Wedding Photos of Celebrating

The following “Celebrating” 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 “Celebrating” 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.

Laughter fills Black Canyon Inn in Estes Park, Colorado, as a perfectly timed joke during the toasts has guests and the happy couple celebrating with big smiles.

Well Timed Joke Brings Laughter And Smiles To Couple And Guests At Black Canyon Inn In Estes Park, Colorado

At Domaine du Beyssac in Cintegabelle, witnesses form a vibrant circle around the newlyweds, filling the air with colorful smoke from grenades, while everyone cheers and celebrates under the bright haute-Garonne sky.

Colorful Smoke Celebration Under the Bright Haute-Garonne Sky at Domaine du Beyssac

Cintegabelle Wedding Photography Cintegabelle circling couple smoke grenades wedding venue Domaine du Beyssac Haute-Garonne

A dog belonging to the bride sits among the bridesmaids’ bouquets at Gut Ahe / Friggen in Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, documenting the inclusion of a pet in the festivities.

Bride’s Dog Sits Among Bouquets at Gut Ahe in Sauerland Germany Celebrating Pet Inclusion

pet wedding pets inclusion session dog North Rhine-Westphalia bridesmaids inclusion

Bride and groom exiting outdoors in Perez, Santa Fe, as petals are tossed in the air over them, symbolizing love and celebration.

Petals Tossed Over Bride And Groom Exiting Outdoors In Perez Santa Fe

celebrating Perez Outdoor Ceremony Argentina thrown petals Perez Santa Fe-AR exiting ceremony

Blanchardville, Wisconsin, witnesses a humorous grand march as some wedding party members dress up as beer-drinking cows, celebrating the groom’s farming background.

Wedding Party Members Dress As Cows During A Humorous Grand March In Blanchardville Wisconsin

March beer farming celebrating grand march cows beer drinking wedding blanchardville wisconsin

At a wedding reception in Moselle, a lively group of six guests—men and women, mostly in blue or white outfits—sing joyfully into a microphone, raising their arms and celebrating.

Moselle Wedding Reception: Six Guests Sing Joyfully Into Microphone, Arms Raised

microphone lively group Moselle celebrating Moselle Wedding Moment

Inside Nottingham Council House, a couple shares a warm embrace during their ceremony with guests clapping, smiling, and celebrating the happy occasion.

A Couple Shares A Warm Embrace During Their Wedding Ceremony Inside Nottingham Council House In Nottinghamshire

guests Happy couple couple ceremony warm embrace ceremony celebrating embrace

At Nybynäs Gård in Västerås, Sweden, relief and excitement shine on the newlyweds’ faces just moments after their wedding ceremony concludes.

Nybynäs Gård, Västerås Wedding: Newlyweds Show Relief And Excitement After Ceremony

Nybynäs Gård excitement Sweden Västerås celebrating Västerås Wedding Moment post ceremony moment

Bride and groom make their grand entrance at La Arbolada venue in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.

Argentina Grand Entrance: Bride and Groom's Rosario La Arbolada Celebration

La Arbolada Rosario celebrating Argentina Rosario Wedding Moment grand entrace Santa Fe-AR

At the Sunset Restaurant in Symi, Greece, a WPJA wedding photographer captures a joyous moment. All wedding guests raise their glasses in a toast, enthusiastically celebrating and greeting the newly married couple.

Raising a Toast to Love at Sunset in Symi, Greece

toasting Sunset Restaurant Raising glasses Symi Greece Symi Wedding Moment celebrating

Groom and friends celebrating at a wedding reception at Villa Bodo, Italy.

Wedding Bliss in Villa Bodo: A Groom and His Friends Celebrate in Italy

Villa Bodo groom and friends Italian wedding image spraying champagne Italy celebrating

An artistic wedding portrait capturing a joyous "Cin Cin" (cheers) moment at Ca' Borghese, Ameglia, La Spezia, celebrating the newlyweds.

Artistic Wedding Portrait: Joyous "Cin Cin" (Cheers) Moment Celebrating Newlyweds at Ca' Borghese, Italy

La Spezia Ameglia celebrating Ca Borghese cheers Ameglia Wedding Portrait Cin Cin

In São Paulo, a low-angle, black and white detail shot captures a massive champagne toast, celebrating the special day.

São Paulo: Massive Champagne Toast in Black and White

massive black and white São Paulo low angle Detail Shot celebrating Sao Paulo wedding photography

Groom arrives at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Istanbul, in a classical car during vibrant Baraat procession, guests joyfully celebrating.

Groom Arrives in Classic Car for Vibrant Baraat at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Istanbul Celebration

Crowne Plaza Hotel Istanbul wedding photography groom arrival classical car celebrating Istanbul Baraat procession

At Hotel HO Jaén, Spain, the bride and groom share their joyful wedding dance, surrounded by celebrating guests.

