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.

At the outdoor wedding venue, Le Val d'Azergues in France, a detail photo captures the bride and groom holding each other's hands during the exchange of vows, emphasizing the connection and commitment shared between them.

Bride and Groom Hold Hands During Vows at Le Val d'Azergues, France

In a rural backyard setting near Atlanta, Georgia, the bride becomes emotional, tearing up during the exchange of vows, a tender moment filled with love and sincerity at her outdoor wedding ceremony.

Bride Tears Up Amid Tender Moments at Rural Backyard Ceremony Near Atlanta, Georgia

backyard setting emotional tearing up Atlanta Backyard Wedding outdoor ceremony Atlanta wedding photography Atlanta

In Teton National Park, the bride and groom stand on opposite corners of a log cabin, privately reading letters before the ceremony, preserving the tradition of not seeing each other beforehand.

Bride and Groom Share Touching Moments Apart in Teton National Park

Teton romance Teton National Park cabin Wyoming pre ceremony meeting anticipation capturing private anticipation Wyoming privacy

At a reception in Henley on Thames, UK, the emotional father of the bride covers his face while seated at the head table. Family members surround him, adding warmth to this touching moment.

Father of the Bride Honored at Henley on Thames Reception

warmth Oxfordshire family Oxfordshire Reception head table emotional Oxfordshire wedding

At a reception venue in Krakow, Malopolskie, a tight shot captures the bride embracing her emotional mother. The heartfelt hug underscores the deep bond and significance of the moment.

Bride Shares Heartfelt Hug with Mother in Krakow

significance hug Krakow wedding embrace mother love Krakow Heartfelt Hug

At Vinilia Wine Resort in Puglia, Italy, the groom is visibly emotional and teary-eyed as he watches his bride arrive for their sunny outdoor wedding ceremony.

Groom's Heartfelt Tears: A Sunny Puglia Wedding at Vinilia Wine Resort

Outdoor emotional heartfelt groom italian wedding Puglia Emotional Moment Sunny Wedding Arrival

At a reception venue in Krakow, Malopolskie, a tight shot captures the groom hugging the bride, while her touched sister joins the embrace. The emotional moment highlights the love and connection shared among them.

Groom, Bride, and Sister Share Heartfelt Moment in Krakow

emotional bride Krakow Togetherness connection sister love

At Gibson Mill in Halifax, UK, the groom is moved to tears as he sees his new bride walking into their indoor ceremony.

Groom's Tearful Joy at Gibson Mill Wedding Ceremony, Halifax, UK

Gibson Mill Halifax moment anticipation love heartfelt UK

In the streets of Paris, Île-de-France, right after the ceremony, the bride and her maid of honor share an emotional hug, surrounded by the guests.

Paris Bride, Maid of Honor Share Emotional Hug After Ceremony

celebration emotional ceremony Heartfelt Post Ceremony Hug Parisian maid of honor bride

At Rittergut Stoermede in Geseke, Germany, the father of the bride is moved to tears as he sees her for the first time on the wedding day.

Father of Bride Tears Up Seeing Daughter on Wedding Day in Germany

Bridal Tears first look emotional moving scene wedding day German Bride

At Aragosta in Deer Isle, Maine, the bride and groom start laughing together as the bride can't stop crying during their heartfelt wedding ceremony.

Bride's Tears of Joy Elicit Laughter at Maine Wedding

moment Maine Matrimony Bridal Emotions Aragosta Nuptials together emotional Bridal Laughter

At Hampton Court House in the UK, the bride and groom share their first kiss, captured in a black-and-white image. Surrounded by clapping guests, the moment beautifully highlights the joy and celebration of the occasion.

Bride and Groom's First Kiss at Hampton Court House: Black-and-White Photo Captures Joyful Celebration

festivity celebration atmosphere timeless UK wedding emotional love

During the ceremony at Horetown House, the bride gently dabs the groom's tears as he holds the microphone and his notes while they exchange vows.

Bride Dabs Groom's Tears During Emotional Horetown House Vow Exchange

tender moment groom Ireland support County Wexford Irish Celebration emotional

At the bride's house in Amsterdam, Noord Holland, the bride and groom share a heartfelt hug during their first look at the entrance door on the decorated porch.

Bride, Groom Share Heartfelt First Look at Amsterdam Home

Togetherness celebration Noord Holland Decorated Porch Amsterdam wedding first look Dutch Wedding

In Orleans (45), the bride becomes emotional and wipes away tears as elder family members gaze upon her.

Orleans Bride Wipes Tears as Elders Look On

gazing touching emotional love wedding heartwarming tears

At The Naka Phuket in Thailand, the bride becomes emotional and can't hold back her tears as she practices her wedding vows during bridal preparation, highlighting the significance and heartfelt nature of the upcoming ceremony.

