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Wedding Photos of Emotional

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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.

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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
bridesmaidsgrand entrancePennsylvaniaemotional bridesmaidsdressedPAemotional
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
vowsshedding tearsaffectionatescenic viewNew York - Upstateserenelove
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 venuesThe Alnwick TreehouseNorthumberlandUK Treehouse weddingsdecoratedAlnwick wedding photographydecorated room
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
celebratoryÉglise de la CouronneblessingheartfeltchurchCharente weddingCharente
The winning WPJA Spotlight image captured the sentimental moment of a bride and groom surrounded by their families at the Loyola at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills, Illinois, as they released pigeons in front of the wedding venue.
Sentimental Moment: Bride and Groom Release Pigeons with Family at Loyola Cuneo Mansion, Vernon Hills Wedding
Loyola at Cuneo Mansion and GardensVernon Hills weddingwedding venueenchantingemotionalSymbolicIllinois wedding
The WPJA Spotlight award-winning wedding image from Grace on the Lake in Harmony, ME captures a heartwarming moment as a family joyfully embraces each other in a tight hug following the ceremony.
Family's Joyful Embrace After Ceremony at Grace on the Lake, Harmony, ME
meaningfultight hugbw wedding imageMaineintimatefamily embraceemotional
In a charming backyard in Hammonton, New Jersey, the maid of honor begins to cry, moved by the emotional sight of the bride walking down the aisle at the wedding.
Maid of Honor Tears Up as Bride Walks Down Aisle in Hammonton, New Jersey Backyard Wedding
weddingBackyardcrywalking down the aisleHammontonHammonton New JerseyNew Jersey
At Allan Bank in Grasmere, UK, a dad gently takes his crying child out of the ceremony while the bride and groom read their vows.
Dad Gently Escorts Crying Child from Ceremony at Allan Bank, Grasmere, UK - Bride and Groom Blurred in Foreground Reading Vows
UKParent Child CareparentingceremonyGentlegroomvows
The groom's astonishment and delight as he discovers the surprise gift—a beautifully crafted book featuring his bride's boudoir session, leaving him touched and speechless.
Groom Astonished by Surprise Boudoir Photo Book Gift from Bride
Surprise Gift ReactionCalifornia - CentralbrideweddingSpeechlessBoudoir Book Revealtouched
At the Erbas Ibis Hotel, the bride and her first man share a tender and emotional moment.
Bride Shares Tender Moment with First Man at Erbas Ibis Hotel
emotionalbrideintimacyFirst ManheartfeltcelebrationErbas Ibis Hotel
At Conacul Serghiescu, the groom shows a heartfelt reaction during the ceremony, covering his emotional face.
Groom Displays Heartfelt Reaction During Outdoor Ceremony at Conacul Serghiescu, Emotionally Covering His Face
weddingfacetouchingConacul SerghiescusceneloveRomania
In the breathtaking scenery of North Cheyenne Canyon Park, Colorado Springs, CO, the groom is visibly moved, his emotions overflowing upon seeing his bride for the first time, creating a touching and unforgettable moment.
Groom Overcome with Emotion at First Sight of Bride in North Cheyenne Canyon Park, Colorado Springs, CO
Sentimenttouching momentColorado Springs GroomloveatmospheresceneColorado Springs
At Twin Oaks House Weddings in San Marcos, California, a curious baby makes an unexpected attempt to crawl onto the wedding aisle, bringing smiles as his mom gently reaches out to catch him.
Curious Baby Crawls Toward Wedding Aisle at Twin Oaks House Weddings, San Marcos, CA, as Mom Reaches to Catch Him
loveSan MarcosCalifornia - Southernsan diego outdoor weddingsemotionalspecial momentsbabieslast minute saves
Genuine love radiates in the embrace between bride and mother, captured by a skilled WPJA wedding photographer at the picturesque Chateau de Loubejac in Montauban, France.
Love Shines: Wedding Photographer Captures Bride & Mother at Chateau de Loubejac, Montauban, France
France BrideTarn-et-GaronneMontaubanmotherweddingFrancegenuine love
At Les Terrasses de Majoras in Rodez, France, the groom pauses his daughter's heartwarming speech to give her a loving hug, captured by a WPJA wedding photographer.
Groom's Touching Moment with Daughter during Speech in Rodez, France
emotionalcandidSouth of Franceheartwarming speechgroomRodezlove
