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Wedding Photos of Happiness

For Couples / Wedding Photos of Happiness

The following “Happiness” 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 “Happiness” 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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Witness the bride's radiant happiness in this beautiful wedding photo from Saratoga Springs, CA. Perfectly captured as she walks down the aisle with her new spouse.
Bride's Radiant Happiness: A Captivating Wedding Photo in Saratoga Springs, CA
lawnSaratoga Springs Wedding Photographytreesbeautifulradiantaislehappiness
Wedding photograph from a reception party at Arka Barut-Antalya, Turkey, showing the bride and groom standing together while guests stand behind them, all with arms raised.
Joyful Turkish Bride and Groom Celebrate Surrounded by Cheering Wedding Guests at Arka Barut
joybride and groomcelebrationAntalyaAntalya Wedding Photographyhappinessraised arms
A wedding photo taken at AFAI in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, capturing the bride celebrating with her bridesmaids in pure joy.
AFAI Wedding Bliss: Rio Grande do Sul Bride and Bridesmaids Embrace Joy in Stunning Image
Rio Grande do SulCanoas Wedding PhotographyCanoasAFAIhappinessRio Grande do Sul bridebridesmaids
Wedding photo captured in Sao Paulo with a loving hug and kiss for the bride, surrounded by two men in suits.
Sao Paulo Wedding Bliss: Bride Receives Loving Hug and Kiss with Suited Men Nearby
happinessbridesuitsSao Paulo wedding photographyhugloveSão Paulo
Captured at Xi'an Jinyuan Pavilion Hotel, this image shows a little boy celebrating his victory in a game during the wedding after party.
Joyful Moment: Little boy triumphs at wedding game, caught on camera at Xi'an hotel
funXi anhotelXian Jinyuan Pavilion HotelXi'anvictorywedding photography
An amusing moment captured in black and white as a gondolier hilariously reacts to a newlywed couple sharing a kiss on their wedding day in Venice, Italy.
Venetian Gondolier's Comical Delight: Newlyweds Share a Kiss on Their Wedding Day in Venice
candidcelebrationVenicehappinesslaughterVenetoItaly
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
loveUnityjoydress backsRhode Island Wedding PhotographyBristol RIbridal
A tender moment between a bride and her father at Basalt Golf Club, captured as they share a heartfelt gaze before walking down the aisle on her wedding day.
Heartfelt Gaze: Bride and Father Share Tender Moment at Basalt Golf Club Before Aisle Walk
Colorado Wedding MomentclubrelationshipEventsgolffatheraffection
A joyful family portrait captured at Restaurant Vetta in Monte Bre, Lugano, Switzerland, showcasing the bride and groom lifting their baby overhead during the night cake cutting on their wedding day.
Wedding Day Bliss: Family Portrait at Restaurant Vetta, Monte Bre, Lugano, Switzerland
infantjoyfulLugano Wedding Photographywedding photoreception venueRestaurant Vettarestaurant
A couple sharing a romantic kiss while dancing on the dance floor at a wedding reception at Giardini del Meisino venue.
Romantic Dance Floor Kiss at Giardini del Meisino: A Wedding Reception Moment Captured Forever
intimatewedding receptionTurinloveromancehappinessvenue
A bride exudes anticipation and nervous excitement as she awaits the next moment on her wedding day at Spring Ranch in Mendocino, California.
The Bride's Anticipation: Nervous Excitement at Spring Ranch in Mendocino, California
beautifulexcitementcandidMendocino brideCalifornia - Northernbw Wedding Photolove
A touching moment between a bride and her father as she adjusts her veil in the mirror at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California, on her wedding day.
Bride and Father's Emotional Mirror Moment at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California Wedding
OaklandmomentBellevue Clubbwloveveilaffection
Captivating wedding day moment at Museum Hülsmann in Bielefeld, filled with genuine emotions and joy as a woman embraces the bride with beaming smiles in an outdoor setting.
Woman Hugs Bride with Beaming Smiles at Museum Hülsmann in Bielefeld
connectiongenuineMuseumsmileBielefeld Wedding MomentGermanyjoy
A candid and heartwarming moment at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, CA, as the bride lays surrounded by flower girls during the reception.
Bride Surrounded by Flower Girls: Heartwarming Wedding Moment at American Jewish University, Los Angeles
momentAmerican Jewish Universitybrideflower girlsheartwarmingemotioncandid
A beautiful bride tosses rose petals as part of an Indian wedding tradition, captured in a candid moment at Mount Palomar Winery in Temecula, CA.
