Wedding Photos of Festive

The following “Festive” 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 “Festive” 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.

A fun image captured at Resorts Casino Atlantic City NJ as the newlyweds make a grand entrance into their reception in festive wedding attire.

Party Time in Paradise: Newlyweds Sparkle at Resorts Casino Atlantic City

A breathtaking black and white image from a wedding at Colli Euganei in Padua, Italy, capturing the wind elegantly swirling the bride's veil in a serene wheat field.

Serene Serenade: Bride's Veil Dancing in Windswept Wheat Field at Colli Euganei, Padua Italy

festive moderns whimsical elegant bw luxurious Charming

A playful moment frozen in time at an elegant wedding venue, showcasing a curious young guest reaching towards a cooler filled with alcoholic beverage drinks at The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm in Virginia.

Curious Guest's Festive Reach: Playful Scene at The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm, Virginia

child cooler drinks reach playful moment curious inn

A fun and festive wedding exit moment captured at Redstone Inn, where the bride and groom sport heart-shaped sunglasses, adding a playful touch to their celebration.

Fun-Filled Wedding Exit at Redstone Inn: Bride and Groom Don Heart-Shaped Sunglasses for Festive Farewell

moment inn Colorado Reception Photography Colorado festive Redstone Historic District farewell

A newlywed couple skiing and snowboarding down Aspen Mountain, captured in this winter wedding photo at the picturesque Colorado venue.

Newlyweds Skiing and Snowboarding Down Aspen Mountain: Winter Wedding at Colorado Venue

snowboarding skiing winter wedding mountain groom fun Mountain Venue

A vibrant and festive photo captured at Calke Abbey Riding School, featuring a joyous bride and groom dancing surrounded by their wedding guests in a rustic venue setting.

Joyous Bride and Groom Dancing at Calke Abbey Riding School: Rustic Wedding Celebration Capture

love venue reception venue rustic festive Cake Abbey Riding School guests

A playful scene unfolds at Nanping, Fujian, as bridesmaids scramble to halt the eager groom and groomsmen from breaching the bride's sanctuary on the wedding day.

Bridesmaids Frantically Block Groom and Groomsmen in Nanping, Fujian Wedding Day Rush to Bride

groom Frantic gate crashing groomsmen bridesmaids Nanping Wedding Photojournalism Rush

Vibrant wedding celebration captured at Offley Place in Hertfordshire, guests joyously waving napkins during the festive party atmosphere, a candid and lively moment documented in this wedding photograph.

Vibrant Wedding Celebration with Guests Waving Napkins at Offley Place, Hertfordshire: A Joyous Moment

guests joyous Reception Party Vibes lively Hertfordshire moment Hertfordshire Wedding Moment

A vibrant and joyful wedding moment captured at Grand Hyatt in Goa, India, as the bride walks down the aisle surrounded by festive colors and celebration, epitomizing the joy and fun of the party atmosphere at this memorable event.

Bride's Joyful Journey at Grand Hyatt In Goa, India's Festive Wedding Party

goa bride Grand Hyatt colors bride Goa Wedding Moment festive moment

A candid documentary shot taken at the wedding reception venue, Domaine de l'Écart in Burgundy, France, showcasing the bride's elegant dance moves as her feet gracefully move across the floor, emphasizing her shoes and dress during a festive day.

Elegant Dance Amidst Festive Atmosphere: Bride's Graceful Moves at Domaine de l'Écart, Burgundy, France

celebration dance burgundy feet dress venue Wedding documentary

A joyous celebration captured at Sítio da Figueira in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, as the bride and groom share a happy moment with their guests, showcasing the festive atmosphere and love in a candid wedding shot.

Festive Love: Bride and Groom Share Happy Moment at Sítio da Figueira in Porto Alegre

moment joyous bride dancing atmosphere celebration festive

A festive scene in Jaipur, India as white and blue balloons are released outdoors beneath a beautiful blue sky, marking a traditional celebration

Festive Splendor: White and Blue Balloons Soar in Jaipur, India

jaipur wedding photographer India wedding Indian wedding photographer Jaipur wedding venue Blue Destination wedding photography Indian wedding venue

Wedding guests celebrate on the action-packed dance floor at Nieuw Westert Restaurant, with a saxophonist captivating the crowd. The lively atmosphere brought together many people for a night of joyous festivities.

