Wedding Photos of Mother

The following “Mother” 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 “Mother” 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.

During the outdoor civil ceremony at Villa Biloba in the south of Dordogne, the groom’s mother is overcome with emotion, comforted compassionately by both his brother and his daughter.

Emotional Portrait Of The Groom’s Mother Being Comforted At Villa Biloba In South Dordogne

During preparations at Lake Como, Italy, the bride’s brother assists their mother with her dress while enjoying a beer, illustrating a relaxed and supportive family moment before the ceremony.

Relaxed Family Moment At Lake Como Italy Features A Brother Assisting His Mother Before The Ceremony

Italy mother Relaxed supportive dress assistance Preparations supportive beer

A mother looks on while her daughter, the bride, has makeup applied in Kaifeng, China, as a flower girl peeks curiously from behind, sharing in the excitement of wedding preparations.

Mother Observes Bridal Makeup As A Flower Girl Peeks In Kaifeng, China

bridal makeup scene applied observes peek Preparations bride flowergirl

At his home in Suzzara, Mantova, Italy, the groom and his mother share an intimate, tender moment together before the wedding.

Groom Shares A Quiet Emotional Moment With His Mother In Suzzara, Mantova, Italy

moment Suzzara home wedding intimate groom mother moment Mantua tender emotional

At Gunnersbury Park in London, the bride, accompanied by her mother, arrives at the ceremony, anticipation and emotion marking their meaningful walk together.

Bride Walks Beside Her Mother Toward Ceremony At Gunnersbury Park In London, England

walk bride mother ceremony meaningful ceremony arrival London Gunnersbury Park wedding

During the reception at Salvage One in Chicago, IL, a tender moment unfolds between mother and son as they share a heartfelt dance together in front of wedding guests.

At Salvage One In Chicago, Illinois, Mother And Son Share A Tender Dance Amid Wedding Guests During The Heartfelt Reception.

Salvage One venue heartfelt mother son bw Salvage One wedding reception Chicago dance mother

As the bride prepares at Edwards Mansion in Redlands, California, her friend helps her with an earring while her mother waits, wedding veil in hand.

At Edwards Mansion In Redlands, California, A Friend Helps The Bride With An Earring As Her Mother Waits

friend Redlands bride mother California - Southern veil Edwards Mansion

At the bride’s house in Paladru, Isère, the bride’s sisters and mother make final adjustments to her hairstyle, sharing a warm and intimate family moment before the ceremony.

Family Love Radiates As Bride’s Sisters And Mother Finish Her Hairstyle At Home In Paladru, Isère, Before Ceremony.

Adjustment Paladru intimacy Paladru bride mother Paladru wedding pre ceremony bride hairstyle family

At Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont, the bride and guests react with emotion and delight as the groom dances with his mother during the wedding reception.

Delight And Emotion Erupt At Sugarbush Resort In Warren, Vermont When Groom Dances With His Mother During Reception.

bw emotional wedding reaction Warren VT DELIGHT groom mother groom mother dance

In Kerlouan, a touching embrace takes place between a groom and his mother, immediately following her moving speech, encapsulating the emotion and connection of the occasion.

Genuine Connection Is Captured In Kerlouan As The Groom Shares A Touching Embrace With His Mother After Her Speech.

Kerlouan wedding venue speech embrace moving wedding speech Kerlouan mother connection

While the bride finishes getting dressed at her family home in Donegal Town, Ireland, her mother looks on quietly, filled with emotion and anticipation for the ceremony.

A Mother Watches Quietly, Filled With Emotion And Anticipation, As Bride Finishes Dressing At Family Home In Donegal Town.

Donegal bride anticipation mother emotion mother watching bride home dressing

At Captains Club in Dorset, UK, a mother’s hands gently dress her daughter for the final time, the age and tenderness shown against the pure white wedding gown.

Mothers Hands Dress Her Daughter for the Last Time at Captains Club in Dorset UK

tender moment final gown dress Captains Club mother daughter

At The Branch Museum in Richmond, VA, a mother and son take to the dance floor, sharing an emotional dance in front of friends and family during the wedding reception.

Mother And Son Create An Emotional Memory Dancing Together At The Branch Museum, Richmond, Virginia, Surrounded By Family.

family emotion memory mother son memory son emotional family dance Richmond

At Popponesset Inn in Mashpee, Massachusetts, the mother of the bride clasps a friend’s hand, emotion evident as she listens to her husband’s heartfelt wedding toast.

Mother of Bride Clasps Friend’s Hand Listening to Emotional Toast at Popponesset Inn Massachusetts

hand toast photography emotional mother friend Mashpee toast

Just before the ceremony in Martos, Jaén, Spain, the bride gently wipes away a tear from her mother’s face, revealing a touching moment of connection and role reversal.

Bride Gently Wipes Away Tear From Mother’s Face Before Ceremony In Martos, Jaén, Spain, Sharing Tender Connection

reveal mother wipe tender face gently Martos Spain ceremony

At Garvan's in New Paltz, New York, the mother of the bride laughs wholeheartedly as an unexpected piece of cake ends up on her face during the lively cake-cutting festivities.