Bride and Groom Share Joyful Wedding Dance at Hotel HO Jaén, Surrounded by Celebrating Guests

joyful dance Hotel HO Jaen Spain bride and groom Jaén celebrating groom lifting bride

At Clayfield Park in Pocklington, England, bride and groom arrive at their reception, covered in confetti, smoke billowing behind.

Bride and Groom's Grand Arrival with Smoke Effects at Clayfield Park Reception

Pocklington billowing smoke East Yorkshire Clayfield Park Pocklington Documentary Wedding Photography couple arrival celebrating

In front of Puycornet town hall, the newlyweds joyfully blow soap bubbles together, celebrating after their wedding ceremony.

Newlyweds Celebrate with Bubbles at Puycornet Town Hall Ceremony

blowing bubbles Puycornet Town Hall Puycornet Documentary Wedding Photography celebrating Tarn-et-Garonne Occitanie

At Castle Durrow drinks reception, the couple cuts their wedding cake while guests cheer joyfully from the background, celebrating together.

Joyful Cheers as Couple Cuts Wedding Cake at Castle Durrow Drinks Reception

Leinster Documentary Wedding Photography celebrating Castle Durrow Ireland Leinster cutting cake guests cheer

The bride and groom joyfully celebrate their marriage at Bastide des Jaillans, France, with exploding confetti cannons.

Bride and Groom Celebrate with Confetti at Bastide des Jaillans

exploding confetti celebrating Bastide des Jaillans confetti cannons Jaillans Wedding Photography tented reception Drôme

A bride joyfully smashes a globe piñata in Clerkenwell, London, celebrating her wedding.

Joy Unleashed: Bride Smashes Globe Piñata in Jubilant Celebration in Clerkenwell

night party Clerkenwell smashing piñata London London wedding photography celebrating

Montluçon: Joyful newlyweds captured mid-air on a trampoline, celebrating their wedding day.

Montluçon Newlyweds Celebrate Wedding Day Mid-Air on Trampoline, Low Angle Shot Up Through Screen

Allier bottom to top view jumping Montluçon Wedding Photography trampoline mid air celebrating

At a farm in Roldan, Santa Fe, the bride and groom excitedly sit on friends' shoulders in the DJ booth, celebrating.

Roldan Farm Festivity: Bride and Groom Celebrate atop Friends in DJ Booth Joy

sitting on shoulders Roldan bride and groom Roldan Wedding Photography Argentina celebrating farm wedding

In Oaxaca, Mexico, a traditional wedding calenda procession takes place on the streets at night, celebrating with music and dance.

Traditional Calenda Procession Fills Night Streets with Joy at Oaxaca, Mexico Wedding

calendar procession music and dance Oaxaca Oaxaca wedding photography celebrating Night Oaxaca Streets

In Jodhpur, India, a festive party atmosphere fills the air as friends gather around the bride, surrounded by vibrant colors and joyful laughter, celebrating her special day with lively energy and cultural richness.

Jodhpur Bride Celebrated With Vibrant Colors, Joyful Friends

Jodhpur bride festive india bride friends special day party celebrating

The pure happiness of a newlywed couple celebrating under a canopy of trees at Villa Patrizia in Magnago, Italy. Their big smiles say it all.

Newlyweds Radiate Happiness Under Villa Patrizia's Trees

celebrating wedding venue romantic setting Emotional moment big smiles canopy wedding photography

A happy couple dances together in front of the stunning Chamonix mountains, celebrating their love and upcoming wedding. The majestic backdrop adds to the romantic and joyful atmosphere of their pre-wedding engagement photo.

Mountain Romance: Smiling Couple Dances in Chamonix for Pre-Wedding Engagement Photo

Chamonix Engagement Image Haute-Savoie Chamonix celebrating dancing mountains steeple

Amidst the grandeur of a London wedding reception, guests celebrate in style under a canopy of drapes creating a beautiful black and white party scene.

A Fancy London Wedding: Guests Celebrate Under Elegant Canopy of Drapes

chic canopy celebration grand London wedding reception celebrating guests

In the Montana mountains, cowboys kick back and relax at 320 Ranch, celebrating in a picturesque rustic wedding venue.

Kickin' Back Cowboy Style: Rustic Wedding at 320 Ranch in Montana

celebrating Kickin Back Rustic Wedding 320 Ranch cowboys Cowboy style Montana

Bride and groom celebrating their wedding with guests in AFAI, Canoas Rio Grande do Sul.

Bride and Groom Celebrate Wedding with Guests at AFAI, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul

Canoas AFAI Rio Grande do Sul Canoas Wedding Photography bride and groom guests celebrating

A guest dancing in a bright jacket at a Brooklyn Botanic Garden, NY wedding - celebrating with joyful friends and family.

Guest in Bright Jacket Dances at Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding Celebration

dancing New York City - Metro Brooklyn Family and Friends colorful Brooklyn Wedding Photography joyful celebrating

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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.