Indian Bride Tosses Rose Petals: Candid Moment at Mount Palomar Winery, Temecula, CA
Temecula Wedding MomentceremonyCalifornia - SouthernloveMount Palomar Winerycandidmoment
In a serene moment at Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events in Temecula, CA, the newlyweds are caught wiping away tears of joy right after saying "I do" outdoors.
Newlyweds Embrace at Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events in Temecula
eventTemecula Wedding MomentCalifornia - SouthernnatureTemeculaserenei do
A beautiful bride in a white gown makes her way to the first look surrounded by eagerly watching family and friends through the windows of a private residence in Prospect Harbor, Maine on the wedding day.
Eager Eyes Witness Bride's First Look at Private Residence in Prospect Harbor, Maine
wedding daybridebeautifulemotionProspect HarborhappinessProspect Harbor First Look
A wedding couple enjoys their first sail together in Boothbay, Maine, near Linekin Bay Resort, captured on their special day.
Romantic Wedding Sail in Boothbay, Maine: Linekin Bay Resort Captures Love’s First Voyage
happinessboatmarriedResortromanticsailingSail Boat
Wedding portrait at First Look in Acadia National Park, showing a couple sharing a joyful kiss against a minimalistic white backdrop, in a timeless black and white photograph.
First Look Romance: Joyful Kiss in Acadia National Park - Timeless Black & White Portrait
celebrationholding handsbwnaturalsmileslovehappiness
A bride filled with emotion as she sees her groom waiting for her on their wedding day at Viagrande - Radura dei Sogni venue.
Emotional Bride Gazes at Groom in Viagrande's Enchanted Radura dei Sogni Wedding Venue
emotionweddingCatanialovegroomphotoenchanted
A beautiful moment captured as the bride and groom excitingly discover the gender of their baby on their wedding day in Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France.
Gender Reveal Joy: Bride and Groom Surprised on Wedding Day in Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France
family photographybabyrevealHaute-Savoiegender revealbeautiful momentevent
A picturesque wedding moment captured at Chateau de Montalieu in Isère, France, as the bride joyfully tosses her bouquet onto the lush green grass lawn.
Joyful Bride Tosses Bouquet at Chateau de Montalieu in Isère, France's Lush Lawn
happinessphotographyjoyChateau de Montalieuvenuemomentlawn
A candid image of a bride being lifted by an all-female bridal party at Hackney Town Hall on her wedding day, showcasing unity and joy in celebration.
Unity and Joy: Bride Lifted by All-Female Bridal Party at Hackney Town Hall
Town HalleventLondonLondon Wedding Momentbeautifulspecial daylaughter
Wedding day bliss at Aragosta Deer Isle Maine, as the couple shares a joyous embrace on the rocky Maine shore, wrapped up in each other's arms and beaming with happiness.
Blissful Embrace: A Wedding Day at Aragosta Deer Isle Maine Shore
blissfulcouplewedding photoromanticcandidrockshappiness
A beautiful wedding image taken at Perkins Cove, Ogunquit Maine, showcasing the newlyweds beaming with joy against the picturesque backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean as the wind gently blows through their hair and boat sails.
Newlywed Joy at Perkins Cove: A Stunning Moment by the Atlantic Ocean in Maine
boatPerkins CovestunningAtlantic OceanOgunquitpicturesquewind
Beautiful wedding day moment as the bride's mother plays piano at the dinner party in Saint Martin de Ré, France.
Elegant Piano Serenade: Bride's Mother Performs at Dinner Party in Saint Martin de Ré
Brides motherbeautifuleleganthappinessfamilycandidCharente-Maritime
A touching moment at Thorpe Gardens as the bride is moved to tears during the groom's heartfelt speech on their wedding day.
Bride Moved to Tears by Groom's Heartfelt Speech at Thorpe Gardens Wedding Ceremony
heartfeltweddingTamworth UKlovemarriagespeechgroom
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
danceDerby Reception Photographyhappinessvenueloverusticcelebration
A Washington DC wedding couple embraces in front of a vibrant rainbow wall, symbolizing beauty and love on their special day.
Vibrant Rainbow Wall Embrace: Washington DC Wedding Couple Symbolize Beauty and Love On Special Day
embracesymbolizingvibrantloveWashington DCspecial daymarried
In Udine, Italy, a beautiful bride emerges from a convertible at her wedding venue, being gently embraced by the sun and wind on her day.
A Radiant Bride in Udine: Embraced by Sun and Wind at Wedding Venue
elegantautoradiantoutdoorsloveUdine Wedding Momentwind

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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.