At the beautiful Chateau de Raysse in Cazoules, Dordogne, France, the guests are gathered around as the bride gets ready for her big day. The anticipation and excitement are palpable as the venue sets the scene for the intimate wedding.

Intimate Wedding at Chateau de Raysse in France Brings Guests Together for Memorable Day

Cazoules guests Dordogne Chateau de Raysse bride getting ready Dordogne wedding photography

The bride gets ready in the elegant Hotel Sportalm Gipfelglück in Lüdenscheid, Sauerland, NRW, Germany. A bridesmaid helps her put on her jewellery by holding an oval mirror.

Bride Prepares at Luxurious Lüdenscheid Hotel for Wedding in Sauerland, Germany

oval mirror Ludenscheid Wedding Photography Sauerland bridesmaid helping bride getting ready mirror reflection North Rhine-Westphalia

A bride at Huis te eerbeek is captured as she gets ready for her wedding, with an outside view of another person applying her make up in the preparation room.

Behind the Scenes: Bride's Wedding Day Preparation at Huis te Eerbeek

bridal preparations Make up session Arnhem Gelderland shot through window Huis te Eerbeek Arnhem wedding photography

The photographer captured a beautiful moment at Domaine le Milagro in Ardèche, France. Emotional bride getting ready with a stylist working on her hair.

Ethereal Bride Embracing Transformation at Domaine le Milagro, Ardèche, France

Domaine le Milagro Ardeche wedding photography hairstyling bride getting ready Ardeche Ardeche bride

Wedding moment captured at Auberge Ostape Hotel in Pays Basque, France. Bride preparing herself alone, fixing her shoe while sitting on the bed.

Picture Perfect Wedding: Bride Prepares at Auberge Ostape Hotel in Beautiful Pays Basque

hotel room Auberge Ostape Hotel fixing shoe France sitting on bed bride getting ready Basque Country

Captured moment at a Basque Country wedding where the bride cuts the label off her dress. Intimate scene captured by the photographer.

Basque Bride's Bold Move: Cutting Off Wedding Dress Label in Intimate Wedding Moment!

cutting label Basque Country mirror reflection intimate scene getting dressed Basque Country Wedding Photography bride getting ready

Captured at a wedding in Marrakesh, this photo showcases a bride getting ready with the help of elderly women, adorning her with a large traditional headdress.

Bride in Marrakesh: Traditional Headdress Unveiled by Elderly Women in Stunning Pre-Wedding Scene

Marrakesh Bride Traditional Morocco Morocco Bride bride getting ready Marrakesh Wedding Photography headdress

Professional wedding photo taken at Mountain Top Inn and Resort in Chittenden, Vermont. The bride's pup observes as she finishes getting ready.

Bride's Furry Helper: Stunning Mountain Top Wedding Photo Captured in Chittenden, Vermont

Vermont bride getting ready dog Chittenden Chittenden Wedding Photography Mountain Top Inn and Resort bridal dress

A beautiful detail shot was captured on the wedding day as the bride descends a staircase at her home venue in Turin, Piedmont, Italy, showcasing a delicate and intimate scene.

The Bride's Graceful Descent: A Stunning Detail at a Turin Home Venue in Italy

bride getting ready intimate stairs delicate steps stunning scene

A bride getting ready in front of a grand mirror at Schloss Herten, Germany, on her wedding day, delicately adjusting her earrings.

Bride Gazing at Grand Mirror: Schloss Herten Wedding Day Earring Adjustment in Germany

earring mirrors Schloss Herten Germany gazing earrings Germany wedding day

A candid shot taken during wedding preparations in Niderviller, France, showing the bride getting ready with the reflections of her mother and sister visible in the mirror. A captivating insight into the emotional moments behind the scenes.

Emotional Wedding Preparations: Bride, Mother, Sister - Reflections in Niderviller, France Captured Candidly

behind the scenes Niderviller Wedding Photography Grand Est wedding day mother and sister wedding preparations Niderviller

A bride reads her vows while getting ready at Britt Scripps Manor in San Diego, Southern California, with her hairstylist seen in the reflection of oval mirrors on the table.

Bride's Last Touches: Reflecting on Vows at a San Diego Wedding Venue

California - Southern San Diego wedding venue Southern California weddings bride getting ready bride last touches Britt Scripps Manor san diego wedding photographer

In the city of Poitiers, France, the elegant wedding gown patiently awaits the bride.

Exquisite Elegance: Behind the Scenes of a Glamorous Wedding in Poitiers

brides dress indoor bridal gown Artful Poitiers framed in doorway bride getting ready

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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.