Wedding Photos of Happy

The following “Happy” 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 “Happy” 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.

Captured at the Old Town Hall Hotel in London, UK, this wedding photo showcases a joyful bride holding hands with her groom amid confetti on the Town Hall steps.

London Love Story: Bride and Groom Embrace Amongst Confetti on Town Hall Steps

A beautiful wedding photo taken at Bodrum ruins featuring a happy bride and groom exiting the outdoor ceremony amidst a shower of confetti and flower petals. The couple stands side by side, smiling, and surrounded by their guests.

Joyful Newlyweds: Bodrum Ruins Celebration with Confetti and Flower Petals Surrounding the Happy Couple

Bodrum happy Bodrum Outdoor Ceremony guests celebration flower confetti

A happy bride and groom snap a selfie in the luxurious back seat of their classic Rolls Royce while on a scenic journey through the bustling streets of London on their wedding day.

Luxurious London Selfie: Bride and Groom Capture Bliss in Classic Rolls Royce Glamour

scenic luxurious bride wedding car Rolls Royce London happy

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

Redstone Inn Redstone Historic District couple playful exit Colorado Reception Photography marriage

A tender moment was captured at the Moretti Adimari venue, as the bride share heartfelt hugs and toasts in the beautiful outdoor setting following their ceremony.

Heartfelt Hugs and Toasts: A Tender Moment at Moretti Adimari Venue Outdoor Celebration

beautiful Piedmont happy heartwarming blissful Asti elegant

Beautiful moment in Hong Kong captured at a wedding venue, featuring a happy bride and groom surrounded by confetti during a guest-arranged celebration walk at the Popinjays reception venue.

Magical Wedding Bliss in Hong Kong: Confetti-filled Celebration at Popinjays Reception Venue

groom venue Hong Kong Wedding Moment happy bride Bliss Popinjays

A newlywed couple standing under a delicate veil on their wedding day at Burg Blankenstein in Hattingen, set against the serene, minimalistic white background.

Newlyweds Under Delicate Veil at Burg Blankenstein: Serene Wedding Day in Hattingen

happy serene Burg Blankenstein photo Hattingen Hattingen Wedding Portrait photography

A happy couple happily walks among guests at the conclusion of their wedding ceremony at Santa Venerina - i Giardini di Villa Fago, as captured in this picturesque venue setting.

Joyful Couple Stroll Among Loved Ones at Santa Venerina - i Giardini di Villa Fago

Catania Wedding Moment stroll outdoors Catania exit happy wedding couple

In Trieste, Italy, a newlywed couple crosses the bustling street under the warm sunshine on their wedding day, captured in a candid moment near the picturesque venue.

Italian Romance: Newlyweds Cross Bustling Street in Trieste, Captured in Candid Moment Near Venue

Newlywed couple street photography marriage sunshine Trieste wedding photo love

A joyous moment at Villa Boscarello, Siena, Tuscany, captured after the wedding ceremony as the newlyweds share a kiss amidst a backdrop of happy guests and radiant sunshine.

Radiant Sunshine Kiss: Newlyweds' Joyous Moment at Villa Boscarello, Siena, Tuscany Wedding

happy romantic villa newlyweds moment Tuscany joyous

A joyful moment captured at the end of a sunlit ceremony in Tuscany's Podere il Pino, with the bride and groom dancing amidst a backdrop of happy guests.

Sunlit Celebration: Bride and Groom Dance Amidst Joyful Guests at Podere Il Pino, Tuscany

Podere il Pino Poggibonsi celebration sunlit Siena wedding ceremony groom Tuscany

A romantic image captured on the wedding day, a couple affectionately touches noses in front of the serene lake of Zurich at Marina Lachen, creating a beautiful and intimate scene.

Romantic Lakeside Affection: Couple's Tender Moment at Marina Lachen, Zurich

wedding couple serene Marina Lachen waterside tender love Switzerland

A couple shares a spontaneous kiss on the dance floor during a wedding celebration at Amar Casamentos in Juquehy, Brazil.

Passionate Kiss: Juquehy Wedding at Amar Casamentos Captures Couple's Love on the Dance Floor

Juquehy Juquehy Wedding Moment spontaneous couple candid Amar Casamentos affection

A funny moment at Wild Basin Lodge in Colorado captured on the wedding day, as the groom warms up by the fireplace after the chilly ceremony, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere.