At Domaine des Grands Cèdres in Cordelle, the bride reaches for a tissue during the ceremony, while her toddler boy sits on a bench, his hat covering his eyes under the shade trees.
Bride Reaches for Tissue During Ceremony as Toddler Son Sits on Bench, Hat Covering Eyes, at Domaine des Grands Cèdres, Cordelle
benchchildDomaine des Grands Cèdrestissuefamilytoddler boyhat
The bride provides comfort to her friend, while her brother looks on, in this heartwarming moment captured by a WPJA wedding photographer at Domaine Laplaud.
Joyful Wedding Moment: Friend Comforted by Bride at Domaine Laplaud
brideFriendshipweddingFrancebrotherHaute-Viennesupport
At Twin Oaks Wedding Venue in San Marcos, CA, the bride's sister and close friends become emotional as they watch the touching mother-daughter dance.
Bride's Sister and Close Friends Become Emotional Watching Touching Mother-Daughter Dance at Twin Oaks Wedding Venue, San Marcos, CA
San Marcos CACalifornia - SoutherncandidconnectionSan Marcosclose friendsCalifornia wedding
Capturing a heartwarming moment of friendship and love, the WPJA wedding photographer captures the groom's best friend expressing his support and affection on a special day at Twin Oaks Wedding Venue.
True Friends at Twin Oaks: Witnessing Love and Support at a Wedding in CA
supportTwin Oaks Wedding VenueSan Marcosweddingspecial dayWPJA wedding photographerCalifornia - Southern
A moment captured by a talented WPJA wedding photographer at Gurudwara, Jaipur, as the bride shares a heartfelt moment with her grandparent during a significant ceremony.
Capturing a Special Moment at Gurudwara in Jaipur: Bride & Grandparent's Heartfelt Bond
grandparentSikh weddingconnectionGurudwaraIndiabrideheartfelt moment
Love and laughter filled the air as the bride and her father proudly walked down the aisle at the Osterville Historic Society for this stunning Cape Cod wedding.
Cape Cod Wedding: Bride & Father's Proud Aisle Walk at Osterville Historic Society
Osterville Historic Societylaughterwalking down the aislebrideemotionalMassachusettslove
A sweet moment captured as the father rests his head on his daughter's shoulder during the emotional father-daughter dance at Wedding Wrights Anglers Rest in Dublin.
Emotional Father-Daughter Dance at Wedding in Dublin: A Sweet Moment Captured
emotionalhead on shoulderIrelandfamilyreceptionweddingcandid
An intimate moment captured in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, as the bride is surrounded by the love and support of the women in her home, including her daughter.
A Beautifully Happy Bride and Her Lovely Ladies in the Heart of Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany!
kidmotherIlle-et-Vilainegenerationstraditionwedding familysupportive
Outside the church in Roiffé, France, the bride and groom share a heartfelt double hug with their parents as they exit.
Bride and Groom Embrace Parents in a Heartfelt Double Hug Outside Roiffé Church, France, Post-Ceremony
emotionalbrideRoifféheartfeltexitfamilywedding
The groom's mother lovingly escorts her son down the aisle towards his future at the picturesque Pont du Casse in Lot-et-Garonne.
Happy Mom guides happy son to happily ever after in Pont du Casse, France
lovinglyLot-et-GaronneescortsemotionalFrancelovegroom
At the reception venue in Vienne, the bridesmaids share a loving embrace with the bride following the first look.
Bridesmaids Embrace Bride at Vienne Reception After First Look
brideHaute Vienne Wedding PhotographyViennefirst lookbridesmaidsFrancewedding
At the bride's preparation in Verdun, France, emotions run high as she prepares to walk down the aisle.
Family Emotions Run High at Bride's Prep | Verdun, France
weddingVerdun France brideemotionalpreparationemotions highVerdunfamily
In Metz, France, the groom's reflection is seen in a mirror as the bride gives her speech, creating a touching moment.
Touching Moment in Metz: Groom's Reflection in Mirror as Bride Delivers Heartfelt Speech
speechbridejoyfulmirrorlovecandidunique
At the church in Cambrai, North of France, two minutes before the entrance, the bride is getting ready while the groom shares a moment with his mother.
Tender Moments in Cambrai: Bride Prepares as Groom Shares Time with Mother Before Ceremony
momentsgetting readyfamilyCambrai churchgroomentrancemother
At La Chartreuse de Pomier during the secular ceremony, the groom delivers his speech while his witnesses listen attentively.
Emotional Ceremony at La Chartreuse de Pomier: Groom Speaks as Witnesses Listen Attentively
listeningsupportsecular ceremonyCommitmentweddingattentivelycelebration

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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.