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Wedding Photos of Pre ceremony moment

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The following “Pre ceremony moment” 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 “Pre ceremony moment” 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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While the groom prepares at the Castle of Roussillon in Lot, France, the family's loyal dog watches him closely, adding warmth to this pre-ceremony moment.
Family Dog Watches The Groom Prepare For His Wedding At The Castle Of Roussillon
Lotpre ceremony momentpreparationloyaltyloyal dogceremonyCastle of Roussillon wedding
Through the window of a vintage car outside Chiesa del Crocifisso in Longiano, Italy, one can glimpse the bride, moments before she enters the church to begin her ceremony.
Glimpses Of The Bride Seen Through A Vintage Car Window Outside Chiesa Del Crocifisso, Longiano, Before Entering For Her Ceremony.
bridemomentChiesa del Crocifisso weddingChiesa del CrocifissoglimpseChiesa del Crocifisso venuepre ceremony moment
In Trieste, Italy, the loving father of the bride leans in closely to tenderly kiss his daughter upon her forehead before the ceremony.
Trieste, Italy: A Loving Father’s Tender Kiss Before His Daughter’s Wedding Ceremony
TriesteTrieste Wedding Momentfather and daughtertender kissloving fatherpre ceremony moment
At the town hall in Puy de Dôme, the groom’s mother and father share a heartfelt hug before entering for the wedding ceremony.
Puy de Dôme Town Hall Wedding: Groom’s Parents Share Hug Before Ceremony
heartfelt hugPuy de Dome Wedding Momentpre ceremony momentFamily MomentPuy-de-Dômegrooms parents
In Valence, France, two women prepare for the wedding, each having hair and makeup done simultaneously by helpers—one indoors and one outside, highlighting the busy pre-ceremony atmosphere.
Valence, France Wedding: Women Simultaneously Get Hair And Makeup Done Indoors And Outside
preparing for weddingFranceValenceblack and whitehair and makeuppre ceremony momentDrôme
Bride checks her reflection, a serene moment before the ceremony at Deer Park Villa in Fairfax, CA.
A Bride's Final Serene Moment at Fairfax's Deer Park Villa
pre ceremony momentchecking makeupDeer Park VillaFairfax CACalifornia - NorthernreflectionFairfax CA Wedding Moment
Swinton Estate elopement: The groom kneels to help his bride put on her wedding shoes during preparation.
Groom Kneels To Help Bride With Wedding Shoes At Swinton Estate Elopement
Swinton EstateNorth Yorkshire Wedding MomentNorth Yorkshire Elopementgroom assisting bridepre ceremony momentputting on shoesNorth Yorkshire
The bride shaves her armpit at La Médicée, France, in a private moment before the wedding ceremony.
Bride Shares Candid Moment Shaving Armpit Before Wedding At La Médicée, France
pre ceremony momentshaving armpitsLa MédicéeHaute-Savoieprivate momentHaute Savoie Wedding Moment
Guests await the groom outside Église Saint-Maurice de Lille before the religious ceremony.
A Quiet Anticipation: Guests Gather for a Groom in a Lille Church
Église Saint-Maurice de Lillepre ceremony momentguests waitingLilleLille wedding photography
A bridesmaid is silhouetted against the scenic vineyard landscape of Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington, Connecticut, as she has her hair styled before the wedding ceremony begins.
A Bridesmaid Is Silhouetted Against The Vineyard Landscape Of Saltwater Farm Vineyard In Stonington Connecticut Portrait
pre ceremony momenthair stylingvineyardSaltwater Farm VineyardConnecticutsilhouettedStonington
At a hotel in Taian, Shandong, the photographer captures the groom’s first look as he enters and sees the bride, expertly freezing genuine emotion and anticipation at this unforgettable moment.
Groom’s First Look At Bride In Hotel Room Taian Shandong Captures Genuine Emotion And Anticipation
grooms first lookpre ceremony momentmirror reflectionTaian Wedding PhotographyHotel in TaianTaianShandong
At Cliff at Lyons, Ireland, the photographer captures the bride’s dad reacting emotionally to seeing her in her dress, expertly preserving a touching, unforgettable pre-ceremony moment.
Bride’s Dad Reacts Emotionally To Seeing Her In Dress At Cliff At Lyons Ireland Wedding
touchingreactionbridemomentemotionemotional reactionfather
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
London weddingpre ceremonyfamilymotherbridepre ceremony momentconnection
The bride receives assistance to put on her wedding gown from loved ones in a tender pre-ceremony moment at The Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, California.
Sweet Pre-Ceremony Moment as Bride Receives Help With Her Wedding Gown at The Grand Tradition in Fallbrook California
pre ceremony momentpreparationpreceremonyFamily Supporttendergownbride
Flower girls excitedly prepare for the wedding at The Heights Golf Club, San Diego, California.
