Wedding Photos of Significance

The following “Significance” 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 “Significance” 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.

At a reception venue in Krakow, Malopolskie, a tight shot captures the bride embracing her emotional mother. The heartfelt hug underscores the deep bond and significance of the moment.

Bride Shares Heartfelt Hug with Mother in Krakow

At The Naka Phuket in Thailand, the bride becomes emotional and can't hold back her tears as she practices her wedding vows during bridal preparation, highlighting the significance and heartfelt nature of the upcoming ceremony.

Bride's Tears Flow at Naka Phuket as Vows Bring Emotion

Phuket Wedding love practice tears emotional Commitment intimacy

At Casale de' Pasquinelli in Lucca, Tuscany, the sister of the bride is visibly emotional, touched by the day's significance. In the mirror's reflection, the bride is seen receiving a makeup touchup, capturing a poignant moment of love and anticipation.

At Casale de' Pasquinelli in Lucca, Tuscany, the bride's sister is visibly emotional, while a mirror reflection shows the bride getting a makeup touchup, capturing love and anticipation.

poignant Touchup Sentiment Casale De Pasquinelli reflection makeup significance

At her family house in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, the bride finishes getting ready and shares an emotional moment with her mother. Tears of joy flow as they embrace, capturing the deep bond and significance of the day.

Bride and Mother Share Tearful Embrace at Family Home in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany

Ille-et-Vilaine connection celebration intimacy brittany bride embrace getting ready

In Athens, Greece, the groom carefully holds a ceremonial necklace during a Hindu wedding ceremony. The detail shot highlights the necklace in his hands.

Groom Holds Necklace in Hindu Ceremony in Athens, Greece

Greece wedding Athens wedding tradition Ceremonial Necklace Greece Groom significance Detail Shot

At Chateau La Durantie in France, a detail shot captures the wedding rings elegantly placed in the guest book and resting on a chair. This image highlights meaningful symbols of the couple's commitment.

Rings Rest on Guest Book at French Chateau Wedding

Chateau la Durantie highlight Chateau La Durantie Wedding significance Couples Commitment intimacy love

In a captivating black and white image captured in Nea Ionia Attica, the groom's eyes are fixed on the delicate necklace resting in his palm, lost in the significance it holds

Lost in Time: Groom's Gaze on a Delicate Necklace in Nea Ionia

gaze image Nea Ionia wedding photographer black white significance delicate necklace

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.