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Wedding Photos of Historic

For Couples / Wedding Photos of Historic

The following “Historic” 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 “Historic” 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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In Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey, a couple's engagement photo session captures them standing apart at an arch of an Old World building. The sunlight illuminates the scene, highlighting the historic architecture and adding a touch of timeless elegance.
Engagement Session in Sultanahmet, Istanbul | Couple Stands Apart at Arch of Old World Building | Sunlight Highlights Historic Architecture and Timeless Elegance
couplesunlightElegancearchitecturebuildingromantichistoric
At the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, CA, a couple's engagement portrait captures him gently holding her hand to help navigate the steep stairway of the Old World structure, adding a touch of romance and elegance to the picture session.
Couple at Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA, in Engagement Portrait | He Holds Her Hand on Steep Stairway | Old World Structure Adds History & Romance to Session
old worldstairsromanceembraceloveSan Franciscoportrait
At Stanjel Castle in Slovenia, a couple strolls past a lavender flowerbed framed by historic stone walls. The serene setting offers a picturesque backdrop, blending natural beauty with architectural charm.
Couple at Stanjel Castle, Slovenia, Strolling by Lavender Flowerbed | Historic Stone Walls Create Picturesque Backdrop | Natural Beauty with Architectural Charm
charmcastlelovepicturesqueflowerbedSlovenianatural
At Stanjel Castle in Slovenia, a couple embraces beneath a large ivy plant. Captured in a tall vertical frame, they are naturally surrounded by foliage and bathed in soft, warm sunlight, creating a serene and romantic scene.
Couple at Stanjel Castle, Slovenia, Embracing Beneath Large Ivy | Tall Vertical Frame | Surrounded by Foliage | Bathed in Soft Warm Sunlight in a Serene Romantic Scene
foliagehistoricSloveniacoupleoutdoorsembraceserene
A couple stands face to face in silhouette within a stone doorway at Lac d'Ayron. The image captures an Old World charm, framed by the castle's ancient architecture, highlighting their romantic connection.
Couple Stands in Silhouette at Lac d'Ayron | Old World Charm and Castle Architecture Frame Romantic Connection
ViennecastlecoupleFranceAncientloveoutdoors
In Saint-Emilion, France, an engaged couple stands face to face beneath a massive Old World stone arch on a historic building. The grand arch, seemingly fit for giants, adds a touch of timeless elegance and grandeur to their intimate photo session.
Engaged Couple in Saint-Emilion, France, Under Massive Stone Arch | Grand Structure Adds Timeless Elegance and Grandeur to Intimate Portrait Session
outdoorsfacecouplearchSaint Emilionoldintimate
At the Titanic Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the couple shares a kiss in front of a mirror in the historic Drawing Rooms, surrounded by the timeless elegance of their romantic setting.
Couple Shares Kiss in Front of Mirror, Embracing Elegant Romance at Titanic Hotel's Historic Drawing Rooms
mirrorBelfastTitanic Hotel eleganceEleganceTitanic Hotelelegant romantic settingNorthern Ireland
At Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain, the couple enjoys their time together, surrounded by the warm tones and unique architecture of the historic building.
Couple Enjoys Romantic Portrait Amid Warm Tones and Unique Architecture at Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain
Park Güell BarcelonaPark Güell enjoymenthistoricSpainunique architectural backdrophistorical setting romancewarm portrait tones
At Catedral de Almería in Almería, Spain, a low-angle shot captures the couple with the cathedral's warm-toned, old-world architecture and surrounding palm trees, highlighting the historic and tropical ambiance of the location.
Couple Framed by Cathedral's Warm Architecture and Palm Trees in Low-Angle Shot at Catedral de Almería, Spain
tropicalpalmAlmeriaweddinghistoric wedding locationcathedralarchitecture Spain
In the afternoon sun at Beijing's Temple of Heaven Park, an engaged couple stands back to back, bathed in light. The vibrant red wall and ancient buildings behind them create a captivating vertical frame for their picture.
Engaged Couple Back-to-Back at Beijing's Temple of Heaven
picturecaptivatingvertical frameengaged coupleback to backBeijinglove
On the steps of the town hall in Châteauroux, the newlyweds stand out vividly against the contrasting patterns and textures of the ground, creating a striking visual composition in front of the historic building.
Newlyweds Vividly Framed by Ground Patterns at Châteauroux Town Hall
architectural contexthistoric backdropChâteauroux stepsFrench buildingstrikingdynamic scenevivid composition
In São Paulo, an engaged couple is captured in a tilted vertical frame outside an Old World building. Their embrace is beautifully highlighted against the historic backdrop, in a romantic and timeless portrait.
São Paulo Engagement: Couple's Embrace Framed by Historic Building
Brazilian couplehistoricSão Paulo CharmromanticengagedbuildingTimeless Embrace Frame
In Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, a couple stands on the cobblestones of Prince Street, both wearing rainbow sunglasses, adding a playful touch to the historic setting.
Playful Charm: Couple in Rainbow Sunglasses Adds Colorful Twist to Historic Prince Street in Old Town Alexandria
