Wedding Photos of Unique

The following “Unique” 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 “Unique” 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 hotel in Nanping, Fujian, the bride and groom are photographed through goblet-like glasses, creating a unique, artistic perspective for their wedding portrait.

Creative Goblet Reflection of Bride and Groom in Nanping Hotel

At Lands End in San Francisco, CA, a couple poses for their engagement portrait near a row of tree trunks. The natural pattern formed by the trees creates a unique, textured backdrop that enhances the beauty of the photo session.

Couple at Lands End, San Francisco, CA, in Engagement Portrait | Posing Near Row of Tree Trunks | Natural Tree Pattern Creates Textured Backdrop Enhancing Photo

California nature romantic Natural Pattern unique San Francisco tree trunks

At Bistro Farol, a detail shot at ground level captures the bride's Converse shoes, showcasing her individual flair and adding a playful touch to her wedding attire.

Bride's Converse Shoes Add Playful Touch to Wedding Attire in Detail Shot at Bistro Farol Ceremony

playful bride Bistro Farol converse shoes individual wedding

In Champ-sur-Drac, France, during a couple's session, the bride and groom pose with their two small dogs, set against the backdrop of an intriguing art installation, adding a unique and personal element to their photoshoot.

Bride and Groom Pose with Dogs Against Artistic Backdrop for Personal Touch in Champ-sur-Drac, France Session

Art installation France wedding art photography France session bride

At Abbaye du Val des Choues, a night portrait features the couple in front of the domain, illuminated by the photographer's lighting, with an off-center framing that adds a unique and artistic touch to the composition.

Couple's Night Portrait at Abbaye du Val des Choues Features Artistic Off-Center Framing with Illumination

off center lighting France illuminated couple portrait couple framing unique Night artistic

At Raffles Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, the wedding rings are creatively displayed as an art installation, adding a unique and sophisticated touch to the celebration by highlighting the rings in an artistic and memorable way.

Wedding Rings Displayed as Sophisticated Installation at Raffles Hotel, Istanbul

Memorable rings sophisticated Istanbul rings artistic installation Turkey sophisticated Raffles Hotel elegance unique ring installation

At Shangri-La Taipei in Taiwan, a creative detail shot captures a playful arrangement of colorful Lego figures holding the wedding rings, adding a playful and unique touch to the celebration.

Lego Figures Hold Wedding Rings in Unique Detail Shot at Shangri-La Taipei

Shangri La unique detail Taiwan celebration colorful Lego arrangement Lego figures wedding rings colorful

In Portovenere, Liguria, Italy, near the iconic San Pietro Church, the bride poses sitting back and resting on her elbows on the stairs, looking directly up at the camera, for a unique and captivating perspective.

Bride Poses Resting on Elbows for Captivating Upward Perspective Near San Pietro Church in Portovenere, Italy

stairs captivating perspective dramatic Italian portrait Liguria Liguria bridal perspective iconic Portovenere location

In Hamilton, Montana, the bride joyfully embraces a mountain goat's head on the dance floor at the reception venue, capturing a unique moment during the wedding celebration.

Bride Shares a Joyful Dance with Mountain Goat Décor in Hamilton, Montana

unique dance festive Montana unique reception moment Montana celebration decor

In Washington, a bride's portrait is captured in a round wall mirror, surrounded by wall-mounted violins, creating a unique and harmonious blend of elegance and musical artistry.

Reflective Harmony: Bride's Portrait Framed by Violins in Mirror at Unique Washington Wedding Venue

mirror Washington DC capturing artistic elegance bride portrait violin framed portrait bw

At the 1824 House in Waitsfield, VT, a bridesmaid prepares the bride and groom's cat for the ceremony. The low camera angle on the grass captures this unique moment, adding a touch of whimsy to the wedding preparations.

Bridesmaid Prepares Bride and Groom's Cat for Ceremony at 1824 House in Whimsical Wedding Scene

Waitsfield VT preparation grass Vermont unique 1824 House feline

In Cleveland, Ohio, a playful and artistic scene unfolds in a hotel lobby, where a pair of wedding shoes are creatively hung from a chandelier.

Wedding Shoes Hang Playfully from Chandelier in Cleveland Hotel Lobby Scene

wedding shoes chandelier playful Artistic Scene whimsical unexpected atmosphere

En route to their reception in Switzerland, the couple is captured traveling by helicopter. This unique mode of transport adds an adventurous and iconic touch to their special day, set against the stunning Swiss landscape.

Couple Makes Grand Entrance to Swiss Wedding Reception Via Helicopter, Embracing an Adventurous Journey

fly helicopter fly iconic heli Swiss Celebration special day

At Château de Puech-Haut, the bride delightfully participates in an improvised "paquito," fearlessly taking the plunge into the crowd for some light-hearted crowd surfing. This spontaneous moment adds a unique and festive flair to the wedding celebration.

Bride Joins in Fun with "Paquito" Crowd Surfing at Château de Puech-Haut, Adding Festive Flair

light hearted Puech Haut Event fearless Festive Flair Château de Puech Haut Wedding crowd surfing atmosphere

At a Santa Barbara Central Coast reception venue, a gymnast dressed elegantly serves a cocktail to a guest while skillfully hanging inside a large, suspended "lollipop," creating a fun and impressive scene of acrobatics and celebration.

