Wedding Photos of Tradition

The following “Tradition” 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 “Tradition” 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.

Bride and groom showing gratitude to parents and elders at a wedding at Valley Presbyterian Church, Portola Valley, CA. Tradition and respect are evident in the photograph.

Grateful Newlyweds Honor Parents and Elders at Traditional Valley Presbyterian Church Wedding

In London, England, the Jewish tisch unfolds with many men surrounding the table, creating an atmosphere steeped in tradition and camaraderie.

Traditional Jewish Tisch in London: Men gather in camaraderie in historic celebration atmosphere

London Wedding Moment men bw Wedding Photo camaraderie jewish celebration tradition

A family legacy captured in a heartfelt photo on a wedding day in Biarritz, France. Four generations, from great-grandmother to granddaughter, beautifully getting ready at home for a special occasion. Embracing tradition and love in a timeless setting.

Generations of Love: Family Tradition in Biarritz, France on Wedding Day Preparations at Home

great grandmother wedding photo generation getting ready special occasion love family

A beautiful bride tosses rose petals as part of an Indian wedding tradition, captured in a candid moment at Mount Palomar Winery in Temecula, CA.

Indian Bride Tosses Rose Petals: Candid Moment at Mount Palomar Winery, Temecula, CA

newlyweds Mount Palomar Winery tradition petals joy Temecula Wedding Moment roses

Wedding day moment: groom patiently being helped with his tie by friends at home in Acireale, Italy.

Groom's Tie-Tying Time in Acireale, Italy: A Discreet Delight

group tradition collar together friends Sicily wedding photography groom

A candid moment at the wedding in Nanping, Fujian, as the groom is in a playful game during the gate crashing tradition.

Joyful Groom Plays During Gate Crashing Game at Nanping Wedding in Fujian

groom candid moment joyful tradition celebration emotion playful

Embracing bride and groom posing beneath a large, warmly lit art sculpture on their wedding day in Almería, Spain.

Bride and Groom Bask in Love under Glowing Art Sculpture in Almería, Spain

memories Forever romance tradition vows Commitment joy

A beautiful moment captured during an Indian wedding ceremony at the stunning Bagnaia resort in Siena, Italy.

Tradition and Tranquility: An Indian Wedding in Siena

Siena weddings Bagnaia Resort Siena Siena ceremony Siena wedding venue moment Bagnaia Resort

A wedding guest in Eyeworth, Bedfordshire slyly checks a man's kilt before making his escape, creating a comical and unexpected view at the wedding.

The Kilt Caper: A Comical Moment in Eyeworth

wedding guests laughter groom Humorous Bedfordshire wedding england wedding Bedfordshire

Ulysses Hotel in Baltimore, MD showcases traditional Chinese door games as the groom buys his way through the door to meet his bride

Baltimore's Ulysses Hotel: Capturing the Rituals of Love and Tradition

Baltimore bride love wedding photography Maryland MD groom chinese Ulysses Hotel

Malopolskie Reception Venue: The playful tradition of Polish weddings as men run around the venue indoors, creating a funny "block" moment

Malopolskie Reception Venue: The Block Moment - Capturing the Playful Traditions of Polish Weddings

funny block moment reception venue Poland playful traditions Malopolskie wedding photography venue Malopolskie

At Château sainte foix d'Anthé in France, a stunning bride joyfully tosses her bouquet overhead to a group of eagerly awaiting ladies, showing the excitement and tradition of a beautiful wedding day.

Château Bliss: Bride's Blissful Bouquet Throw at France's Iconic Venue

Château Sainte Foix dAnthé tradition Lot-et-Garonne Lot et Garonne Documentary Wedding Photography awaiting ladies flags bouquet catch

In this captivating image, taken by a Jaén wedding photographer, at Jimena, Jaén, Spain, a group of wedding guests take part in a joyous tradition by tossing the bride overhead on the dance floor.

