Wedding Photos of Tears

The following “Tears” 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 “Tears” 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 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

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

family California - Southern wiping tears chairs outdoor ceremony sitting Outdoor wedding photo

In a serene moment at Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events in Temecula, CA, the newlyweds are caught wiping away tears of joy right after saying "I do" outdoors.

Newlyweds Embrace at Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events in Temecula

i do Lake Oak Meadows Weddings and Events Outdoor wedding photo emotion serene Temecula nature

A bride filled with emotion as she sees her groom waiting for her on their wedding day at Viagrande - Radura dei Sogni venue.

Emotional Bride Gazes at Groom in Viagrande's Enchanted Radura dei Sogni Wedding Venue

wedding romance ceremony embrace tears vows venue

A touching moment at Thorpe Gardens as the bride is moved to tears during the groom's heartfelt speech on their wedding day.

Bride Moved to Tears by Groom's Heartfelt Speech at Thorpe Gardens Wedding Ceremony

photography love marriage connection emotion Thorpe Gardens happiness

Emotional black and white image captured at a bride and groom's home in Nances city, Savoie, France, showcasing a heartfelt first look as the bride sheds tears during an embrace on their wedding day.

Tears of Joy in Nances City: Emotional Monochrome First Look at Bride and Groom's Home

love intimate monochrome Nances Wedding Portrait Savoie first look heartfelt

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

memories emotion wedding photo Fujian church crouches emotional Nanping

Emotional bride shedding tears while embracing groom at Woodlands in Cottonwood Canyon Bozeman MT, captured in a timeless black and white photograph on their wedding day.

Tears of Love: Emotional Bride Embracing Groom in Timeless Black and White at Woodlands Bozeman

love embrace emotional black and white bw Wedding Photo timeless happiness

A candid shot of a bride and groom shedding tears during their outdoor wedding ceremony at Saint Joseph de Riviere, France, seated in matching rattan wicker chairs, capturing a raw and emotional moment

Emotional Tears: Bride and Groom's Raw Moment in Saint Joseph de Riviere, France

matching candid ceremony Isere chairs emotional Isere Wedding Moment

Emotional documentary-style photo taken on the wedding day in Marietta, GA, capturing a touching moment as the ring bearer sheds tears before walking down the church aisle.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Wedding Moment in Marietta, GA Captured During Ring Bearer's Procession

candid storytelling touching Marietta Wedding Moment ceremony Georgia emotional

Groom sheds a tear on his dad's shoulder at Thorpe Garden wedding venue in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England, as emotions of the day overwhelm him, signaling a heartwarming moment of love and happiness.

Groom's Dad Brings the Waterworks at Thorpe Garden Wedding in Staffordshire

heartwarming moment Tamworth happiness wedding venue shoulder England Thorpe Garden

At Adobe Lodge, Santa Clara University, California, the bride lovingly embraces her mother after she delivers a touching speech, leaving the emotional groom visibly moved by her heartfelt words.

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE BRINGS TEARS TO GROOM'S EYES WITH TOUCHING SPEECH

groom visibly moved touching speech emotional groom California wedding tears Santa Clara

A tearful groom watches in awe as his bride and her mother make their way down the outdoor aisle in the sunshine at Willow Heights Mansion in Morgan Hill.

Tender Moment: Groom Overwhelmed by Bride's Walk to Him at Willow Heights Mansion

Willow Heights Mansion Morgan Hill wedding photographer Brides Walk Morgan Hill marriage photos Tearful groom overwhelmed California - Northern

A bride at Can Xicarro in Sitges, Spain, with a single tear falling as she opens a small gift box, her white dress hanging in the background.

Bride's Emotional Moment Opening Precious Gift At Can Xicarro Wedding

Spain white dress tear tears tear falling Can Xicarro Spain special occasion

Bride wipes a tear from her cheek during an emotional exchange of rings at a beautiful indoor wedding in Grand-Sommartel, Switzerland.

