Wedding Photos of Memories

The following “Memories” 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 “Memories” 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.

Wedding photo taken at The Secret Tower in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The groom and his young son are captured pulling funny faces in this moment captured by a photographer.

Father and Son's Silly Moment at Newcastle's Secret Tower Wedding Delights Photographers

At the Meridian Banquet Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, a bride bids farewell to her family following the heartwarming wedding ceremony.

A Bride's Farewell at The Meridian Banquet Center

bride Michigan memories joy celebration farewell family

Bride, groom, and bridesmaid with a red umbrella leave bride's childhood home 'Wang Tao House' in Tai Po, Hong Kong, heading to the ceremony venue in sentimental image capturing a traditional moment on the wedding day.

Sentimental Moment: Bride, Groom, and Bridesmaid Leave Childhood Home 'Wang Tao House' in Tai Po

love family Wang Tao House Tai Po memories getting ready bridesmaid

Emotional moment captured at Malibou Lake Lodge in Agoura Hills, CA, as the parents of the bride and groom wipe away tears during the outdoor wedding ceremony.

Parents' Emotional Moment at Malibou Lake Lodge Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

sitting chairs family outdoor ceremony wiping tears joy Agoura Hills

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

special day sails sail bride happiness sailing first voyage

On the wedding day, at Domaine Mas du Conte, the groom and his best men enjoy a moment together, sharing a glass of whiskey while seated on a cozy couch.

Groom and Best Men Bond Over Whiskey at Domaine Mas Du Conte Wedding Celebration

Canet en Roussillon groom bond together raised glasses Domaine Mas du Conte special event

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

outdoor wedding bouquet toss memories joy picturesque happiness Chateau de Montalieu

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

special occasion memories love Trieste happy sunshine Newlywed couple

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

memories capture Tuscany sunlit Ceremony wedding photo Podere il Pino ceremony

A tender moment at a wedding captured at Nanping, Fujian church as a girl sheds tears and crouches with hands covering her face during the emotional ceremony.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Moment at Nanping

moment ceremony Nanping Wedding Moment Fujian girl emotional Nanping

A captivating black and white wedding photograph taken from above at a farm venue in São Paulo, Brazil, showcasing the bride in her flowing dress surrounded by a circle of friends, evoking a sense of timeless elegance and cherished memories.

Timeless Elegance: Bride and Friends in Flowing Dresses at São Paulo Farm Wedding

evoking friends Sao Paulo wedding photography black white São Paulo above view bw Wedding Photography

A captivating photo captured during a São Paulo, Brazil wedding, featuring love and resilience taking center stage as the newlyweds share a cake-cutting moment surrounded by jubilant guests at the venue.

Love and Resilience: Newlyweds Share Cake-Cutting Moment at São Paulo Wedding Celebration

wedding photo love cake cutting captured emotional moment special venue

A captivating wedding portrait taken in Beaujolais, France, showcasing the bride against a beautifully lit Lyon skyline during the blue hour.

Bride's Radiance: Lyon Skyline Backdrop in Beaujolais at Blue Hour Wedding Portrait

France bride memories Beaujolais bride skyline blue hour Beaujolais Bridal Portrait

An elegant wedding scene captured at The Sanya Edition Hotel in China, as the couple's niece watches attentively during their first dance, adding a sweet touch to the celebration.

Lovely Niece Observes Adoringly: First Dance Magic at The Sanya Edition Hotel in China

couple first dance love Sanya Wedding Moment happiness elegant niece

A candid behind-the-scenes shot from a wedding day preparations at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou, China, showcasing the couple and their loved ones getting ready together.

Elegant Wedding Day Preparations at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou Capturing Love in Candid Moments

Hangzhou City memories loved ones hotel Elegance intimate celebration moment

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

shots celebration toast drinks memories toasting red dress

In a wedding photo at Planet Hollywood, Goa, India, a bride, who is a dog trainer, shares an emotional moment with her beloved Indie dog, 'Panty', who served as the ring bearer on her special day.

Emotional Goa Wedding: Bride, Dog Trainer, Panty the Indie Dog at Planet Hollywood

pets emotional goa bride bride goa ring bearer dog

A vibrant and joyful wedding moment captured at Grand Hyatt in Goa, India, as the bride walks down the aisle surrounded by festive colors and celebration, epitomizing the joy and fun of the party atmosphere at this memorable event.

Bride's Joyful Journey at Grand Hyatt In Goa, India's Festive Wedding Party

joyful event memories Grand Hyatt happiness atmosphere celebration

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

family Finistère Wedding Photography love outdoors happiness ribbon game joy

Wedding couple embraces at Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA, captured in documentary style as family and friends joyfully dance in a circle around them.

Embracing Love: Wedding Couple at Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA, Surrounded by Joyful Celebration

memories circle Pittsburgh Wedding Moment love documentary style joyful family

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

vows beauty Commitment love Unity Elegance Forever

A heartwarming moment is captured during a wedding ceremony as the couple exchanges vows and rings, promising a lifetime of love and warmth in Shanghai, China.

Exchanging Vows: A Heartwarming Wedding Moment in Shanghai, China

celebration China memories Commitment rings Shanghai Ceremony Photography joy

Guests joyfully celebrating at a wedding reception in Villa Santorini, Brazil, captured through nostalgic black and white style.

Nostalgic Elegance: Guests Celebrating a Wedding in Villa Santorini, Brazil in Classic Black & White

memories wedding celebration Brazil event guests reception candid

Engagement portrait of a couple taken at their high school campus in Fujian. This stunning set of wedding photos captures their love and nostalgia, beautifully photographed by a top China wedding photographer.

Fujian's High School Sweethearts: An Engagement Portrait Capturing Love and Nostalgia

high school campus nostalgia memories Fujian Fujian Engagement Portrait umbrellas

Cimitero nuptial day award-winning image of Memories

memories clouds bride and groom Cimitero Cimitero wedding image blue sky

artistic wedding couple portrait with some fun Dancing against the towering buildings

celebration Hambacher Schloss artistic dancing towering buildings castle fun

creative wedding day portrait of the bride and groom at the Hotel standing near a Crystal lamp

hotel China Crystal Lamp Guangdong wedding picture memories creative joyful

Vietnam Phu Quoc Island - You and I go and save memories everywhere we can

save memories everywhere we can - mural couple portrait

Phu Quoc Island engagement images Phu Quoc Island pre wedding portrait Phu Quoc Island Huy Che Hoang Phu Quoc Island engagement photography mural couple portrait

Olympic Hills Wedding Day Pictures | Couple portrait around string lights

Wedding Day Picture of a Couple portrait around string lights

Olympic Hills String Lights wedding portrait couple day memories

beach wedding day portrait of a silhouetted couple in black and white

Northampton Beach Portrait Northampton photography Northampton beach memories Romantic Fate black and white

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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.