Wedding Photos of Ceremony

The following “Ceremony” 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 “Ceremony” 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.

Award-winning photo captures the joy of a bride and her father as they walk down the aisle at St. Therese R C Church in Munhall, PA.

Joyful Journey: A Bride and Father's Walk at St. Therese R C Church

At the venue, the Marble House Project in Dorset VT, the happy couple is lifted off their feet for the traditional Hora dance captured by a skilled WPJA wedding photojournalist.

Happy Couple Lifted During Hora Dance at Marble House Project

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At Smedmore House, Dorset, the bride and her dad share a heartfelt embrace, savoring a tender moment together before she departs for the much-anticipated ceremony.

Bride and Her Dad Share Heartfelt Embrace Before Ceremony at Smedmore House, Dorset

embrace heartfelt Smedmore House ceremony Smedmore House Dorset departure Dad

Before the ceremony unfolds in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a daughter is captivated, her face lighting up with wonder upon seeing her mother beautifully dressed for the wedding.

Daughter Looks on with Wonder as Mother Dresses for Wedding in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

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Witnessing her parents' love, the bride's daughter proudly delivers the wedding rings at the ceremony in Trélazé, France.

Proud Daughter Delivers Rings for Parents' Love: A Wedding in Trélazé, France

Maine-et-Loire love happiness french wedding exchange kid rings

The bride's best friend tries to keep the peace as one mischievous young ring bearer causes a stir during the traditional ceremony at Church of Roiffé, France.

Trouble at the Wedding: A Friend's Attempt to Silence a Boy at a Church in France

ring bearer kid trouble marriage France Bride ceremony wedding

A curious child watches as the bride and her bridesmaids act differently than usual, puzzled by the events unfolding at the beautiful Giardini Naxos in Sicily.

Intrigued Kid Observes Bride & Bridesmaids at Sicilian Venue

uncommon unusual watcher child Giardini Naxos wedding spectator

A joyous moment captured at the Friedhofskirche in Wuppertal, Germany, as a newlywed couple shares a laugh during their ceremony.

Newlywed Couple Shares Laugh During Ceremony at Friedhofskirche, Wuppertal, Germany

ceremony laughing church setting Friedhofskirche Wuppertal North Rhine-Westphalia Friedhofskirche Wedding Photography

Dog attends wedding at Carate Brianza Town Hall, Carate Brianza (MB).

Dog joyfully attends wedding at Carate Brianza Town Hall celebration.

low angle ceremony Carate Brianza Town Hall bw image Carate Brianza Wedding Photography dog Monza and Brianza

Surrounded by the beauty of Denver, Colorado, the bride happily embraces her groom after sharing their personal vows at their hotel.

Colorado Bride Happily Embraces Groom | Personal Vows at Denver Hotel

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As the sun shone down on the beautiful outdoor ceremony, the bride couldn't hold back her tears at the altar in Virginia.

Virginia Vows: A Beautiful Outdoor Ceremony Makes the Bride Shed Happy Tears

Virginia Vows outdoors Virginia vows sunlit altar tears beautiful

The joyful couple exchange rings at the altar, surrounded by loved ones, in a church in San Quirico, Monferrato.

Monferrato Church Ceremony | Happy Couple Exchange Rings Surrounded by Family in San Quirico

family exchange rings rings altar happy family Monferrato San Quirico

The newlywed couple and their loved ones show their joy and happiness through their intertwined hands and gleaming smiles, captured after their ceremony in Zuid Holland, Netherlands.

Newlyweds and Family Shake Hands and Smile in Zuid Holland, Netherlands | Joyful Post-Wedding Photo

Newlywed couple Zuid Holland post-wedding intertwined hands gleaming smiles ceremony Netherlands

At Valdidentro Church in Italy, an emotional moment unfolds as the groom buries his face in a handkerchief during the ceremony, while the bride looks on from beside him, sharing in the heartfelt experience.

Groom Buries Face in Handkerchief During Emotional Ceremony at Valdidentro Church in Italy, as Bride Looks On, Sharing Heartfelt Moment

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In Nanning, Guangxi, a young boy scratches his head in boredom as he stands between the man with the microphone and the bride and groom during the ceremony.

Young Boy Scratches Head in Boredom as He Stands Between Speaker and Bride and Groom During Ceremony in Nanning, Guangxi

boredom Guangxi scratching head Nanning Guangxi wedding photography microphone ceremony

Istanbul Çırağan Kempinsky - Bride's nephew showing signs of boredom during the ceremony.

