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.

Emotions run high during the ceremony in Budapest, Hungary, as the groom is moved to tears and a caring guest offers him a napkin.

Groom in Tears, Guest Lends Napkin at Emotional Budapest Wedding

In Montpellier, France, a surprised bride exits the church with the groom, happily surrounded by guests.

Joyful Wedding Exit in Montpellier: Surprised Bride and Groom Emerge from Church, Celebrated by Guests

emotional happy reception Montpellier candid married church

Discover the true artistry of wedding photography with this striking portrait from a Basque Country Pyrénées-Atlantiques reception. Contrasting elements highlight the pure love and happiness captured in this image.

Contrasting Elements: Pure Love and Happiness at a Basque Country Pyrénées-Atlantiques Reception

reception romantic intimate image beautiful happiness emotional

An intimate view of a Basque Country wedding detail. The groom tenderly wraps his arms around his bride as she intertwines their hands in a display of pure love.

Groom and Bride's Hands Intertwined in Basque Country

marriage intertwining emotional hands tender connection intimate

Capturing a tender embrace between bride and groom in the scenic Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, this WPJA-featured wedding portrait evokes romance and nature love.

Romantic Wedding Embrace: Bride and Groom in Nouvelle-Aquitaine's Scenic Beauty

touching picturesque scenic groom emotional tender embrace bride

Embrace the artistry of a Colorado WPJA photographer's vision in this Black and White vertical shot capturing a romantic embrace between a bride and groom against the picturesque mountain backdrop at Pine Creek Cookhouse.

Mountain Romance: Black and White Embrace at Pine Creek Cookhouse, Colorado

emotional landscape black and white bride groom touching intimate

Expertly composed by a WPJA photographer, this wedding shot captures the bride gracefully entering her Nanping home with the assistance of loved ones.

Bride Welcomed into Nanping Home by Loved Ones

home gracefully entering wedding shot Asia friends Nanping photo

Experience the captivating image of a bride and groom sharing a sunrise kiss, framed by a sweeping sky and flowing veil, captured by the artistic vision of a WPJA photographer.

Bride and Groom Framed by Sky and Veil at Sunrise

romantic golden hour bride scenic marriage Sky emotional

Glimpse the intricate beauty of a Dutch wedding ceremony as the bride, groom, and beloved grandmother exchange rings in this captivating black and white photograph from a WPJA photographer in Amsterdam.

Black and White Ring Exchange with Grandmother in Amsterdam

Commitment love marriage bride intimate family wedding ceremony

At Hotel Sportalm Gipfelglück in Lüdenscheid, NRW, Germany, the bride and her dad share an emotional first look. They embrace warmly, with a big smile lighting up his face.

Bride and Dad Share Emotional First Look, Embracing Warmly with Big Smile Lighting Up His Face at Hotel Sportalm Gipfelglück in Lüdenscheid, NRW, Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia Hotel Sportalm Gipfelglück Ludenscheid Wedding Photography smile emotional Lüdenscheid first look

At Mountaintop Resort in Vermont, the groom bursts into laughter during the outdoor ceremony under the trees.

Groom's Laughter Echoes Amidst Trees at Mountaintop Resort's Outdoor Wedding in Vermont

genuine fun ceremony wedding outdoor ceremony happy Vermont

Ardèche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - Emotional embraces at the courtyard exit after the wedding ceremony.

Ardèche Couple Shares Heartfelt Embrace at Courtyard Exit in Stunning Wedding Day Moment

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes embraces emotional exiting reception Ardeche Ardeche wedding photography courtyard

During a ceremony in Ardèche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, emotions run high as men share a heartfelt embrace.

Emotional Embrace Between Men Captured at Ardèche Wedding Ceremony, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

ceremony Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes emotional support meaningful family men

At a venue in Isere, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the bride's parents gaze with emotion as they see her for the first time in her wedding dress.

Bride's Parents Gaze Emotionally at Her First Wedding Dress Reveal in Isere Venue, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

emotion proud emotional gaze touching heartfelt family

In Lignac 36, France, the bride prepares for her wedding as her mother helps with the back of her dress, while her daughter gazes out the window.

Bride Prepares with Mother's Help on Dress as Daughter Gazes Out Window in Lignac 36, France Wedding

window dress prepares Indre wedding touching family

In a backyard wedding ceremony in Hammonton, South New Jersey, the mother of the bride embraces the groom at the altar as the bride watches.

Mother of Bride Embraces Groom at Altar During Backyard Ceremony in Hammonton, South New Jersey

embraces intimate backyard wedding ceremony love wedding ceremony New Jersey groom

At a backyard wedding reception in Hammonton, South New Jersey, guests become emotional as they watch a young girl sing.

Emotional Guests Watch Young Girl Sing at Backyard Wedding Reception in Hammonton, South New Jersey

New Jersey music celebration wedding Hammonton NJ reception performance

At BrookLodge in Ireland, the bride's best friends react with excitement and joy during the big reveal of her wedding dress.

Bridal Dress Reveal Sparks Excitement and Joy Among Bride's Friends at BrookLodge Wedding, Ireland

happy Ireland excitement bridesmaids supportive BrookLodge Pre Wedding

Groom gets emotional while reading a heartfelt letter from his bride before their wedding in Slatina, Croatia.

Love in Croatia: Emotional Moment Captured Before Vows

reading letter Slatina Wedding Photography Slatina Groom Croatia pre wedding portrait Slatina emotional

In this wedding day photo from Laumesfeld, Moselle, the mother of the bride is overcome with emotion as she sees her daughter.

Emotional Mother of the Bride: Captured in a Heart-Wrenching Wedding Photo

emotional overcome with emotion Moselle Laumesfeld mother of bride Laumesfeld Wedding Photography

A heartwarming detail shot of hands captured on a wedding day in Nanning, Guangxi, where emotions overflowed.

A Nanning Wedding Day Captured in Heartwarming Hand Detail

Nanning emotional hands detail Nanning wedding photography Detail Shot heartwarming detail Guangxi

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

North Rhine-Westphalia Detail Shot North Rhine Westphalia photography free captured North Rhine Westphalia marriages heartwarming gesture

At Cogne Church in Aosta, Italy, the wedding ceremony takes place inside with beautiful natural sunlight and everyone is emotional except for the groom who remains composed.

Aosta, Italy Cogne Church Wedding | Emotional Ceremony with Natural Sunlight

church ceremony Cogne Church Aosta Aosta Wedding Photography emotional Italy tears

A touching moment captured at a Boston Public Library wedding, as the bride wipes away a tear while the groom reads his vows. Emotional and intimate, this picture captures the essence of their special day.

Bride's Tearful Reaction at Boston Public Library

touching moment library wedding flowers emotional intimate reading vows Boston Public Library

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

father dance Pleasanton wedding photography wedding photo Pleasanton bride emotional

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

home moment West Sussex UK wedding house bride father West Sussex wedding photography

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

black and white emotional Surrey wedding photography Old Thorns Hotel Surrey UK Old Thorns Hotel stunning bw Wedding

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

comfort family Mother Son Dance Connecticut Madison Beach Hotel boy touching moment

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

China touching Shandong wedding photography China bride emotional wedding photo Shandong farewell

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

dress backs Mount Hope Farm emotional moment Detail Shot Bristol RI bw

Pages

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.