Bride's Tears Flow at Naka Phuket as Vows Bring Emotion

practice Phuket Wedding significance bridal preparation heartfelt Thailand love

At Casale de' Pasquinelli in Lucca, Tuscany, the sister of the bride is visibly emotional, touched by the day's significance. In the mirror's reflection, the bride is seen receiving a makeup touchup, capturing a poignant moment of love and anticipation.

At Casale de' Pasquinelli in Lucca, Tuscany, the bride's sister is visibly emotional, while a mirror reflection shows the bride getting a makeup touchup, capturing love and anticipation.

love poignant moment makeup reflection Casale De Pasquinelli significance

At a private villa in Tuscany, the groom is overcome with emotion during the ceremony. Tears fill his eyes as he faces the bride, who is reading heartfelt vows.

At a private villa in Tuscany, the groom is overcome with emotion, tears in his eyes, as he listens to the bride read heartfelt vows during the ceremony.

Sentiment love heartfelt bride intimacy Tuscany wedding connection

At Tenuta Montezeglio in Invorio (No), the bride sits beside the groom, holding back tears as her father delivers a heartfelt speech, reading from his notes, creating a touching and emotional moment during the celebration.

Bride Holds Back Tears During Father's Heartfelt Speech at Italian Wedding

tears Tenuta Montezeglio Venue joy intimacy bride and groom family love

At Domaine de Buzarens, after a wonderful surprise, the emotional bride tenderly kisses her aunt's hand, in a heartfelt moment that highlights their close bond and the love surrounding the celebration.

Bride's Tender Kiss: Heartfelt Moment at Domaine de Buzarens Wedding

Herault kiss Assas Bride connection Domaine de Buzarens Venue surprise aunt

At Ermita de Cuadros in Bedmar, Jaén, Spain, the bride and groom are visibly emotional as they exit the church, welcomed by the sounds of a man singing and another playing a guitar, enhancing the heartfelt atmosphere of the moment.

Bride, Groom Exit Jaén Church to Song, Guitar Music After Emotional Ceremony

Bedmar Sentiment Spain wedding joy love moment music

At Château de Manou, a photo captures the secular ceremony's ring exchange. The couple's son stands close, watching emotionally as his father places the ring on his mother’s finger.

Son Witnesses Emotional Ring Exchange During Secular Ceremony at Château de Manou

mother outdoor wedding ring exchange father family boy love

At Les Terrasses de Majorac in Rodez, France, the bride and her daughter share an emotional moment. Tears flow as they embrace, moved by a heartfelt speech during the celebration.

Bride and Daughter Share Emotional Tears During Heartfelt Speech at Les Terrasses de Majorac

embrace love Rodez Wedding girl Rodez Bride connection tears

During the vows at a 's-Hertogenbosch, Noord Brabant ceremony, guests in the front row react emotionally, with three wiping away tears, capturing the heartfelt atmosphere of the moment.

During the vows at a 's-Hertogenbosch, Noord Brabant ceremony, front-row guests react emotionally, with three wiping away tears, capturing the heartfelt atmosphere.

connection vows Noord Brabant Ceremony reaction Sentiment intimacy love

At Eu Castle in France, during the ceremony, the bride sits with the groom on a wooden bench under a tree, tears in her eyes as she is overcome with emotion.

Bride Overcome With Emotion During Ceremony at Eu Castle

Sentimental intimate candid beautiful moment Seine-Maritime Wooden bench

At the exit of the church, the father of the bride gently gestures for her to enter the wedding car, marking a tender, pivotal moment filled with love and support.

A Father's Farewell: A Heartfelt Moment at the Church Steps

father of the bride support tender emotional heartwarming Europe family

A great capture of the moment the bride appeared in her wedding dress at Franklin Commons in Phoenixville, PA, as her emotional bridesmaids dressed in shades of blue earned this photo a WPJA Spotlight award.

Tears of Joy: A Bride's Grand Entrance at Franklin Commons

shades of blue Franklin Commons wedding dress moment emotional bridesmaids bride moment bridesmaids tears of joy

A touching moment captured in this photo of a groom shedding tears during his vows in the serene outdoors of Upstate New York, earning it a well-deserved WPJA Spotlight award.

Emotional Vows: A Groom's Tearful Promise in Upstate New York

rustic New York - Upstate marriage Promise joyful shedding tears emotional

The Alnwick Treehouse, Northumberland, UK - A stunning image of the groom's emotional reaction to seeing the beautifully decorated wedding breakfast room, captured by a WPJA Spotlight award-winning photographer.

Awe and Emotion: A Groom's First Look at The Alnwick Treehouse

Northumberland wedding venues emotional decorated treehouse The Alnwick Treehouse UK Treehouse weddings wedding

The spotlight-winning image captures a moment of pure joy as the newlyweds receive a blessing at the Église de la Couronne in Charente.

Blessed Beginnings: A Joyful Union at Église de la Couronne

love emotional blessing delighted moment Église de la Couronne union

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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.