Wedding Photos of Getting ready

The following “Getting ready” 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 “Getting ready” 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 bride delicately handles her cherished wedding gown at a private residence in San Francisco, California.

Bride Carefully Admires Her Wedding Gown at San Francisco Home

In the French town of Gers, the bride has the final touches to her hair before saying "I do" at La Romanique.

The Bride Gets Her Hair Done in a Cozy French Room at La Romanique in Gers | Final Bridal Touches

La Romanique hair final bridal touches room bride French town Gers

In the heat of the day, two groomsmen take a break from getting ready to cool off and wipe away the sweat in historic Nimes, France.

Groomsmen Chill in Historic French City | Hot Day, Cool Break, No Sweat!

historic Nimes sweat hot day wipe away groomsmen chill no sweat break

Beautiful bride getting ready for her big day at her parents' home in Bourgogne-Franche-Comte.

Bride Prepares for Wedding Day at Parents' Home in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

parents home french bride flowers France wedding photography getting ready Bourgogne-Franche-Comte

In Daly City, CA, the bride is captured in a beautifully lit room, standing before a mirror as she receives help getting ready.

Bride Stands Before Mirror in Beautifully Lit Room, Receiving Help Getting Ready in Daly City, CA

getting ready mirror Daly City Wedding Photography Daly City Bride Daly City reflection California - Northern

In Niort, Deux-Sèvres, France, the bride's maid of honor, caught in a perfect reflective moment, applies her makeup at the salon where the bride is getting ready, creating an absolutely symmetrical mirrored image on each side of the frame.

Bride's Maid of Honor Applies Makeup in Symmetrical Mirrored Image at Salon in Niort, Deux-Sèvres, France

reflection Niort Wedding Photography mirrored image Deux-Sèvres symmetrical maid of honor getting ready

The groom gets ready with the help of his best man at a Calgary hotel, captured in silhouette against the backdrop of light.

Silhouette of Groom and Best Man Prepares for Calgary Wedding Day

best man silhouette window light Calgary Wedding Photography Calgary getting ready black and white

In this photo taken at the Marriott Hotel, Pittsburgh Airport, the bride's sister is captured in the midst of getting ready, as a male artist helps her with scissors in hand.

A Behind-the-Scenes Moment at the Marriott Hotel, Pittsburgh Airport

Marriott Hotel Pittsburgh Airport getting ready Pittsburgh Wedding Photography bride sister scissors male makeup artist Pittsburgh

This photo captured the emotional moment at the bride's parent's home in Mt. Lebanon, PA as the bride's Mom and groom reacted to seeing her getting ready for their vow renewal ceremony and pandemic-delayed wedding reception.

Pandemic-delayed Reception Brings Tears of Joy at PA Vow Renewal

Brides mother Pennsylvania Pennsylvania wedding photography Mt Lebanon getting ready groom

The groom and his two groomsmen are seen in a room at Château de la Ferté Saint Aubin, getting dressed for the big day.

Groom and Groomsmen Prep at Château de la Ferté Saint Aubin

window light Centre-Val de Loire Loiret Groom and groomsmen Loiret Wedding Photography Chateau de La Ferté Saint Aubin getting ready

In the midst of preparations at Berkeley Castle in Somerset, a lighthearted moment unfolds as a bridesmaid playfully helps the bride slip on a stunning bracelet, captured in this documentary wedding photo

Behind-the-Scenes Laughter at Berkeley Castle: Bridesmaid Helps Bride with Bracelet

Berkeley Castle Somerset Wedding Photography somerset bride United Kingdom Somerset bridesmaid helping clasping bracelet

In this charming photo from the wedding day at Moulin Piongo in France, a young girl assists in fitting the bride's shoe during the getting ready process.

A Heartwarming Moment Captured at a Dreamy Wedding in Moulin Piongo

Moulin Piongo Isere young Girl Ornacieux Balbins getting ready Isere Wedding Photography black and white

Preparing for her big day at Ferme Sainte Anne in Langres, the bride is surrounded by her helpful bridesmaids as they put the finishing touches on her dress.

FERME SAINTE ANNE | Bride Surrounded by Helpful Bridesmaids as They Put Finishing Touches on Her Dress

Haute-Marne finishing touches dress Ferme Sainte Anne Langres wedding venue helpful bridesmaids

Amidst the preparations for an Indian wedding, a beautiful heart-shaped ring dish sits center of carefully arranged details at a getting ready location in Seattle, Washington.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON | A Beautiful Heart-Shaped Ring Dish Adds Elegance to Indian Wedding Prep Shot

indian wedding getting ready washington weddings shot heart shaped Elegance centerpiece

Amidst the preparations in Grenoble, at the Getting Ready location, the delicate bride's bouquet sits elegantly above her shoes, adding a romantic touch to her wedding day ensemble.

Grenoble Bride's Bouquet Adds Romantic Touch to Getting Ready Scene

bridal bouquet elegant Grenoble bride pic Wedding Day Ensemble getting ready shoes bride

Bride getting ready for wedding day in a soft and intimate setting at Chateau de Peufeilhoux, with natural lighting from a window and lamp.

