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.

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

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 Schloss Herten grand German Bride North Rhine-Westphalia adjusting earrings

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

Grand Est wedding day behind the scenes Niderviller Wedding Photography Moselle reflections in the mirror Emotional moments

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

bride last touches San Diego wedding venue San Diego bride getting ready bride reads vows san diego wedding photographer reflection

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

bridal gown indoor Poitiers in a building Dress hanging framed in doorway Poitiers Artistic Image

A documentary wedding photographer captured this award-winning image at a reception venue in Cotes d'Armor, Brittany, France. It shows the bride getting ready with her witnesses and mother. The photographer specializes in wedding photography in Rennes.

Brittany Bride Prepares with Witnesses and Mother, Captured by Award-Winning Wedding Photographer in Rennes

bride getting ready mother Rennes Côtes-d'Armor reception venue wedding photography documentary wedding photographer

Icart, Guernsey - A stunning award-winning wedding day pic captures the bride getting ready at home, bathed in light that creates a beautiful silhouette against the window, with a helping hand.

Icart Elegance: Bridal Silhouette in Home's Luminescent Embrace

Guernsey Artistic Image bride getting ready Guernsey Helping hands window light silhouette Icart

The gold award-winning picture shows the bride and her flower girls getting ready to enter the ceremony at the Seven Generations Winery Hotel & SPA in Ruse, Bulgaria

Glimpses of Elegance: Capturing the Bride and Her Flower Girls at the Enchanting Seven Generations Winery Hotel & SPA in Ruse, Bulgaria

bride getting ready Ruse looking out window Seven Generations Winery Hotel & SPA window light Ruse wedding photography Bulgaria

A bride gets ready in the castle tower suite at Castello di Gargonza in Arezzo, Italy, and the photographer captures her reflection through a glass door, showcasing the castle walls

The Enchanting Bridal Reflection: A Captivating Moment at Castello di Gargonza

black and white reflection bride getting ready Castello di Gargonza Arezzo castle walls castle tower

A bride getting ready for her wedding day in Poitiers, Vienne. Her friends are helping her with the back of her gown in a black and white image.

The Bridal Bliss: Captivating Black and White Portrait of Poitiers' Elegant Bride Embracing the Help of Friends with her Enchanting Gown

Poitiers Wedding Photography bridal gown black and white helping bride Vienne friends helping bride getting ready

The bride tosses her bra across the room while getting ready in her wedding gown at the Royal Sonesta DC

Bridal Liberation: Capturing the Unforgettable Moments at Royal Sonesta DC

DC documentary wedding photography bride getting ready Royal Sonesta DC Washington DC tossing bra dressing

In Balkana Village, Bulgaria, a documentary wedding photographer captures the moment as the bride and other women get ready, having their makeup applied. The photo wins a WPJA Honor Award.

Bride's Makeup: a Captivating Moment in Balkana Village, Bulgaria Wins WPJA Honor Award

Bulgaria hairstyles makeup Balkana Village Bulgaria Documentary Wedding Photography bride getting ready

Bridal party getting ready at BrookLodge, Ireland: The room is awash in a delicate palette of pastel tones, creating an ethereal atmosphere as the bride prepares to walk down the aisle

Capturing Fairy Tale Moments: Behind-the-Scenes at BrookLodge's Romantic Wedding

getting ready bride getting ready pastel tones BrookLodge Ireland Documentary Wedding Photography delicate palette Ireland

During the Getting Ready portion of the wedding at Villa Grassina in Pelago, Florence, Tuscany, a young flower girl is captivated as she observes the bride having lipstick applied, setting the tone for the day ahead

Florence Fairytale: Captivating Flower Girl Seizes Glimpse of Wedding Bliss

flower girl Florence Documentary Wedding Photography Florence Tuscany lipstick Pelago bride getting ready

A documentary wedding photographer captured this black and white photo of a bride getting ready at a hotel in Beijing. The image shows the bride wearing a robe while two hair stylists work on her hair. In the background, other women preparing.

