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.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts Home- This evocative wedding photo captures the bride standing at the window, illuminated softly at sunset, in a picture of elegance and readiness for her departure to the ceremony.

Cape Cod's Charm: Illuminated Elegance and Anticipation on the Massachusetts Coast

In Telluride, Colorado, a documentary wedding photographer captures a heartfelt moment during the ceremony as the bride's daughters perform music together: one holds the sheet music while the other plays the violin.

Heartfelt Harmony: A Wedding Image in Telluride as Bride's Daughters Perform Music Together

Telluride sheet music Colorado moment Telluride wedding documentary wedding photographer violin

Marble, Colorado. The bride's parents observe the ceremony at the water's edge, captured by a documentary wedding photographer for a WPJA award-winning image.

Serene Elegance: Marble, Colorado. Parents' Intimate Gaze Immortalized in Wedding Photo

Colorado small wedding marble Colorado ceremony documentary wedding photographer brides parents Marble lake

Quincy, Massachusetts wedding photographer receives WPJA Honor Award for capturing a black and white image of the bride and groom sharing a kiss in the aisle after their ceremony. The unique high balcony angle provides a stunning perspective.

WPJA Honor Award: Quincy Wedding Photographer's B&W Aisle Kiss - Stunning High Balcony Perspective

black and white image Quincy church Quincy church wedding kiss aisle stunning perspective

At Simply Rustic Farms in Renfrew, PA, a guest is captivated by a speech delivered by the bride's mother

Enchanted by a Speech: Simply Rustic Farms Hosts a Memorable Wedding Moment in Renfrew, PA

Simply Rustic Farms ceremony Renfrew Documentary Wedding Photography guest Renfrew PA Pennsylvania

In 's-Hertogenbosch, Noord Brabant, the couple emotionally embraces while the groom holds a microphone, reading their vows at the ceremony location with seated guests behind them

A Touching Moment: Emotional Couple in 's-Hertogenbosch Exchange Vows Amidst Seated Guests

's-Hertogenbosch s Hertogenbosch Wedding Photography ceremony emotional embrace reading vows microphone

At Château Sainte Foix d'Anthé in France, the groom reaches into his pocket while the bride approaches the altar, capturing a moment of anticipation and excitement

A Captured Moment: Groom's Anticipation at Château Sainte Foix d'Anthé

bride entering ceremony Lot-et-Garonne Lot et Garonne Wedding Photography Château Sainte Foix dAnthé ceremony moment of anticipation

A wedding photo award winner captured this image at Agriturismo La Dogana in Umbria, Italy. The photo shows the couple at the altar during their ceremony, with the shot taken from a distance through a large arched opening in the lobby.

Sacred Vows in Umbria: A Captivating Wedding Moment at Agriturismo La Dogana

arched Umbria Agriturismo La Dogana altar Umbria Documentary Wedding Photography ceremony

A playful moment unfolds as the couple's son mischievously drives a toy truck through his mother's hair during their wedding ceremony at the District Winery in Washington DC

Through Thick and Thin: A Mischievous Drive into Forever

DC documentary wedding photography toy truck couples son ceremony Washington DC District Winery

A heartwarming moment captured by a skilled wedding photojournalist at Hall Barns, Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire. The Page Boy's joyful expression and father's supportive embrace radiate pure happiness and love on this special day.

Love and Wonder: The Page Boy's Expression at Hall Barns, Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire

Leicestershire wedding photography Leicestershire Page boy ceremony sitting Hall Barns Prestwold Hall

In Brabant Wallon, Wallonia, the couple and a little girl are gathered at the ceremony location, performing a sand ceremony.

Love in the Sand: A Whimsical Wedding in Brabant Wallon

Brabant Wallon Belgium wedding photography white dresses sand ceremony ceremony

The bride and groom exchange rings at The Round Chapel in Hackney, London, in a touching moment of their wedding ceremony

Wedding Ceremony in Hackney, London: The Bride and Groom's Touching Ring Exchange at The Round Chapel

Round Chapel ceremony London wedding photography Hackney wedding london bride touching

Groom carefully placing the ring on the bride's finger during the ceremony at Careys Manor, Hampshire, UK - captivating black and white detail image

Careys Manor, Hampshire, UK: Captivating black and white image of groom placing ring on bride's finger

Hampshire brides finger captivating detail Hampshire wedding photography placing ring black and white image Hampshire Groom

The Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur sets the scene as the couple takes their first steps as newlyweds down the aisle following the ceremony

Newlyweds take their first steps down the aisle at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur

ceremony Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur Wedding Photography aisle newlyweds Jodhpur Jodhpur Couple

Fireworks light up the sky as attendees depart the ceremony at Espai Les Panses in Valencia on New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve fireworks at Espai Les Panses in Valencia captivate attendees as they depart the ceremony