Groom's Charismatic Cozy-up by Fireplace at Wild Basin Lodge Wedding In Colorado

happy Wild Basin Lodge intimate Allenspark wedding photographer romantic fireplace cozy

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

dancing guests wedding candid Porto Alegre Reception Photography atmosphere joyous

Black and white photograph of a wedding guest at The St. Regis in Hong Kong, captured mid-belly laugh at the lively wedding reception in Asia.

Laugh Out Loud: Guest at The St. Regis Wedding Reception in Hong Kong

Asia photographer groomsmen Asia fun laugh bw St Regis Hong Kong

At Domaine de Villary in Nimes, the bride enters with joy, her face beaming with happiness and excitement, arms raised in celebration.

Joyous Entrance: A Nuptial Celebration at Domaine de Villary

Domaine de Villary raised arms happy face Nimes wedding venue happy professional photographer

Chigwell Marquees in the UK showcases a happy bride and groom surrounded by friends celebrating their Hindu wedding ceremony

A Joyful Hindu Wedding Celebration at Chigwell Marquees

joyful Chigwell UK Bride and groom Hindu Wedding Celebration Essex Chigwell Marquees friends

Fort Collins, Colorado: Newlyweds burst into laughter as they joyfully make their way out of the wedding ceremony

Fort Collins Laughter: Newlyweds' Joyful Journey from the Wedding Ceremony

Fort Collins CO weddings Fort Collins wedding photography Joyful journey happy CO bride and groom laughing newlyweds

Newlyweds laugh together during a fun time of their outdoor ceremony on the lawn in Udine, Italy captured by a wedding photojournalist

Udine Unveiled: Newlyweds' Joyful Laughter in the Italian Outdoors

lawn wedding outdoor wedding photography Italy joyful laughter italian outdoor weddings happy laughing

At Shendish Manor Hotel in Hertfordshire, a delighted guest reacts as her friend catches the bouquet during the bouquet toss ceremony

Floral Fortune in Hertfordshire: A Joyful Capture at Shendish Manor Hotel

Shendish Manor Hotel Hertfordshire weddings uk wedding photography bouquet toss floral Hertfordshire joyful

The award-winning photographer captures a joyful moment as the newlyweds walk together through confetti at a farm location in Suffolk, UK.

HAPPY NEWLYWEDS WALKING BLISSFULLY AMID CONFETTI STORM ON SUFFOLK FARM

happy newlyweds walk joyful UK United Kingdom wedding Suffolk wedding newlyweds

Bride and Groom happily exit the aisle at Quinta Roma Vista in Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica, as their guests cheerfully throws bubbles in celebration of their special day.

Atenas Bliss: A Joyful Exit at Quinta Roma Vista Wedding

happy Atenas wedding venue aisle Bliss Costa Rica bubbles Alajuela

A pro photographer in Bordeaux captures a joyful moment at Domaine de Conseillant, where the bride's best friend catches the bouquet, resulting in a big hug and a happy smile.

Caught Joy: Best Friend's Bouquet Catch at Domaine de Conseillant

bordeaux weddings Domaine de Conseillant sunshine wedding photographer joyful moment Bordeaux Brides best friend

In Colorado's RiNo, Denver, a couple poses in front of a vibrant rainbow mural that says HAPPY, playfully applying rainbow-colored paint on each other as a part of their engagement photo session captured by a WPJA wedding photographer

Colorful Love: Embracing Happiness and Painted Memories in RiNo - A Captivating Engagement Portrait in Denver

Denver rainbow colors RiNo colorful building happy sitting on grass Denver engagement photography

An Attica Wedding, Elopement, and Engagement Photographer created this creative, fun portrait of this Athens couple hugging their very happy dog

Manos Skoularikos dog Greece Attica Athens couple Attica Engagement Photographer hugging

Udine stylish actual wedding day couple portrait at Villa Ottelio in Savorgnan, Ariis with a very happy Bride and groom

bride and groom Villa Ottelio Udine Villa Ottelio wedding venue Udine wedding couple portrait Savorgnan portraits

Birmingham, UK wedding reportage photographer captured this moment showing a Happy Muslim bride looking at her mother

uk wedding reportage Birmingham mother Birmingham bride Muslim bride UK bridesmaids

Colorado Springs elegant wedding day couple lit portrait at The Pinery at the Hill during sunset for the happy bride and groom

lit portrait sunset Colorado bride and groom Colorado Springs Colorado elegant wedding

A romantic San Francisco pre wedding session with some Happy lovers in the bamboo garden

bamboo San Francisco pre wedding romantic San Francisco couple happy San Francisco

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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.