Wedding Photos of Guests watching

The following “Guests watching” 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 “Guests watching” 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 Tivoli Italian Villa in Fallbrook, CA, wedding guests gather at the photo booth during the reception, striking poses and enjoying the opportunity for lighthearted photos as part of the celebration.

Guests Gather At Photo Booth Tivoli Italian Villa Fallbrook CA Reception

striking a pose Fallbrook CA Wedding Moment California - Southern guests watching photo booth Fallbrook CA Tivoli Italian Villa

At Danesfield House, a wedding photographer captures a poignant moment. The image, shot from behind the altar, shows the couple holding hands and smiling during their ceremony as their seated guests watch on.

Capturing A Poignant Moment: A Couple's Hand-Held Danesfield House Vows

holding hands guests watching Buckinghamshire Ceremony Moment Buckinghamshire Danesfield House ceremony Buckinghamshire altar

Outside Plaisance du Touch city hall, the bride and groom dip and kiss in the sun, watched by guests. The photographer’s timing beautifully captures the romance and exuberance of this joyful exit.

Sunlit Kiss and Dip: Joyful Wedding Exit at Plaisance du Touch City Hall

Haute-Garonne Plaisance du Touch City Hall guests watching Haute Garonne wedding photography dip and kiss romance Plaisance du Touch

At De Paradijshoeve in Ridderkerk, the photographer captures the bride and groom’s first dance bathed in golden sun rays through a window, surrounded by watching guests, demonstrating masterful use of light and timing.

Bride And Groom’s First Dance At De Paradijshoeve, Captured In Golden Sunlight With Watching Guests

Ridderkerk first dance guests watching Zuid Holland De Paradijshoeve golden light window light

At Abbaye du Val des Choues, the photographer captures a unique moment as the bride and groom, aided by a soaked witness, release a salamander found at the cocktail party, showcasing storytelling and natural spontaneity.

Bride And Groom Releasing Salamander With Soaked Witness At Abbaye du Val des Choues Cocktail Party

unique moment Burgundy Wedding Moment guests watching Abbaye du Val des Choues cocktail party Burgundy storytelling moment

Jaén, Spain: A silent tear falls at Ermita Virgen de Linarejos.

Jaén, Spain: Silent Tear Falls at Wedding in Ermita Virgen de Linarejos Church

Jaén wedding photography tear falling Ermita Virgen de Linarejos guests watching church ceremony

Aerial view of bride and groom cutting their wedding cake at Thicket Priory, North Yorkshire.

Aerial View: Bride and Groom Cutting Wedding Cake at Thicket Priory, Yorkshire

stairway North Yorkshire North Yorkshire Wedding Photography cutting cake England Thicket Priory overhead view

Bride and groom share their romantic first dance at their wedding reception in Stratford Upon Avon, surrounded by joyful guests.

Newlyweds’ First Dance in Stratford Upon Avon, Surrounded by Joyful Guests

guests watching Warwickshire surrounding guests Warwickshire Wedding Photography Stratford upon Avon first dance

Bride and groom share a kiss after their civil wedding ceremony at Mondonville town hall, surrounded by guests and mayor.

Bride and Groom Kiss After Civil Ceremony at Mondonville Town Hall, Surrounded by Loved Ones

Town hall Ceremony Mondonville Ceremony Image Haute-Garonne civil ceremony Mondonville Mondonville Town Hall mayor

Bride and groom share a romantic first dance at Auberge Saint-Gabriel, Old Montreal, surrounded by warm light and smiling guests.

Bride and Groom’s First Dance Glows at Auberge Saint-Gabriel, Old Montreal Wedding

Auberge Saint Gabriel first dance Old Montreal Wedding Photography Montreal warm light romantic dance Old Montreal

At Schloss Gurhof, Austria, a bride and groom exchange vows. The photo captures the couple mid-ceremony, with guests observing the wedding ritual.

Bride and Groom Exchange Vows Outside at Schloss Gurhof, Austria Ceremony

guests watching romantic exchange wedding ritual bride and groom moment intimate vows bride and groom Schloss Gurhof

A beautiful moment captured in Villa Bria, Italy. The groom lovingly kisses his bride in the warm, outdoor sunshine as they exchange vows during their wedding ceremony.