cobblestonesOld Town WeddingjoyfulrainbowcoupleplayfulPrince Street
In the medieval village of Saint Montan, France, an engaged couple enjoys a sunny winter day. From a high angle, they're seen surrounded by Old World stone buildings and walls.
Couple Celebrates Engagement in Saint Montan's Winter Sun
frenchsunlitstoneSaint Montan LoveOld World CoupleSaint Montanhistoric
At Highcliffe Castle, a vertical silhouette portrait captures the couple against the backdrop of the massive, old-world structure. The deep blue dusk sky enhances the mystique and grandeur of the scene, highlighting the castle's timeless charm.
Vertical Silhouette of Couple Against Highcliffe Castle and Deep Blue Dusk Sky Enhances Mystique
Blueromancesilhouettescenicatmosphereold worldportrait
In an abbey in Verdun, the couple gazes deeply into each other's eyes beneath the stunning architecture, capturing intimacy and connection in the historic old world setting.
Couple's Deep Gaze Beneath Stunning Architecture at Verdun Abbey's Old World Setting
romanceabbeygazecouplehistoricEleganceVerdun
In Poitiers, Vienne, a stunning perspective captures the grandeur and beauty of a church where the ceremony takes place, showcasing the architectural elegance and serene atmosphere of the Old World space.
Elegant Poitiers Church Provides Stunning Backdrop for Breathtaking Wedding Portrait in Old World Setting
serene atmosphereOld World SpacePoitiersreverencehistoricArchitectural ElegancePoitiers Wedding
At Chateau St-Ambroise in Montreal, Quebec, the wedding couple poses, framed by a doorway as they stand on old wooden stairs, captured in a high-angle black-and-white shot that adds a timeless quality to the scene.
Couple's Black-and-White Doorway Portrait on Wooden Stairs at Chateau St-Ambroise
Quebecdoorwayhigh angleMontrealhistoricromanticindoors
At the stunning industrial history of Essen, Germany at Zeche Zollverein. This photo captures a couple before an old coking plant, enhanced with an artistic filter.
Industrial Romance: Artistically Enhanced Couple's Portrait at Zeche Zollverein, Essen
EssenportraitindustrialZeche Zollvereinunique settingurban charmCoking Plant
A newlywed couple at the historic Hunton Park Hotel in England. This portrait highlights the beautiful venue amidst a romantic dusk setting.
Romantic Dusk: Newlyweds' Portrait at Historic Hunton Park Hotel
portraitEngland hotelHertfordshirevenueEnglandhotelHunton Park
A mesmerizing, black and white close-up portrait of a bride and groom about to share a kiss in the historic town of Gorizia, Italy, has been recognized by the WPJA Spotlight awards.
Anticipation of a Kiss: Intimate Moments in Gorizia
whitekisshistoricclose upGoriziabridemesmerizing kiss moment
A couple embraces on a charming street of the French Riviera while a curious cat strolls down the historic steps, in the WPJA Spotlight award-winning image.
Love and Whimsy: Embrace on the Streets of the French Riviera
curious cathistoricfrenchFrench Riviera streetsembracecatPACA
At the venue, the Marble House Project in Dorset VT, the happy couple is lifted off their feet for the traditional Hora dance captured by a skilled WPJA wedding photojournalist.
Happy Couple Lifted During Hora Dance at Marble House Project
Dorsetwedding venueMarble House ProjectHoraloveblissfuldestination
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!
sweatNimesgroomsmenhot daybreakgroomsmen chillcool off
Bride and groom pose within the soaring interior of the historic Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The couple's wedding day portrait captures the grandeur of the ornate old world space.
Istanbul Wedding: Bride and Groom in Sultanahmet Mosque's Grandeur
bridegroomBride and groom posegrandeurSultanahmet MosqueHistoric mosque interiorhistoric
A wedding portrait in Sofia, Bulgaria, features the bride and groom by historic old world building columns. The bride is bathed in sunlight, while the groom stands silhouetted against the blue sky behind her.
Sofia Wedding: Bride in Sunlight, Groom in Silhouette, Ancient Columns Embrace Them
old world wedding charmsilhouetteblue skygroomhistoric building columnsBulgariasunlit bride silhouette
In an enchanting village in France, this lovely couple shares a romantic kiss amidst the historic stone walls and narrow alleys of La Garde Adhémar.
Romantic Couple Poses Within Charming La Garde Adhémar for Engagement Portrait
Drôme engagement photographyalleywayDrômeFrench villageLa Garde Adhémarhistoricromantic kiss
In this stunning shot from Sao Paulo, the bride's portrait is perfectly framed by a wood window frame against a background of historic brick walls, capturing the juxtaposition of old world charm and modern beauty.
Picture-Perfect: A Bride Framed by History in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo Bridal Portraitold world charmhistoricbrick wallsSão Pauloframed bridevertical frame
Newlyweds kissing in front of a charming European building in Gent - Belgium while two cyclists observe with curiosity.
Newlyweds Share a Kiss in Front of Historic Gent Building
Charmingnewlyweds kissingBelgiumGhent wedding venueobservebuildingGhent photographers
The newlywed couple exits the iconic Abbazia di san Benedetto in Polirone, located in San Benedetto Po in Mantova, Italy, and joyfully releases a dove into the warm sunlight, surrounded by the shadows of the historic old world building.
Love Takes Flight: Wedding Photo Captures Joyful Dove Release at Historic Church
sunlightromanticelegantreleasing doveMantuaItaly Mantovashadows

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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.