Wedding Photos of Emotional

The following “Emotional” 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 “Emotional” 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.

Beautiful wedding photo at The Club at Castlewood in Pleasanton, CA capturing a tender moment between the bride and her father during the first dance.

Emotional Father-Daughter First Dance at The Club at Castlewood Wedding in Pleasanton, CA

Wedding photo captured in West Sussex, UK, showing the bride sharing a tender hug with her father before leaving the house.

Emotional Moment: Bride's Heartfelt Hug With Father Captured in West Sussex Wedding Photo

West Sussex wedding photography house West Sussex heartfelt emotional moment home

Wedding photo taken at Old Thorns Hotel in Surrey, UK, featuring friends embracing the emotional bride in a striking black and white image.

Emotional Bride Embraced by Friends at Old Thorns Hotel in Stunning Black and White Photo

United Kingdom bride Old Thorns Hotel black and white embrace emotional stunning

A touching moment captured at a wedding at Madison Beach Hotel, CT, where the bride and family comfort the emotional ring bearer during the mother-son dance.

Emotional Ring Bearer Comforted by Bride and Family at Madison Beach Hotel Wedding

Madison Beach Hotel CT wedding Madison CT Reception kid touching moment Connecticut family

This wedding photo was taken at the bride's home in Shandong, China on the wedding day, capturing a touching moment of reluctance between the bride and her mother.

Emotional Wedding Moment: Bride and Mother of the Bride Share Tearful Farewell in China

farewell emotional wedding photo Shandong China bride emotional Shandong bride mother

Emotional moment between two bridesmaids holding hands, witnessing their friend's wedding at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol, RI USA.

Tender Bridesmaid Bond: Mount Hope Farm Wedding in Bristol, RI USA Sparks Emotional Unity

joy bridemaids Detail Shot Mount Hope Farm moment Friendship bonds

A heartwarming moment is immortalized as a bride affectionately kisses her son during a first look at a private home in Newport, RI USA on her wedding day.

Emotional First Look: Bride Tenderly Kisses Son at Private Home in Newport, RI USA

heartwarming Newport RI Bride kid Rhode Island Newport RI Wedding Moment child moment

A beautiful wedding moment at Quinta de Monfalim in Sobral de Monte Agraço, Portugal, as the couple cuts their cake surrounded by guests holding sparklers, culminating in a heartfelt embrace, captured at the venue amidst emotional connections.

Sparkling Sparklers Surrounded: Quinta De Monfalim Cake Cutting Embrace in Sobral De Monte Agraço

embrace venue moment bride and groom fireworks Sobral de Monte Agraço connections

Emotional moment at The Estate at River Run, Maidens VA, as the mother assists the bride with her gown - a tender black and white shot from the wedding day.

Tender Motherly Help: Bride's Emotional Gown Prep at The Estate, River Run, Maidens VA

black and white Maidens Wedding Moment Maidens Bride gowns mother bw gown

A tender moment between a bride and her father at Basalt Golf Club, captured as they share a heartfelt gaze before walking down the aisle on her wedding day.

Heartfelt Gaze: Bride and Father Share Tender Moment at Basalt Golf Club Before Aisle Walk

Events bride photography Basalt Golf Club father daughter emotional Memorable

A tender moment was captured at the Moretti Adimari venue, as the bride share heartfelt hugs and toasts in the beautiful outdoor setting following their ceremony.

Heartfelt Hugs and Toasts: A Tender Moment at Moretti Adimari Venue Outdoor Celebration

beautiful cherished intimate love Memorable Piedmont Wedding Moment touching

Bride, groom, and bridesmaid with a red umbrella leave bride's childhood home 'Wang Tao House' in Tai Po, Hong Kong, heading to the ceremony venue in sentimental image capturing a traditional moment on the wedding day.

Sentimental Moment: Bride, Groom, and Bridesmaid Leave Childhood Home 'Wang Tao House' in Tai Po

red umbrella childhood home family memories Wang Tao House Tai Po Wedding Photography bridesmaid

A touching moment between a bride and her father as she adjusts her veil in the mirror at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California, on her wedding day.

Bride and Father's Emotional Mirror Moment at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California Wedding

love family happiness mirror moment Bellevue Club Oakland

Emotional black and white wedding photo of bride and groom sharing an intimate moment by touching foreheads at their civil ceremony in Borchen, Paderborn.

Whispers of Love: Bride and Groom Embrace in Borchen Civil Ceremony, Paderborn

bw touch foreheads intimate emotional groom ceremony

Emotional moment captured at Malibou Lake Lodge in Agoura Hills, CA, as the parents of the bride and groom wipe away tears during the outdoor wedding ceremony.