Whispers of Love: Emotional Exchange in Grand-Sommartel

tear wiping Switzerland weddings beautiful indoor wedding Switzerland Switzerland photographer indoor ceremony emotional exchange

Emotional Maid of Honor sheds tears during heartfelt wedding ceremony at Secrets Akumal in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Tears of Love: Emotional Maid of Honor at Secrets Akumal

emotional Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya wedding ceremony riviera maya wedding photographer heartfelt Akumal maid of honor

Emotional bride wipes a tear while exchanging vows at Villa Punto de Vista in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Waves of Love: Emotional Vows at Villa Punto de Vista

Costa Rica Manuel Antonio wedding bw love emotional tears Manuel Antonio

An artistic wedding photographer captured an award-winning detail picture at Chateau de Balarin in Montréal du Gers, France. The image shows a hidden tissue for tears, showcasing an emotional ceremony to come.

Montréal du Gers Unveiled: Emotional Tissue Concealment at Chateau de Balarin

Montréal du Gers France outdoors tears Gers wedding photography Montreal FR chair Chateau de Balarin

Women guests at a ceremony in Ardeche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, sharing emotional moments as they leave - some shedding tears while others bursting into laughter

Ardeche Emotions: A Captivating Wedding Celebration in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Ardeche weddings laughter Emotional moments Ardeche outdoor wedding tears guests ceremony

In Paris, the heartfelt speech by the groom's mother brings tears to the bride and groom's eyes during their wedding celebration

A Touching Moment in the Heart of Paris

Paris wedding photography tears france weddings eyes wedding celebration Paris bride and groom

A heartfelt moment captured in Zenderen, Netherlands as kids surround the bride and groom; one girl is in tears, while another puts on a sad face, while their dad holds another child

Zenderen, Netherlands: Emotions Unveiled in a Wedding Day Surrounding

bride and groom Dad Heartfelt memories Overijssel tears Netherlands joy

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

Mumbai wedding photography groom bride unforgettable future Jio Convention heartwarming

A skilled wedding photographer in Shanghai captures a moving moment during a ceremony. The groom, visibly emotional, wipes away tears while holding a microphone at the altar.

Shanghai Unveiled: Emotional Groom's Tearful Vow, Captured by Skilled Wedding Photographer

china weddings Shanghai wedding Shanghai ceremony China wedding photography skilled wedding photographer tearful vow emotions

A touching moment as the bride embraces her wheelchair-bound grandmother, shedding tears of joy after the ceremony at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean Resort, Herradura Beach

Capturing Love's Embrace: A Bride's Tearful Joy with her Wheelchair-bound Grandmother at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean Resort

post ceremony moment Herradura Beach Costa Rica Bride Costa Rica Documentary Wedding Photography tears grandmother wheelchair

The bride is seen tearfully embracing her father in the cool shade of the trees during her wedding at Domaine de Rennepont

Emotion-filled Wedding Moment: Bride and Father Embrace at Domaine de Rennepont

Haute-Marne trees Domaine de Rennepont emotion father of bride Rennepont Wedding Photography tears

In this Purple award-winning picture, the mother of the Isere Bride is seen speaking emotionally on behalf of her daughter at a park near City Hall, with tears streaming down her face

Tears of Love: A Mother's Emotional Speech for the Isere Bride

park wedding tears Isere Wedding Photography Isere mother of bride Isere Bride emotion

In this candid shot taken at the bride's home during a celebrant-led wedding in Berkhamsted, the bride is overcome with emotion as a tear escapes her eye while reading her personalized vows to her groom, who is unseen in the photo

A Tearful Moment: Bride's Candid Emotion Captured in Emotional Wedding Vows

black and white emotion tears Berkhamsted Berkhamsted Bride Hertfordshire wedding photography vows

A touching moment as the bride and groom tearfully listen to their children's heartfelt speech during their wedding ceremony at Saint-Julien sur Garonne

Capturing Tears of Joy: Emotional Family Speech Steals Hearts at Saint-Julien sur Garonne Wedding

Saint-Julien sur Garonne church ceremony bride and groom Haute Garonne Documentary Wedding Photography touching moment Haute-Garonne tears

In an emotional moment, a father embraces the bride, moved to tears, at an outdoor reception venue in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Captured Emotion: Tearful Father's Touching Embrace at Amsterdam Wedding

Noord Holland tears Amsterdam Amsterdam Documentary Wedding Photography FOB emotion Bride and father

A touching moment captured behind the church during a documentary wedding in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, as the bride's father is moved to tears

Emotional Father's Tears Steal the Spotlight at Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Documentary Wedding

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes brides father touching moment France wedding photography emotion tears hug

Pages

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.