Nieuw Westert: Captivating Saxophonist Enlivens Action-Packed Wedding Dance Floor

festive Netherlands dance floor action Netherlands Documentary Wedding Photography Nieuw Westert Restaurant dancing saxophonist

In this wedding day photo taken at Parada Uno, Rosario, Argentina, friends of the bride and groom joyfully lift them up on the dance floor, adding to the festive atmosphere of the celebration.

Rosario Rhythm: Friends Lift Bride and Groom in Dance Celebration.

dance floor sunglasses Argentina couple lifted up Rosario AR Argentina Documentary Wedding Photography festive

Party guests gather around a singing bride and groom on the dance floor at Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona, AZ, capturing the joy and celebration of the festive occasion

Capturing the Joy: Celebratory Moments at Stunning Sedona Wedding

singing Sedona Poco Diablo Resort dance floor Arizona Sedona Documentary Wedding Photography bride and groom

Chateau de Farcheville, France - A close-up photograph showcases champagne glasses coming together in a toast against a striking black background

Chateau de Farcheville, France: A Toast with Champagne Glasses on a Striking Black Background

formal celebration black and white sparkling wine drink striking European

At Crazy Diamond Campground in Ventucopa, CA, the bride and groom were joyfully "netted" in a festive celebration by guests wearing bright costumes

The bride and groom were joyfully netted in a festive celebration at Crazy Diamond Campground, Ventucopa, CA

beaming festive costumes groom colorful California - Central rustic

Pre-wedding portrait-session at Penns Landing, Philadelphia at the Ferris wheel for a festive PA fair-style image

John Ryan Penns Landing Philadelphia photographer PA Ferris wheel PA Pre wedding portrait

The France WPJA is the alternative to traditional wedding images and is pleased to present this inspiring wedding photography example from Provence showing festive Party time at the reception party

France hat Provence wedding photography reception party Provence Party time

A top wedding reportage photographer at Christchurch Mayfair in London captured this picture of a festive Confetti shot

Christchurch Mayfair picture London London ceremony Confetti shot Kristian Leven London Wedding Reportage Photographer

Ahmedabad, India wedding photography from the festive Pool party ceremony Ahmedabad, India wedding photography from the festive Pool party ceremony

pool party India wedding photo festive Ahmedabad ceremony India wedding photography from the festive Pool party ceremony Ahmedabad

Pre-wedding in Hoi An Vietnam with red and multicolored lanterns

The couple posed for their pre-wedding photos in front of a solid wall of red color, with red and multicolored lanterns adding a playful and festive touch to the images

multicolored Hoi An PreWedding Photography Hoi An red festive lanterns Vietnam

A festive wedding party scene in Ho Chi Minh City at night, with hands in the air and colorful attire, was captured in a memorable artistic photograph

A photograph capturing a festive wedding party in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring hands in the air and bright attire

Ho Chi Minh party Ho Chi Minh City dancing reception hands in the air artistic wedding photograph

In this high-angle portrait, the groom stands regally, donning traditional attire that gracefully accentuates his vibrant turban, adding a touch of vibrant grandeur to the celebrated wedding day in CA

Regal Groom in Vibrant Turban: A High-Angle Portrait from CA Wedding Day

groom details majestic stylish ornamental ornate Northern California photographer Northern California wedding picture

Wedding pictures of reception limbo by Queens photographer

Wedding picture of reception limbo by a Queens photographer

festive Queens marriage venue Queens wedding picture NY photographer vibrant dynamic

Trenton, Maine wedding photography of couple raised up for the Horah dance

family and friends festive Cultural party Trenton ME marriage venue Trenton ME wedding photographer music

Picture of dancing guests by a top Lyons, CO | Get off the dance floor buddy!

Twirling Through Lyons: A Wedding Dance to Remember

Colorado reception dance event party fun colorado wedding photographer memories

Photo of a Chicago Hora dance at a Jewish Wedding with mom and dad

Chicago Hora celebration bw photo dance Wedding Dance family Chicago

Documentary wedding photography of bouquet toss at Espaço Província - Nova Lima - MG - Brazil

Flying Flowers: A Bouquet Toss at Espaço Província

Danger Espaço Província MG single ladies Brazil reception bouquet toss

Poland wedding photograph of guests participating in racing games at the reception

The Joyous Joust: Racing Games at a Polish Wedding Celebration

race Poland Poland wedding picture participating festive celebration fun

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.