New Years Eve Espai Les Panses attendees Valencia Wedding Photography Valencia ceremony departure

In a wedding scene setter at Hotel Eden Roc, Antibes, Côte d’Azur, France, the perfect weather reflected a stunning scene, with umbrellas providing an elegant touch for the sitting guests during the ceremony

Antibes, French Riviera, France - Stunning Wedding Scene Setter at Hotel Eden Roc with Elegant Touch

Antibes umbrellas Côte d’Azur French Riviera scene setter ceremony sitting guests

The bride and groom were recently married in Gary, Indiana, and exited the church to their guests joyfully throwing rice in celebration

The bride and groom wed in Gary, Indiana, joyfully exited to rice-filled cheers

bride and groom Indiana rice throwing marriage celebration exit church ceremony

A momentous wedding image was captured at Coulibri Ridge, Dominica, showing the bride tenderly blowing a kiss towards the flower girl ahead of the ceremony

The bride at Coulibri Ridge, Dominica blows a tender kiss towards the flower girl

Coulibri Ridge bride kiss blowing kiss tender kiss wedding image ceremony flower girl kiss

At the Prince Regent Hotel in Chigwell, London, UK, a happy bride and groom, adorned with flower leis, were pictured as part of a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony

A traditional Hindu wedding ceremony happened at the Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell, London, UK

Chigwell London London wedding photography Hindu wedding ceremony traditions Happy couple prince regent

At Saint Saviours Place BnB in York, a wedding image was created showing the bride balancing motherhood with her bridal role as she left for the register office ceremony accompanied by her children

The bride at Saint Saviours Place BnB in York was captured in a wedding image balancing motherhood and her bridal role

marriage and children balancing roles England York register office motherhood and bridal ceremony North Yorkshire

At Oaks Farm wedding venue in Croydon, Surrey, England, the newlyweds were elated with joy during the reception speeches

The couple were delighted during the speeches at Oaks Farm, Croydon, Surrey, England

celebration Croydon wedding marry Forever happiness friends guests

The groom and his best men stand in a row, hands crossed, as they take part in a heartfelt wedding ceremony at Little Wold Vineyard in Yorkshire, England

Hearts Bound in Yorkshire: A Groom and His Best Men Unite at Little Wold Vineyard

East Yorkshire groom groom holding England vineyard ceremony Yorkshire

The guests of an intimate indoor ceremony at Allington Manor, Lincolnshire, UK, witnessed a romantic first kiss

At Allington Manor, Lincolnshire, UK, guests witnessed a romantic first kiss.

Lincolnshire wedding photography romantic kiss Lincolnshire Allington Manor First Kiss ceremony

In the black and white image, a busy scene of the couple celebrating their marriage at the indoor ceremony of Braxted Park is captured

At Braxted Park, a couple celebrating their marriage is captured in a busy black and white image

Braxted Park United Kingdom Essex wedding photography black and white ceremony Essex

An image of a couple holding hands at a wedding ceremony location in San Francisco, California from the event When the Two Became One

The couple's clasped hands, united by a strand of rosary beads, signify their commitment during the wedding ceremony

California photographer San Francisco crucifix holding hands clasped hands California - Northern ceremony

A beautiful wedding scene in the forest of Woodlands Conference Center, Ceremony, Virginia, USA

The towering trees of the forest provide a majestic backdrop for an outdoor wedding ceremony

Virginia Virginia outdoor ceremony towering trees Woodlands Conference Center Virginia family and friends ceremony Virginia photographer

The couple exchanged vows against the stunning backdrop of a cruise ship in the Bosphorus Sea, Turkey

The couple solemnized their union with a poignant ceremony aboard a picturesque cruise ship

outdoor ceremony union ceremony Turkey Bosphorus Sea Turkey family and friends Bosporus Strait

This mountain wedding in Crested Butte, Colorado was made memorable by the rain, with everyone holding an umbrella

The inclement weather at this mountain wedding created a memorable atmosphere, with all attendees carrying umbrellas

wedding guests inclement weather CO rain Crested Butte Crested Butte photographer umbrellas

Just before the wedding rings are handed over. The bride and groom and their daughters in the same line

Just before the wedding rings are handed over, the bride and groom, along with their daughters, proudly stand in a line in Herault, France

France ring exchange ceremony Herault Hérault photographer Children

The happy Bride and Groom smiled at each other, creating a beautiful and symmetrical image that encapsulated their joy at the end of their ceremony in Trieste, Italy

The blissful Bride and Groom beamed at one another, their delight radiating from them during their wedding ceremony

eye contact ceremony symmetrical big smiles Umbria photographer Trieste Umbria

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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.