Wedding Photos of Joy

The following “Joy” 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 “Joy” 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 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

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

venue picturesque memories celebration Isere capture bouquet toss

A lovely moment captured on the wedding day in Isère, France, as the newlyweds exit the Mairie de Domène under a cascade of bubbles, a symbol of joy and celebration.

Bubble Bliss: Newlyweds Exiting Mairie de Domène in Isère, France, Surrounded by Joyful Bubbles

newlyweds lovely Church wedding exit bubbles Isere Ceremony Exit celebration

In Oxfordshire, UK, a candid moment is caught on camera on wedding day at the venue, as the bride makes a humorous expression while her bridesmaids help adjust her dress.

Oxfordshire Bride's Candid Humorous Moment with Bridesmaids at Wedding Venue in UK

wedding photo candid joy love emotion Humorous Oxfordshire

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

Unity Town Hall bride laughter happiness celebration candid

A beautiful silhouette portrait of a newlywed couple sharing a kiss near their wedding venue at Arcadia in Portland, Maine, while a guest plays pinball in the background, adding a unique and playful twist to the fun wedding photo.

Romantic Kiss at Arcadia: Newlyweds Share Joy as Guest Plays Pinball in Portland

romantic silhouette Portland-ME guest games beautiful joy

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

Ogunquit newlyweds cove boat Ogunquit Wedding Portrait wedding photo romance

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

rustic bride and groom festive Cake Abbey Riding School photo venue Derby Reception Photography

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

wall DC Wedding Portrait beautiful love embraces happiness vibrant

Emotional black and white image captured at a bride and groom's home in Nances city, Savoie, France, showcasing a heartfelt first look as the bride sheds tears during an embrace on their wedding day.

Tears of Joy in Nances City: Emotional Monochrome First Look at Bride and Groom's Home

tears groom black and white joy love Nances Wedding Portrait intimate

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

Poggibonsi capture Podere il Pino bride Tuscany ceremony moment

A candid moment caught on camera during a wedding in Saint-Rémy de Provence, as the newlyweds are lifted up by their guests above dance floor in a joyful celebration.

Newlyweds Elevated by Guests in Dance Celebration at Wedding in Saint-Rémy de Provence

Saint Rémy Wedding Photography love marriage candid moment dance joy Elevated

A candid moment at a Ratchaburi rustic vintage farm wedding venue, where a young boy admiringly watches the groom dancing.

Young Boy Enthralled by Groom's Dance at Ratchaburi Rustic Vintage Farm Venue

celebration Ratchaburi Wedding Moment enthralled vintage child Thailand groom

A charming young boy in a stylish outfit joyfully blows bubbles outdoors during a wedding reception at Manoir du Chêne Rouge à Beaussais sur mer, captured in a nostalgic black and white photograph.

Boy's Bubbly Joy: Nostalgic Black and White Moment at Manoir du Chêne Rouge à Beaussais-sur-Mer

young boy stylish black and white Manoir du Chêne Rouge outfit wedding reception Beaussais sur Mer

A romantic moment at a Nanping Fujian hotel as the bride and groom make a grand entrance during their wedding dinner, surrounded by guests capturing the happy occasion on their cameras.

Grand Entrance: Love & Joy at Nanping Fujian Hotel - Bride and Groom's Perfect Wedding Dinner

groom Nanping bride happy occasion hotel bw Nanping wedding photography

A candid moment at a family home wedding captured in Maisons-Alfort, France, shows a young girl playing under the dinner table, surrounded by elegant women's legs, revealing a charming and heartwarming scene of hidden joy and innocence.

Cherished Scene: Young Girl Plays Amid Elegant Women's Legs at Maisons-Alfort Family Home Wedding

wedding photography playing candid moment heartwarming kids elegant table

A newlywed couple strolling the streets of Orléans in the sunshine and shadows after their civil ceremony, capturing love and joy on their wedding day.

