Wedding Photos of Reaction

The following “Reaction” 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 “Reaction” 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 happy couple gazes at ducks swimming in Pine Lake, Georgia, during their engagement photoshoot.

Joyful Gaze at Pine Lake Ducks: Georgia Engagement Bliss Captured.

At Villa di Ulignano in Tuscany, Italy, the bride and her father share a reaction of joy and excitement upon seeing the groom as they arrive at the wedding ceremony. This heartfelt moment underscores the anticipation and happiness of the day.

Joyful Arrival: Bride and Father Share Excitement at Villa di Ulignano Ceremony

Italy happiness Villa di Ulignano heartfelt father bride joy ceremony reaction italian wedding

At Waterside Country Barn in Taunton, UK, during the outdoor ceremony, the bride gazes at the groom with her mouth wide open in expression, while the officiant speaks into a microphone. This moment captures her animated reaction amid the vows.

Expressive Vows: Bride's Animated Reaction During Ceremony at Waterside Country Barn

vows gazing Taunton UK somerset weddings Taunton Wedding Moment Animated Bridal Reaction Waterside Country Barn

At the Old Court Wedding Company in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, the bride lets out a scream as a very large spider drops onto her dress during her wedding ceremony with the groom. This unexpected event brings a surprising and memorable twist to the day.

Bride Screams as Large Spider Drops on Dress at Co. Down Wedding, Adding Memorable Ceremony Twist

surprise reaction Large Spider Northern Ireland Old Court Wedding co County Down Event Co Down Wedding

In a Cleveland, Ohio hotel room, the bride, with her back to the camera, shares a surprise hidden under her robe with her bridesmaids. Their faces light up with surprise and delight as they react to the unexpected reveal.

In a Cleveland, Ohio hotel room, the bride reveals a surprise under her robe to her bridesmaids, whose faces light up with surprise and delight at the unexpected visuals.

Cleveland wedding happiness reveal preparation reaction anticipation celebration

At Mountain Shadows in Scottsdale, Arizona, the bride's family reacts with awe and delight upon seeing her for the first time. She turns to reveal the back of her dress and veil, with the groom standing beside her, smiling warmly.

Bride's Reveal at Mountain Shadows Stuns Family, Groom Smiles

Scottsdale first look urban groom dress love Arizona

During the vows at a 's-Hertogenbosch, Noord Brabant ceremony, guests in the front row react emotionally, with three wiping away tears, capturing the heartfelt atmosphere of the moment.

During the vows at a 's-Hertogenbosch, Noord Brabant ceremony, front-row guests react emotionally, with three wiping away tears, capturing the heartfelt atmosphere.

moment intimacy NB Wedding celebration Sentiment Heartfelt Atmosphere connection

At BrookLodge, Ireland, a champagne cork unexpectedly pops, narrowly missing a bridesmaid, leading to surprised expressions from the bride and her bridesmaids.

Champagne Cork Pops and Surprises Bride and Bridesmaids at BrookLodge, Ireland

celebration BrookLodge Wedding Moment BrookLodge Ireland moment Unexpected Champagne Surprise BrookLodge Ireland

The groom's astonishment and delight as he discovers the surprise gift—a beautifully crafted book featuring his bride's boudoir session, leaving him touched and speechless.

Groom Astonished by Surprise Boudoir Photo Book Gift from Bride

touched Boudoir Book Reveal Boudoir Session California - Central DELIGHT surprise gift reaction

In the breathtaking scenery of North Cheyenne Canyon Park, Colorado Springs, CO, the groom is visibly moved, his emotions overflowing upon seeing his bride for the first time, creating a touching and unforgettable moment.

Groom Overcome with Emotion at First Sight of Bride in North Cheyenne Canyon Park, Colorado Springs, CO

breathtaking scenery bride atmosphere emotions scene touching moment North Cheyenne Canyon Park

Emotions run high during the ceremony in Budapest, Hungary, as the groom is moved to tears and a caring guest offers him a napkin.