CHATEAU DE PEUFEILHOUX | Bride Getting Ready for Her Wedding Day in Soft Natural Lighting

soft Vallon en Sully photographers natural lighting getting ready Allier Chateau de Peufeilhoux wedding day

French bride helping her daughter dress for the Oise wedding, adjusting the bow on her back.

The French Bride: A Heartwarming Moment at the Oise Wedding | Mother Helping Daughter with Bow

Oise bride flowergirl Oise photography kids Oise wedding venue daughter bridal

The bride is getting ready for her wedding at a hotel in London, England in this warm glowing picture showing the shadows of trees on the walls.

Bride Getting Ready: a Wedding Reflection at a Hotel

getting ready London wedding photography England London hotel preparations warm glow shadows

Getting ready at Over the Brook House, Bourne, Massachusetts - the bride calmly applies her makeup with a hand mirror, getting ready for her wedding.

Bridal Beauty in BW | Over the Brook House, Massachusetts | Serene Makeup Prep

getting ready hand mirror Over the Brook House Bourne Wedding Photography black and white applying makeup Bourne

This photo captures the candid and heartwarming moment of the kids sitting on the couch, bored but content, as the bride and groom prepare for their big day at their Maine-et-Loire house in Pays de la Loire.

Maine-et-Loire Kids Capture Heartwarming Moment as Bride and Groom Prepare for Wedding

candid moment bored getting ready kids Maine-et-Loire Maine et Loire Wedding Photography

At Domaine des Saints Pères in Montagnole, Savoie, France, the bride and her bridesmaids are captured in a candid moment as they get ready in a room. The shot, taken from outside, showcases the moment framed by large glass doors.

Bride and Bridesmaids Preparing at Domaine des Saints Pères in Montagnole, Savoie, France: Candid Capture through Large Glass Doors

getting ready green dresses Europe Savoie wedding photography Savoie Domaine des Saints Pères candid moment

A bride is seen at Les terres de Saint-Hilaire in Ollières, Var adjusting her jewelry as her bridesmaid assists the groom in getting dressed for their wedding.

Bride Prepares for Wedding at Les Terres de Saint-Hilaire in Ollières

getting dressed Var Wedding Photography Les Terres de Saint-Hilaire bridesmaid Ollières Var getting ready

On the morning of her wedding, the bride stands in front of the grand windows of her hotel room in Phuket, with a breathtaking ocean view. Silhouetted against the blue light, she is joined by her female bridesmaids as they get ready.

Phuket Wedding Captured: Bride's Silhouette Against Ocean Backdrop with Bridesmaids

hotel room large window getting ready Phuket blue light Phuket Wedding photography silhouetted

On an island at Cape Fahn, Samui, a bride sits in her wedding attire, gazing into a mirror surrounded by helpers amidst the glow of light bulbs.

Behind the Scenes: Bride Gets Wedding-Ready on Cape Fahn Island in Samui

Cape Fahn Wedding Photography Cape Fahn mirror bridal preparations getting ready Koh Samui light bulbs

Bride preparing for her wedding in Dalyan, Turkey. Professional photo capturing the intimate moment as she fixes her hair in the mirror.

Dalyan Dream: Bride's Intimate Moment Caught on Camera as She Prepares for Wedding

getting ready fixing hair Dalyan Wedding Photography Dalyan Bride Turkey Dalyan mirror

Captured at a wedding at Çıragan Palace İstanbul, this photo shows the bride getting ready with her friend admiring her. The stylist is doing her hair as a cute dog sits on her lap.

Glamorous Bride Prepares with Friend and Pup at Çıragan Palace İstanbul Wedding Venue

friend Çıragan Palace Istanbul turkey bride dog Istanbul hair styling black and white

At a wedding in Bar Harbor, Maine, the bride is captured getting ready with portraits of men observing in the background.

Bridesmaid Preps in Bar Harbor as Groomsmen Look On: Wedding Portrait in Maine

portraits getting ready Bar Harbor Bar Harbor wedding photography bw images Maine bride

Photograph taken at a wedding in Aillas, Gironde, France. The groom and his friends are captured in this wedding photo, as they help him get ready to marry.

French Wedding Bliss: Groom and Friends Gear Up in Aillas, Gironde for Big Day

Aillas bw Wedding Gironde Gironde Wedding Photography Aillas Gironde France marriage friends

A beautiful wedding photo captured in Sainte Livrade, Lot et Garonne, France, showing the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready for the ceremony in a mirror with lights.

Enchanting Sainte Livrade Wedding: Bride and Bridesmaids Prepare in Mirror with Lights, Lot et Garonne

Lot et Garonne Wedding Photography bridal party Lights getting ready french wedding wedding preparations Sainte Livrade Lot et Garonne

Wedding photo taken in a mirror at Xi'an Zhuoke Hotel shows the groom and his friends assisting each other in putting on their suits.

Groom and Friends Suit Up Together in Heartwarming Mirror Photo at Xi'an Zhuoke Hotel

groom Xian Zhuoke Hotel assistance Xi'an suits Xian Groom heartwarming

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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.