Parents' Emotional Moment at Malibou Lake Lodge Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

wiping tears outdoor ceremony bride joy Outdoor wedding photo groom CA

Emotional black and white wedding image in Belpasso capturing a tender moment between the bride and her parents, frozen in time.

Tender Moment of Bride with Parents: Emotion-filled Black and White at Belpasso

memory touching special bond tender moment wedding Belpasso cherish

In Buckinghamshire, UK, a heartfelt moment unfolds as a grandmother lovingly straightens the groom's tie, while he humbly kneels before her on his wedding day.

Grandmother's Tender Touch: Buckinghamshire, UK Wedding Moment with Groom and Tie Adjustment

generational Humble family grandmother affection emotional tie

High angle shot of the bride writing a letter to her husband at Dockside Guest Quarters in York, Maine, on their wedding day.

Bride's Intimate Letter Writing Moment at Dockside Guest Quarters, York, Maine Wedding

wedding romantic dockside emotional to husband letter guest quarters

The Vienne wedding preparations - the bride is surrounded by her attendants in a cozy room at home, adjusting her dress for the ceremony.

Elegance in Vienne: Bride And Attendants Prepare in Cozy Home For Wedding Ceremony

prepare emotional bride Traditional Vienne Wedding Moment beautiful Vienne

Wedding day moment at Millfields Farm Venue: Groom reading vows to bride during indoor ceremony, captured in a charming black and white style for a timeless touch.

Charming Black and White: Groom's Vow Reading to Bride at Millfields Farm Venue

venue special memory groom black and white Timeless Capture love emotional

Newlyweds exiting a gazebo ceremony at Castelvecchio, Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy, captured in a candid moment as guests shower them with rice, creating a joyful and authentic scene.

Candid Joy: Newlyweds Exiting Castelvecchio Gazebo Ceremony in Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy Amidst Rice Shower

rice Sagrado Ceremony Photography gazebo authentic wedding photography guests Sagrado

A tender moment at a wedding captured at Nanping, Fujian church as a girl sheds tears and crouches with hands covering her face during the emotional ceremony.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Moment at Nanping

special capture moment Fujian emotion wedding photo ceremony girl emotion

A couple shares a spontaneous kiss on the dance floor during a wedding celebration at Amar Casamentos in Juquehy, Brazil.

Passionate Kiss: Juquehy Wedding at Amar Casamentos Captures Couple's Love on the Dance Floor

joyful couple affection Juquehy spontaneous kiss love

A captivating photo captured during a São Paulo, Brazil wedding, featuring love and resilience taking center stage as the newlyweds share a cake-cutting moment surrounded by jubilant guests at the venue.

Love and Resilience: Newlyweds Share Cake-Cutting Moment at São Paulo Wedding Celebration

moment captured jubilant Brazil resilience memories happiness

Emotional bride shedding tears while embracing groom at Woodlands in Cottonwood Canyon Bozeman MT, captured in a timeless black and white photograph on their wedding day.

Tears of Love: Emotional Bride Embracing Groom in Timeless Black and White at Woodlands Bozeman

memory moment Woodlands in Cottonwood Canyon bride timeless Bozeman Bozeman wedding photography

A beautiful moment frozen in time as the bride gets ready with help from her stylist on her wedding day at the venue in Rho, Milan, Italy.

Captivating Bride: Getting Ready with Stylist in Rho, Milan, Italy Wedding Venue

wedding photography bride stylist bridal getting ready preparation romantic

A candid shot of a bride and groom shedding tears during their outdoor wedding ceremony at Saint Joseph de Riviere, France, seated in matching rattan wicker chairs, capturing a raw and emotional moment

Emotional Tears: Bride and Groom's Raw Moment in Saint Joseph de Riviere, France

moment bride tears Outdoor wedding photo candid raw ceremony

In a wedding photo at Planet Hollywood, Goa, India, a bride, who is a dog trainer, shares an emotional moment with her beloved Indie dog, 'Panty', who served as the ring bearer on her special day.

Emotional Goa Wedding: Bride, Dog Trainer, Panty the Indie Dog at Planet Hollywood

goa goa bride special day pet love beloved memories canine

A unique perspective of the first dance at The Lalit, Udaipur, on a wedding day, captured in a timeless black and white photograph with a low angle shot, evoking nostalgia and elegance.

Elegant First Dance Bliss at The Lalit, Udaipur: Timeless Black and White Romance

Elegance Udaipur Dramatic black and white bw emotional first dance

A candid shot of a traditional Indian wedding ceremony in Hyderabad, capturing the emotional moment as the bride receives blessings between her parents while the groom waits on the other side of the symbolic purdah veil, a touching wedding image.

Emotional Blessings: Traditional Indian Wedding Ceremony in Hyderabad Captures Bride's Tender Moment

curtain wedding bride curtain groom Traditional candid Hyderabad

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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.