Groom in Tears, Guest Lends Napkin at Emotional Budapest Wedding

support wedding reaction Caring moment heartfelt candid

A bride joyfully reacts as she enters Cissbury Barns in West Sussex for dinner in this wedding photo.

Breathtaking Moment: Bride's Joyful Entrance to Cissbury Barns Dinner in West Sussex Wedding Photo

entrance West Sussex Cissbury Barns beautiful bride West Sussex wedding photography dinner

A humorous moment captured at Fritz Farm in Montreal, Quebec, as the notary reacts to the groom's struggle to put the ring on the bride's finger during the outdoor ceremony.

Montreal Outdoor Wedding Sees Groom's Ring Struggle in Fritz Farm Fiasco

Montreal Notary groom Quebec Montreal outdoor ceremony Fritz Farm Outdoor Ceremony Montreal outdoor wedding Fritz Farm Wedding Photographer

At the Jio convention in Mumbai, the groom is moved to tears as he lays eyes on his bride for the first time. This touching moment captures the love they share and their hopes for the future.

Heartwarming Tears of Love: Mumbai Jio Convention Chronicles the Groom's Unforgettable Reaction

Jio Convention love Mumbai tears heartwarming groom Mumbai wedding photography

Cambridge, UK outdoor marriage reception party award-winning photo that has recorded a grooms reaction to the bride holding the cake knife

Cambridge wedding reportage cake knife Cambridge bride groom reaction

A Cleveland wedding photographer in Ohio created this image of the First look reaction of the bridesmaid of bride in her gown

first look bride reaction Cleveland wedding photography OH Ohio wedding image bridesmaid

Hamble wedding moment picture showing the fathers reaction in BW

England photographer Hamble Hamble wedding picture reaction hampshire bride father

Croydon, UK Church wedding photography of the Bride and groom reaction during the sermon

sermon Emil Boczek UK Church wedding photo reaction Croydon bride and groom

Wedding photograph from New Jersey - bride and groom make same reaction as bride's dad toasts during NJ backyard wedding

Wedding photo New Jersey dad toasts NJ backyard wedding bride bride and groom reaction

Pennsylvania wedding photo of the groom's reaction to seeing his bride walk into the church as his father/best man takes it all in.

best man JD Land father reaction groom bride walk church

Bulgaria wedding photo from Aglika Palace, Zhrebchevo showing The reaction of the bride and the ceremony master after the bride kick the copper pot

bride reaction Bulgaria wedding photo Bulgaria bride with groom Zhrebchevo ceremony master

the grooms reaction during the ceremony

Nantucket outdoor weddings Nantucket The groom MA ceremony White Elephant

The grooms reaction from a toast given by his best man

grooms Scripps Seaside Forum La Jolla tears toast bw San Diego wedding photography

Father of the bride choking on champagne after seeing the bride in her dress | Euridge Manor Wedding | The Lost Orangery, Euridge Manor, Wiltshire UK

image of the Father of the bride choking on champagne after seeing the bride in her dress at Euridge Manor Wedding, The Lost Orangery, Euridge Manor, Wiltshire UK

father reaction Wiltshire candid shot emotional The Lost Orangery champagne

Bridesmaids react to bride in her dress at The Grove, Hertfordshire

Clutching Bouquets and Teary-Eyed: Bridesmaids Witness the Bride's Unveiling at The Grove, Hertfordshire

bridesmaids clutching UK Hertfordshire bridesmaids bouquets unveiling Emotional moment

Genoa, Italy wedding photography - father of bride getting emotional on first look

Emotional Echoes: A Father's Reaction in Genoa

Genoa marriage venue gown getting ready Genoa emotional dress doorway

Wedding shot in Lake Tahoe of guests reacting to the bride and groom during their first dance

Unforgettable Moments: The First Dance in Lake Tahoe

celebration romantic moments guests California photographer love happy

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.