Sun-Kissed Love: Newlyweds in Orléans Embrace Shadows and Sunshine on Wedding Day Stroll

embrace couple Strolling shadows wedding photography streets Orléans newlyweds

A joyful moment frozen in time at Punta Barranca salon in Rosario, Argentina, as groomsmen toss the bride high above the dance floor during a wedding celebration.Pablo Banterla, of Santa Fe, is a wedding photographer for

Exquisite Moment at Punta Barranca Salon: Groomsmen Toss Bride High in Rosario Wedding Joy

Rosario moment Argentina Argentina wedding moment bride Santa Fe photographer salon

A joyous couple laughs during their lakeside ceremony in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, framed by vibrant, beautiful flowers capturing a unique and charming moment on their wedding day.

Lakeside Laughter: Vibrant Flowers Frame Joyous Couple's Charming Lake Tekapo Wedding Moment

joy Lakeside beautiful Lake Tekapo shore Lake Tekapo Elopement Ceremony bride

Bride dancing energetically under DJ lights with her friends at Fazenda Fernão Velho venue on the wedding day.

Joyful Bride Embracing Fun Moments with Friends at Fazenda Fernão Velho Wedding Celebration

dancing friends fun dance Fazenda Fernão Velho joy celebration

In Tennessee, a candid moment at a Gatlinburg wedding venue as a child and a bride both point excitedly at the wedding cake, symbolizing anticipation and joy.

Excitement Captured: Child and Bride Pointing at Wedding Cake in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Venue

child wedding venue Tennessee captured candid moment boy cake cutting

In the heart of London at The Ned, a candid moment unfolds as the bride and bridesmaids joyfully greet a street cleaner, setting the scene for a fun-filled wedding celebration captured in this documentary-style photograph.

Heartfelt Encounter: Bride and Bridesmaids Spark Joyful Interaction with Street Cleaner at The Ned

The Ned Documentary joy fun heartwarming street photography London Wedding Photography celebration

Bride and groom having fun with shots at their Addington Palace wedding, captured in a candid moment of celebration during the party.

Captured Moments: Bride and Groom's Joyful Shots at Addington Palace Wedding Celebration

couple happiness union bride London groom England

A romantic shot at a picture-perfect outdoor wedding in Udaipur, Rajasthan, capturing the love and joy between two people against a gorgeous sunset backdrop.

A Romantic Sunset Moment at an Idyllic Outdoor Wedding in Udaipur, Rajasthan

Rajasthan Wedding Portrait backdrop couple meaningful Udaipur Blue clouds

In Cloars Fouesnant, France, this candid shot captures the bride surrounded by guests playing the ribbon game at a lively wedding celebration.

Bride Embraced By Guests Playing Ribbon Game At Lively Cloars Fouesnant Wedding Celebration

memories candid Brittany Finistère Wedding Photography guests Cloars Fouesnant love

Newlyweds arrive by boat at the Doge Palace in Venice, greeted by cheering guests on the docks, captured in a candid moment of joy and celebration at their wedding party.

Newlyweds Arrive By Boat At The Doge Palace In Venice For Wedding Celebration

joy guests celebration romance newlyweds love Venice

Embracing bride and groom posing beneath a large, warmly lit art sculpture on their wedding day in Almería, Spain.

Bride and Groom Bask in Love under Glowing Art Sculpture in Almería, Spain

happiness romance tradition Forever celebration vows joy

A picture of a happy couple on their wedding day in Málaga, Spain. The bride and groom are standing under her veil by the sea, with smiles on their faces, against a backdrop of a blue sky.

Sparkling Love: Newlyweds Embracing under Veil by Sea in Málaga, Spain, Against Blue Sky

groom Malaga Spain Malaga wedding portrait ocean marriage joy

A charming couple dances joyfully on their wedding day in the urban streets of Cazorla, Jaén, Spain, with a vibrant spray painted mural serving as a colorful backdrop. The couple exudes happiness and love in this lively image.

Charmed Couple's Street Dance: Vibrant Love in Cazorla, Jaén, Spain's Urban Mural Fête

streets lively colorful celebration love Jaén Cazorla Wedding Portrait

A romantic wedding photo captured in Torredonjimeno, Jaén, Spain. The bride and groom stand apart, reaching out to each other's hands, with a small dog curiously looking on in the background.

Romantic Wedding Moment in Torredonjimeno: Bride, Groom, and Curious Dog Share Connection

joy affection Spain hands love Torredonjimeno Wedding Portrait romantic wedding

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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.