A Candid Look at a Nephew's Restless Behavior During Istanbul's Çırağan Kempinsky Wedding

İstanbul Çırağan Kempinsky nephew Istanbul Istanbul wedding photography boredom ceremony

Bosphorus Palace Hotel hosted a stunning Persian wedding, where the couple participated in the traditional custom of feeding each other honey, symbolizing their commitment to a sweet life together.

A Sweet Symbol of Love: Honey Feeding at Bosphorus Palace Hotel's Persian Wedding

ceremony feeding honey Persian Wedding Bosphorus Palace Hotel Istanbul Wedding Ceremony Istanbul traditional custom

Chartreuse de Pomier was the backdrop for a heartfelt ceremony as the bride's parents shed tears.

A Stunning Setting for a Tear-Jerking Wedding Ceremony

ceremony parents shedding tears heartfelt Haute-Savoie tears Chartreuse de Pomier

Through a mass of guests, a couple stands on their wedding day at the Malcom hotel in Canmore, the brilliant blue sky and fluffy white clouds serving as the perfect backdrop.

Amidst Crowds, Couple Shares Intimate Moment at Malcom Hotel Wedding

white clouds Malcom Hotel Alberta Jewish ceremony Canmore wedding photography ceremony Canmore

An intimate detail of the traditional Indian wedding ceremony at The Orangery At Settrington, captured in East Yorkshire, England.

Capturing the Beauty and Joy of a Traditional Indian Wedding at The Orangery At Settrington

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A guest snaps a photo on their phone during the ceremony at Cottingham Church in East Yorkshire, England.

Intimate Ceremony at Cottingham Church in East Yorkshire - Guest's Phone Snap

church East Yorkshire weddings ceremony photo ceremony Cottingham Church Cottingham Church marriage picture

Intimate Ceremony at Cottingham Church in East Yorkshire - Guest's Phone Snap

photo ceremony intimate East Yorkshire Guests Phone Cottingham Church East Yorkshire weddings

In Nordrhein-Westfalen, the ring handover for bride and groom's wishes - a heartwarming gesture captured during a free wedding ceremony.

The Emotional Ring Handover in Nordrhein-Westfalen

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At the front of St John the Baptist church in Clayton, West Sussex, England, the bride and groom jointly light a ceremonial candle in this detailed wedding day photo.

CLAYTON | Beautiful wedding ceremony detail shot of candle lighting at St. John the Baptist Church

West Sussex Clayton UK lighting photo Clayton UK couple picture Clayton UK photographers ceremonial

Newlyweds embrace on a ceremony wooden bench, captured from an aerial angle at Mushang restaurant in Xi'an."

XI'AN WEDDING PIC | Newlyweds Embrace on Ceremony Bench at Mushang Restaurant

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A loving mother reminds her daughter to be still and attentive during the ceremony at the Church of Réaumont in Isère, France.

French Matrimonial Memories: A Mother's Guidance at a Church Wedding in Isère

mother Isere Documentary Wedding Photography still mother and daughter daughter Isère France marriage wedding

The mother of the bride beams with pride as the couple stands face to face, hands held, in the foreground of this Zurich, Switzerland wedding photo.

Heartwarming Moment of Bride and Groom in Zurich Wedding Photo

bride family emotion heartwarming moment Switzerland wedding photography Switzerland Face to face

Groom looking poised and confident in a sleek, modern room at the Nanping Fujian hotel before the ceremony.

NANPING FUJIAN HOTEL | Groom Exudes Poise in Sleek Modern Room During Portraits

elegant stylish dapper china weddings Sleek confident poised

At Le Clos de Florie, in Savoie, France, this portrait captures the happy bride and groom as they stand side by side, surrounded by the beauty of a bamboo forest. The couple's love is evident as they hold hands on their special day.

LE CLOS DE FLORIE | Happy Bride and Groom in the Beauty of a Bamboo Forest

Le Clos de Florie wedding venue Savoie wedding photo session Le Clos de Florie Savoie nature bride groom Outdoor

Newlyweds take their first kiss as husband and wife at the town hall of Dompierre-sur-Veyle.

Behind the Lens: Documenting a Memorable First Kiss in Dompierre-sur-Veyle

First Kiss Ain Wedding Photography ceremony Town hall Ceremony guests watching Dompierre sur Veyle ain

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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.