Gymnast Serves Cocktail From Lollipop at Santa Barbara Wedding Reception

unique Suspended Lollipop Central Coast Fun fun impressive celebration California wedding

At a reception venue on the Santa Barbara Central Coast, a shot from high above captures a woman cocktail server pouring a drink while hoisted inside a 'lollipop'.

Cocktail Server Pours Drink from High 'Lollipop' at Santa Barbara Central Coast Reception, Captivating Guests

Central Coast celebration California wedding Santa Barbara skillful Santa Barbara weddings unique

At a reception venue in Cleveland, Ohio, below which lies a large aquarium, the couple shares a face-to-face embrace, warmly rim-lit from behind. A shark swims by, providing a unique and captivating backdrop to this intimate scene.

Couple's Rim-Lit Embrace Enhanced by Swimming Shark Below Aquarium at Cleveland Reception Venue

Ohio Cleveland aquarium romance Ohio Reception Venue shark couple

At Santarcangelo Pieve Church in Rimini, Italy, a unique light reflection catches the eye. The gentle movement of a fan creates a beautiful play of light during the church mass.

Rimini Bride Italy church mass light reflection Play of Light beautiful religious

At Queens' College, Cambridge University, UK, the groom captivates everyone by singing from a balcony during the wedding speeches, while guests seated at long tables below look up, enjoying the unique and memorable performance.

Groom Serenades Wedding Guests From Balcony at Queens' College

enjoyment unique Queens College balcony moment laughter captivating

In Cheswardine, Shropshire, UK, the bride makes a stunning entrance by arriving on horseback. She gracefully rides up the village high street toward the church, capturing the charming essence of the occasion.

In Cheswardine, Shropshire, UK, the bride makes a stunning entrance, arriving on horseback and gracefully riding toward the church, highlighting the charming essence of the occasion.

church streets village Charming Elegance graceful moment

At the Versailles Yvelines reception venue, the bride and groom enjoy a unique moment during the cocktail hour. The bride sips her drink through a straw, while the groom sits, holding a harp, creating a charming scene.

At the Versailles Yvelines reception venue, the bride sips her drink through a straw while the groom sits

straw reception atmosphere unique cocktail hour Yvelines festive

At Domaine de la Cour des Lys, the groom humorously uses a large knife to cut the thread of his coat pocket strings as he prepares for the celebration.

Groom Uses Knife to Cut Coat Strings at French Wedding

groom prep love coat Calvados Domaine de la Cour des Lys festive preparation

At the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts, guests cover their ears during a loud electrical show happening just before the wedding ceremony, adding an unexpected and memorable twist to the day's events.

Boston Museum Wedding: Guests Cover Ears During Pre-Ceremony Electrical Show

Museum of Science Venue event excitement Massachusetts Loud Boston Massachusetts wedding

At a ceremony in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the brides make an unforgettable entrance as they are lifted very high into the air in a crane's bucket, creating a grand and dramatic processional.

Brides' Crane Entrance Makes for Dramatic Melbourne Wedding Processional

grand love unique Victoria-AUS Australia spectacle bride

At Cortijo El Aguilon in Tarifa, Spain, the flower girls enjoy a playful moment as they gather around, creatively crafting a giant woven basket hat for the groom.

Flower Girls Weave Giant Hat for Groom at Tarifa Wedding

atmosphere celebration fun groom laughter Spain wedding childhood

At a park in Budapest, Hungary, a detail shot captures the bride and groom seated in an urban scene, both sporting Doc Marten high tops, adding a stylish and edgy touch to their wedding attire.

Bride and Groom's Doc Marten High Tops Highlight Urban Wedding Scene in Budapest Park

Hungary wedding Budapest Detail Shot high tops love personality modern

In Rocamadour, France, during the ribbon bouquet ritual, the bride reaches up with scissors to cut through the ribbons, which form a striking pattern of triangles above her head, in a symbolic and picturesque scene.

Bride Cuts Ribbons in Rocamadour's Triangular Display

cutting Pattern wedding scene Lot scissors France

Engaged couple in San Jose del cabo, Mexico strike a creative pose for their pre-wedding portrait session, captured in a stunning black and white photo with a unique mirror reflection.

Reflections of Love: Creative Elegance in San Jose del Cabo

San Jose del Cabo creative pose mirror reflection unique San José del Cabo Engagement bw portrait Baja California

At The Old Cow Shed in Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire, UK, the bride and groom embrace an alternative bubble and confetti exit. As the bride playfully stands in a bubble, confetti showers down around them, creating a radiant and festive scene full of joy.

Bubble Bliss: Couple's Joyful, Confetti-Filled Exit at Old Cow Shed Wedding

unique Leicestershire UK bride and groom festive happy Leicestershire bubble exit alternative

At Château de La Baume in France, a black-and-white detail shot captures the bride and groom seated as they playfully switch to sneakers, adding a touch of casual fun to their elegant attire.

Bride and Groom Share Playful Moment Switching to Sneakers at Château de La Baume

Relaxed France château reception elegant wedding getting comfortable shoes

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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.