Jimena, Jaén, Spain: Bride Takes Flight as Joyful Guests Honor Tradition

dance floor Jaen Documentary Wedding Photography wedding guests tossing bride Jimena Jaén tradition

A mother is lifted in the air during the traditional Jewish horah dance at a wedding in Wolf Lake, MN

Capturing the Joy: Magical Moment Unveiled in Jewish Wedding Dance

Minnesota mother tradition Wolf Lake Jewish Horah Dance Minnesota Documentary Wedding Photography chair dance

At the Fribourg tent wedding ceremony, the newlyweds saw through a log to symbolize their commitment, sealing their love in a traditional gesture

Love Cuts Through Timber: Newlyweds Seal Commitment in Traditional Ceremony

tented ceremony sawing a log Fribourg tradition Fribourg Documentary Wedding Photography

The wedding couple at the reception venue, Chateau de Rou Marson in France, participate in a traditional activity of throwing pigeons during the cocktail hour, while dark clouds loom ominously in the background

Breathtaking French Wedding Creates Magical Moment Amidst Menacing Skies!

throwing pigeons tradition Rou Marson Maine-et-Loire Maine et Loire Wedding Photography cloudy skies cocktail hour

A group of men in Aguasblanquillas, Torreperogil, Jaén, Spain, celebrate as they toss the groom in the air, a playful tradition marking the beginning of his marriage journey

Spanish Gauchos of Aguasblanquillas: Joyous Tradition Ushers Groom into Marriage

Jaen Documentary Wedding Photography tossing groom Groom in air Spain tradition Torreperogil Aguasblanquillas

A bride stands in front of the door of Eglise de Rouffiac Tolosan in France, playfully interacting with her veil

France: A Bride Playfully Interacts with Her Veil at Eglise de Rouffiac Tolosan

door Haute-Garonne culture French village bride church France

A wedding photographer captured this WPJA honor award-winning image at Vinpearl Resort in Vietnam. The photo showcases the bride playfully participating in a traditional Vietnamese bamboo game, dancing over beams held low to the ground by other women.

Bamboo Leap: A Joyful Vietnamese Wedding Celebration at Vinpearl Resort

traditional Vietnamese low angle Vinpearl Resort tradition Vietnam Wedding Photography dancing Vietnam

In Torres de Albanchez, Jaén, Spain, the bride fulfilled the tradition of her town of walking to church from her house

The bride walked to church from her house, fulfilling the tradition of her town

walking to Church Torres de Albanchez tradition Spain Jaén Jaen Wedding Photographer Bride and father

Best Mussourie, India wedding photojournalism picture showing the The brides mom catches the grooms nose Tradition

Mussourie brides mom India wedding photojournalism India grooms nose tradition

World's best creative wedding photography from Arcadia Vineyards, Tekirdag, Turkey during the heart cutting, a German ceremony tradition

tradition Tekirdag outdoor wedding Tekirdag wedding photography Arcadia Vineyards venue heart cutting German ceremony Turkey

This Poland wedding photojournalism picture is a prime example of what candid, nontraditional Krakow wedding photography looks like, as they demonstrate the tradition of Polish weddings, how it is customary to make a funny block for the car

Krakow wedding photography funny Polish weddings Poland car Poland wedding photojournalism Krakow

A Guangdong documentary wedding photographer captured this moment showing the Welcome the bride

gifts bride Jinqi Tan Welcome Guangdong streets Guangdong documentary weddings

The Illinois WPJA is proud to award this non traditional Itasca wedding image from The Westin Hotel of an IL groom during outdoor baraat tradition

Itasca Westin Hotel Outdoor IL groom tradition Itasca wedding image

Wedding photography from Delhi, India of a pre-ceremony Water battle

Water battle Delhi wedding India Delhi Delhi wedding photo tradition

Image showing the bride is covered with red according to the traditions at this Istanbul wedding

Nilufer Nalbantoglu Istanbul bridal photo tradition bride red covering Istanbul istanbul bride

Istanbul wedding image showing the tradition to give away money to others to get their blessings for the wedding

Istanbul wedding image Nilufer Nalbantoglu car money Istanbul wedding auto Turkey wedding

Bride's house, Samutprakarn wedding image of the bride and groom showing respect to elders

tradition Samutprakarn Chaiyasith Junjuerdee Samutprakarn wedding traditions Samutprakarn traditional weddings bowing showing respect

Shaanxi outdoor wedding photo | Bride and bridesmaids with dresses and hands

tradition dresses Xian bride Shaanxi weddings bridesmaids

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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.