Excited Flower Girls Prepare for Wedding Day at The Heights Golf Club, San Diego
San Diego documentary wedding photographypreparingSan DiegoThe Heights Golf Clubflower girlspre ceremony moment
In Atlanta, bride shares emotional moment with dad, who cries while seeing her before the wedding ceremony,
Bride Shares Emotional Moment With Crying Dad Before Atlanta Wedding Ceremony Begins
Atlanta Documentary Wedding PhotographycryingBride and fatherAtlantapre ceremony momentemotional Father
At Domaine de la Chopiniere, France, friends gently help the bride button her wedding dress before the ceremony begins.
Friends Tenderly Assist Bride with Dress Buttons at Domaine de la Chopiniere, France Ceremony
putting on dressvertical compositionIndre-et-Loirebuttoning dresshelping bridepre ceremony momentIndre et Loire Wedding Photography
Groomsmen prepare at Domaine de la Trinité, adjusting suits and sharing laughter before the wedding ceremony.
Groomsmen Share Laughter While Preparing at Domaine de la Trinité Before Ceremony
Domaine de la Trinitésharing laughterHeraultpre ceremony momentgroomsmen preparMauguioadjusting suits
The happy father of the bride smiles warmly at Warwick House, Southam, UK, radiating pride and joy before the ceremony.
Father of the Bride Smiles Warmly, Radiating Joy at Warwick House, Southam, UK
father of brideWarwickshireWarwick Houseradiating joySouthamWarwickshire Documentary Wedding Photopre ceremony moment
At Canford School, Dorset, the bride is beautifully reflected in a mirror while finishing getting dressed before the ceremony.
Bride's Poignant Reflection Before Ceremony at Canford School
reflected in mirrorDorsetDorset Documentary Wedding Photographypre ceremony momentDorset brideCanford Schoolgetting dressed
At Alte Schlossfabrik, Solingen, groomsmen help the groom adjust his cuffs, capturing candid, supportive moments before the wedding ceremony.
Groomsmen Adjust Groom's Cuffs at Alte Schlossfabrik
adjusting cuffslow angleAlte SchlossfabrikSolingenpre ceremony momentassisting the groomNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Bride and her father share a tender moment on outdoor stairs in Pezenas, France, before the wedding ceremony.
Father-Daughter Tenderness: Heartfelt Moment on Pezenas Stairs Before the Ceremony
Pezenas Photographerclimbing stairsHeraultPezenaspre ceremony momentBride and father
In Tarnos, France, the bride’s daughter gently helps her mother put on shoes, capturing a tender pre-ceremony moment.
Bride's Daughter Tenderly Assists with Shoes in Heartfelt Tarnos, France Pre-Ceremony Moment
assisting brideLandespre ceremony momentbrides daughterNouvelle-AquitaineTarnos Documentary Wedding PhotographyTarnos
Bride shares a tender kiss with her mother at scenic Gardener Ranch before her wedding ceremony.
Bride Shares Tender Kiss with Mother at Gardener Ranch
Carmel Valley Wedding Photographytender kissCarmel ValleyGardener RanchCalifornia - Northernbride motherpre ceremony moment
Witnesses adjust groom's collar as the parents watch at Monticelli Brusati, Parrocchia dei Santi Tirso e Emiliano.
Witnesses Adjust Groom's Collar as Parents Watch at Parrocchia dei Santi Tirso e Emiliano
Brescia wedding photographyMonticelli BrusatiBresciahelping groomparentspre ceremony momentParrocchia dei Santi Tirso e Emiliano
Moments before the ceremony at Zen, Greenville, the bride and her brother share a joyful, heartfelt group hug with their parents.
Zen Ceremony Warmth: Bride and Brother Share Joyful Hug with Parents in Greenville
pre ceremony momentZen Greenvillebw imageSouth Carolinaparentsbride and brothergroup hug
At Morden Park House, the bride stands quietly with her bouquet in hand, composed and ready just before the ceremony.
Morden Park Poise: Bride Stands Composed with Bouquet Before Ceremony Begins
MordencomposedWaitingMorden Bridereadybouquet in handLondon wedding photography
At Clanard Court Hotel, the bride shares a tender morning moment with her daughter during wedding preparations before the ceremony.
Bride's Tender Embrace with Daughter at Clanard Court Wedding Morning Preparations
Kildare Documentary Wedding PhotographyClanard Court HotelCounty Kildarelawnpre ceremony momentbride and daughter
At a home in Cascade Heights, Atlanta, the couple holds hands around a corner before the ceremony.
Cascade Heights Wedding: Couple Holds Hands Around Corner Before Ceremony in Atlanta
AtlantaCascade Heightsaround cornerholding handsHome photoCascade Heights Wedding Photographypre ceremony moment
At The Retreat, Sarasota, bridesmaids assist the bride, carefully adjusting her dress before the ceremony, in a sunlit room.
Bridesmaids Perfect Bride’s Attire for Sarasota Ceremony
putting on dressassisting brideThe Retreat Sarasotaadjusting dresspre ceremony momentFloridalow angle

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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.