Mother Of The Bride Laughs During Cake Cutting At Garvan’s In New Paltz, New York

bride cutting Garvans New Paltz wedding cake unexpected face lively

At Villa Celincordia in Cesena, Italy, the bride holds her mother’s hand, featuring intricate wedding henna designs, creating a meaningful and emotional connection between generations.

Bride Holds Her Mother’s Henna-Adorned Hand At Villa Celincordia In Cesena, Italy

generations Villa Celincordia bride henna adorned hand Forlì-Cesena Cesena emotional Emotional connection

During the ceremony at Piney River Ranch, the mother of the groom’s emotional reaction is visible, adding a deeply personal touch to the stunning outdoor setting.

A Mother’s Emotional Reaction Takes Center Stage During The Ceremony At Piney River Ranch, Set Against Colorado's Mountains.

Piney River Ranch venue reaction emotional mother ceremony Piney River Ranch Colorado personal touch emotion

At home in Taiyuan, Shanxi, the bride shares a warm embrace with her mother, whose face radiates happiness and pride, capturing a tender bond on this special day.

Bride And Mother Share Warm Embrace At Home In Taiyuan, Shanxi, Mother's Face Radiating Happiness And Pride On Wedding Day

happiness love special day joyful Shanxi China Taiyuan

At the groom’s home in Gonzaga, Mantua, Italy, after a family portrait, his mother gently seeks a heartfelt connection with him. The groom appears visibly moved, captured in an intimate black-and-white image.

Mother Seeks Heartfelt Connection With Groom After Family Portrait At Gonzaga Home, Mantua, Intimate Black And White Image Captures Emotional Moment

Gonzaga connection touching mother Mantua groom Italy

In a cozy Maryland backyard, a father dances with his daughter while a mother shares the dance floor with her son, highlighting the family’s joyful milestones.

A Father And Daughter Dance Together In A Cozy Maryland Backyard Highlighting Joyful And Significant Family Milestones

cozy mother daughter highlight son joyful joyful family dance

Inside the bride’s home in Montefiascone, VT, a playful game unfolds as the bride and her mother toss balloons to each other that will later become part of the wedding decorations.

A Playful Game Unfolds As The Bride And Mother Toss Balloons Inside Their Home In Montefiascone Viterbo Italy

Montefiascone red montefiascone viterbo game Viterbo Montefiascone playful

In Istanbul, Turkey, a heartwarming pause takes place as a mother and her son enjoy a tender moment together while waiting for the bride’s arrival.

A Mother And Son Enjoy A Heartwarming And Tender Moment While Waiting For The Bride In Istanbul Turkey

bride tender heartwarming moment tender pause heartwarming mother enjoy

At Château du Chapeau Cornu in Vignieu, France, the mother of the bride stands by, holding the wedding dress and reflecting on this meaningful, emotional day.

The Mother Of The Bride Holds The Wedding Dress At Château Du Chapeau Cornu In Vignieu France

meaningful mother Chateau du Chapeau Cornu Vignieu bride mother reflection meaningful wedding holds

At Wild Basin Lodge in Allenspark, Colorado, the bride invites her mother to the dance floor for a special first dance, honoring the person who taught her how to dance.

The Bride Invites Her Mother To The Dance Floor At Wild Basin Lodge In Allenspark Colorado

Wild Basin Lodge special invites basin floor first mother daughter moment

During a golden sunset in Brignoles, France, the groom’s mother delivers a heartfelt speech, her words resonating with warmth and emotion among the evening’s guests.

The Groom’s Mother Delivers A Heartfelt Speech During A Golden Sunset In Brignoles Var France

mother guests brignoles var speech Brignoles groom emotion

Holme Pierrepont Hall hosts a special moment as the mother of the bride delivers a touching speech dressed in a stunning green gown.

The Mother Of The Bride Delivers A Touching Speech At Holme Pierrepont Hall In Nottinghamshire England

mother touching delivers Nottinghamshire bride pierrepont hall

During the reception at The Barn at Walnut Hill in Yarmouth, Maine, a mother and son share a touching dance, surrounded by the warmth of family and friends.

A Mother And Son Share A Touching Dance At The Barn At Walnut Hill In Maine

touching wedding dance dance Mother Son Dance The Barn at Walnut Hill wedding family Yarmouth ME Maine

In Duluth, Minnesota, the photographer captures a joyful moment as the mother laughs while holding melting, bent candles in a holder, skillfully highlighting candid humor and genuine celebration.

Duluth Mother's Joyful Laugh with Melting Candles Wedding Celebration

Minnesota melting candles humor candle holder laughing joyful moment Duluth MN

At the bride’s home in London, the photographer captures a tender pre-ceremony moment between the bride and her mother, expertly preserving anticipation, humor, and meaningful connection.

Bride Shares Tender Pre-Ceremony Moment With Mother At Home In London Highlighting Anticipation And Connection

connection pre ceremony moment pre ceremony London home bride London 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.