Beijing Bride's Morning Preparations

hotel in Beijing Beijing wedding photojournalism women preparing hair stylists black and white bride getting ready Beijing

In Carcassonne, France, a bride prepares for her big day with the assistance of others in a bustling room, her hair adorned with curlers as she gazes into a mirror

Capturing Elegance in Carcassonne: A Stunning Bride's Reflection Revealed

Carcassonne Documentary Wedding Photography Occitanie bride getting ready Carcassonne curlers bustling room mirror

A bride at Pellevoisin Montbron Castle, France, prepares for her big day with the help of her bridesmaids, donning a pair of white sneakers underneath her elegant white wedding gown

Bride's Unforgettable Jaunt: Sneakers Beneath the Regal Wedding Dress!

Charente bridesmaids Château de Montbron bride getting ready Charente Bride bride white sneakers Pellevoisin Montbron Castle

A child peacefully sleeps while the bride shares a joyful high-five with her daughter at the reception venue of Chateau de Peufeilhoux in France

Magical Moments Unveiled: Bride and Daughter Embrace at Chateau de Peufeilhoux

Allier bride getting ready Chateau de Peufeilhoux Vallon en Sully Allier Documentary Wedding Photography high five brides daughter

A pro documentary wedding photographer captured this WPJA Honor Award image at Domaine du Bastidon, Sillans-la-Cascade, Var, France. The photo shows the bride getting ready with her daughters.

Honor Award Image: Bride Preparing with Daughters at Domaine du Bastidon

France assisting bride Var Documentary Wedding Photography daughter Sillans la Cascade bride getting ready Var

A wedding photojournalist captured this WPJA Honor Award-winning photo of the bride getting ready with her two daughters and maid of honor in the forest location in Lille, Nord.

Bride's Preparations with Daughters and Maid of Honor in Lille, Nord

Lille maid of honor Lille Documentary Wedding Photography helping bride Nord bride getting ready daughters

At their wedding in Darmstadt, the playful couple created a memorable image with the bride getting ready with her hair, assisted by a humorous groom

The couple in Darmstadt wedding created a whimsical moment as the groom helped the bride with her hair

couple in Darmstadt bride getting ready wedding in Darmstadt Germany playful couple hair assisted whimsical moment

The bride-to-be was preparing for her big day at Tulle, while the flower girl got her hair done while perched atop a toy horse

The bride-to-be prepared for her wedding at Tulle, with the flower girl getting her hair styled on a toy horse

wedding planning Tulle Nouvelle-Aquitaine toy horse styling hair styling Bridal prep flower girl

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

beauty bride getting ready marriage ceremony bridesmaid happiness Colorado getting ready

A beautiful bride in a white gown gracefully slips on her elegant wedding shoes, ready to embark on a journey of love in Saint-André-lez-Lille, Nord, France

The Enchanting Footsteps of Love: A Bride's Journey in Saint-André-lez-Lille

bride getting ready Saint-André-lez-Lille Home Wedding Preparation shoe Detail Image Wedding Graceful Wedding graceful

Bride getting ready with makup help from two artists at the Hotel Marinela Sofia, Bulgaria

Two artists at a hotel are helping the bride get ready with her makeup to achieve a beautiful look

Hotel Marinela Sofia reflection bride getting ready Sofia Bulgaria makeup artistis window light

Wedding photo from Château La Hitte, France of the bride getting ready with some help holding a mirror

The bride was getting ready for the Château wedding with a helper holding a mirror for her

Chateau La Hitte Lot-et-Garonne mirror helping bride Lot et Garonne wedding photographer bride getting ready France

The bride was getting ready for her big day in a luxurious Zhejiang hotel, with a makeup artist by her side and a mirror with lights around the edges

The bride is getting ready in a luxurious hotel, with a makeup artist and a mirror surrounded by lights

Zhejiang Hotel China bride getting ready Lights Zhejiang makeup Zhejiang photographer

The bride's red nails stand out as she gets ready for her wedding in her own home in Vicenza, Veneto

The bride's vibrant manicure adds a touch of glamour to her preparations for the special day in the comfort of her own home

Brides hands bride getting ready Veneto Photographer red nails Vicenza Veneto

A team of makeup artists created a stunning look for the bride on her special day at a Mexico beach wedding

Cancun makeup image | the bride getting ready with her makeup team and dress

Cancun Photographer makeup Mexico cancun bride getting ready Yucatan Peninsula

A French wedding photographer captured a picturesque scene of a bride being assisted into her dress in a pastel-hued detail image

A Hauts-de-France reception venue getting ready dress detail picture of the back of brides dress

Hauts-de-France French photographer dress detail France 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.