Beautiful Moment Captured at Villa Bria, Italy: Groom Lovingly Kisses Bride in Warm Outdoor Sunshine as They Exchange Vows During Wedding Ceremony

Turin loving kiss kiss on head Exchanging vows Turin Outdoor Ceremony Turin Wedding Ceremony Villa Bria

Under the dappled light of La Delfina's trees in Santa Fe, Argentina, the groom tenderly kisses his bride, as guests watch in heartfelt silence.

Groom Tenderly Kisses Bride Under Dappled Light of La Delfina's Trees in Santa Fe, Argentina, as Guests Watch in Heartfelt Silence

black and white groom kissing bride Santa Fe AR Wedding. Photography tender kiss Santa Fe-AR guests watching heartfelt

UDINE, ITALY - A groom and bride release a dove after their wedding ceremony.

Celebrating Love: Newly Married Couple's Symbolic Dove Release Captured in Udine, Italy

Udine wedding photography dove release guests watching End of ceremony Udine

Newlyweds dancing during cocktail hour with their guests watching at Abbaye des Prémontrés.

A Joyful Wedding Dance at Abbaye des Prémontrés

cocktail hour Pont-à-Mousson dancing Abbaye des Prémontrés Meurthe-et-Moselle guests watching Meurthe et Moselle wedding photography

In the beautiful city of Bursa, Turkey, a heartwarming moment was captured as the bride and groom, surrounded by their loved ones, proudly held hands and danced on their special day.

A Captivating Moment of Love and Dance on the Bride and Groom's Wedding Day

Bursa wedding photography Turkey holding hands guests watching Bursa bride and groom dance

Newlyweds exit Mairie de Biarritz as the bride spins her dress in front of her husband, amid cheers from guests.

Bride Spins Dress in Front of Husband at Mairie de Biarritz

spinning dress bride spinning Biarritz Wedding Photography guests watching cheers Biarritz Town Hall Biarritz

In Zurich, Switzerland, the first dance of the couple was filled with a range of emotions.

An Unforgettable Moment: A Glimpse at the Couple's Emotional First Dance in Zurich, Switzerland

guests watching first dance dark background love Switzerland Switzerland wedding photography Unforgettable Moment

Newlyweds take their first kiss as husband and wife at the town hall of Dompierre-sur-Veyle.

Behind the Lens: Documenting a Memorable First Kiss in Dompierre-sur-Veyle

Ain Wedding Photography ceremony Dompierre sur Veyle guests watching First Kiss Ain Town hall Ceremony

At The Equinox Resort in Manchester, VT, the award-winning WPJA photographer captures the intimate moment of the happy newlyweds, standing with their loved ones watching on, during their first dance.

Intimate Moment of Newlyweds During First Dance at Equinox Resort in Manchester, VT

Vermont dance floor first dance The Equinox Resort Manchester VT guests watching Vermont wedding photography

A moment of the bride and groom dancing at Altın Ceylan Bursa surrounded by a plethora of guests capturing the joy and love in the air.

Bride and Groom Celebrate Love at Altın Ceylan Bursa Wedding, Surrounded by Joyful Guests

Bursa dancing Turkey Bursa wedding photography reception guests watching Altın Ceylan Bursa

Bride and Groom celebrate their wedding at Château de Serans, France, raising their champagne bottles to their mouths as their guests are reflected on the door

A Magical Toast: Newlyweds Cheers Amidst Dazzling Château Reflections

window reflection champagne bottles Oise Oise Documentary Wedding Photography champagne tower Château de Serans Serans

The bride and groom having their first dance with festively-dressed wedding guest surround the couple at Loft Diplomat

The bride and groom are surrounded by festively-dressed wedding guests as they share their first dance

Bucharest Loft Diplomat first dance Bucharest wedding photographer guests watching

Vail, Colorado wedding photograph of bride and groom checking rings after outdoor ceremony | capturing wedding moments in CO

Vail, Colorado wedding image of bride and groom checking rings after outdoor ceremony

newlyweds Colorado photographer colorado bride Happy couple Vail marriage venue wedding image vail wedding photographer

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.