Wedding Photos of Vows

The following “Vows” 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 “Vows” 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.

Beautiful bride reading vows to groom at Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington. They stand toe-to-toe on a fire lookout tower, with her flowing dress billowing in the wind over the deck railing.

Unveiling Love's Promise: Vows Exchanged at Mt. Rainier's Tower

A lovely moment between newlyweds as they exchange vows in front of lush greenery at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley, CA captured on their wedding day.

Sweet Vows Exchanged Amidst Lush Greenery at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley

Church wedding newlyweds lovely California - Northern exchanged Portola Valley greenery

A black and white close-up shot of a couple exchanging vows at San Francisco City Hall during their wedding day, showcasing their love and commitment.

Eternal Love Captured: Vows Exchanged at San Francisco City Hall, A Black and White Moment

California - Northern San Francisco City Hall city shot wedding photography San Francisco black white

Groom writing his vows on an expedition ship in Antarctica before the Ice Wall ceremony, a unique moment captured on the wedding day at Albatros Expeditions venue.

Antarctic Vow: Groom's Writing Moment On Ice Wall Ceremony Day Captured By Albatros Expeditions

Albatros Expeditions vows groom Antarctica boat Antarctic Wedding Photography Antarctic Moment wedding venue

A heartwarming moment captured during a wedding in Sprockhövel, Germany, as the couple's loyal dog lingers at the ceremony, fixating on the priest after delivering the rings.

Loyal Dog's Loving Gaze: Wedding Bliss in Sprockhövel, Germany captured as He Watches Priest

canine heartwarming wedding photo dog rings moment marriage

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

photo bride moment Viagrande love embrace romance

Wedding day moment at Millfields Farm Venue: Groom reading vows to bride during indoor ceremony, captured in a charming black and white style for a timeless touch.

Charming Black and White: Groom's Vow Reading to Bride at Millfields Farm Venue

venue Ashbourne indoor vows moment groom Derbyshire Wedding Moment

A picturesque wedding ceremony at Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts, in warm sunlight against a beautiful blue sky, with guests seated and watching the enchanting scene unfold.

Enchanted Wedding Vows under Topsfield Sky: Willowdale Estate Promises Forever in Picturesque Setting

Estate blue sky wedding ceremony Forever Massachusetts guests outdoor wedding setting

A couple exchanges vows in a captivating outdoor setting at Artist Point, Washington, with the majestic mountain as the backdrop, the sun gently rising, all captured in a candid and authentic photograph that tells a touching wedding day story.

Romantic Vows at Artist Point: Majestic Mountain backdrop for Candid and Authentic Wedding Photograph

love Artist Point Washington Ceremony Photography emotion Outdoor water ceremony

A bride and groom exchange vows outdoors in a serene Sedona, Arizona wedding, captured in a candid documentary detail image.

Serene Sedona Vows: Candid Documentary Detail of Bride and Groom Exchanging Wedding Promises Outdoors

Arizona candid groom serene Sedona Ceremony Photography outdoors Documentary

Golden hour union captured at Independence Harbor in Freetown, MA – A couple exchanging vows against the radiant sun, their silhouettes etched against the sky in a serene wedding ceremony.

Golden Hour Romance: Vows Underneath the Radiant Sun at Independence Harbor, Freetown, MA

bright sun silhouettes golden hour Independence Harbor Silhouette wedding photo ceremony sunshine

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

happiness beauty Forever Spain Almería Wedding Portrait affection romance

In Shanghai, China, a heartfelt moment captured during a ceremony as the groom tenderly holds the bridal bouquet while exchanging vows, symbolizing a promise of everlasting love and unity.

A Tender Moment in Shanghai: Groom Holding Bridal Bouquet Exchanging Vows for Everlasting Love

bride symbolize tender Shanghai Unity China wedding photo

A beautiful couple on their wedding day in Dublin, Ireland. They stand in front of a statue of Jesus, his hands extended over them in blessing. Perfectly captured just after the ceremony, this stunning image radiates love, faith, and the start of a union.

Blessed Love: Wedding Day Bliss in Dublin, Ireland Under Jesus' Watchful Eyes

faith eternal blessed cherish happiness bride groom

The bride passionately speaks into the microphone at Domaine de Baldassé, Saint-Affrique, Aveyron, as she joyfully says I do to her partner.

Cherished Vows: A Wedding at Domaine de Baldassé, Saint-Affrique

romance Saint Affrique reception microphone french wedding venue vows wedding in France joyful

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

waves love Costa Rica Wedding Manuel Antonio tears Costa Rica vows

Bride standing in Castelvecchio, Sagrado, Gorizia Italy, reads her vows to the groom in a symmetrical outdoor ceremony shot.

Whispers of Love: A Castelvecchio Wedding

vows Italy wedding love Sagrado groom bride Castelvecchio

Dormont Rec Center in PA sets the stage for a unique wedding ceremony. The bride, groom, and their daughter exchange vows, with the Elvis impersonator's famous jacket stealing the spotlight in this award-winning artistic photograph.

Dormont Rec Center Bliss: Unique Wedding Ceremony Stealing the Show

Pennsylvania photographer Pennsylvania vows Dormont Rec Center artistic photograph Pittsburgh Wedding Photography close up photography

Neuilly sous Clermont, France: A close up photo captures the touching details of hands intertwined, as the bride recites her vows during the wedding ceremony.

Intimate Gestures: Capturing the Ties that Bind in Neuilly sous Clermont, France

Oise Weddings hands intertwined tight detail shot france wedding ceremony book Neuilly sous Clermont France

A beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California, as the couple says their vows surrounded by trees and a rock formation

Nature's Symphony: A Moment to Remember - A Documentary Wedding at Calamigos Ranch, Malibu

Malibu wedding photography Malibu CA Wedding venue couple rock formation Nature Symphony trees vows

Istanbul, Turkey: This heartwarming image captures the bride's emotional reaction upon seeing the groom for the first time following their heartfelt vows

Istanbul's Tears of Joy: A Glimpse of True Love

Istanbul wedding photography true love heartfelt Turkey wedding emotional reaction tears of joy Istanbul

A talented documentary wedding photographer captured a stunning black and white image of a winter wedding ceremony in Silverthorne, Colorado. The photo shows the couple with guests braving the snowy weather to exchange their vows outdoors.

Snowy Silverthorne: Capturing the Elegance of a Winter Wedding Ceremony

snowy weather snow Silverthorne vows Summit County bw colorado weddings

The bride in Corolla, NC throws her head back and laughs during her wedding ceremony

A Moment of Bliss: The Delighted Bride Embraces Joy in Corolla's Enchanting Wedding Sanctuary

waves laughing North Carolina beach ceremony vows head back Corolla Documentary Wedding Photography

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

Berkhamsted reading Berkhamsted Bride tears vows emotion Hertfordshire wedding photography

A couple in Yosemite National Park plays rock, paper, scissors to decide who will share their vows first during their wedding ceremony

Love amidst Nature: Couples' Decision-making Ritual Steals Yosemite's Spotlight

elopement ceremony rock paper scissors California Elopement National Park Yosemite Documentary Wedding Photography mountains Yosemite National Park

At The Woods at Eisler Farms in Butler, PA, the groom tenderly kissed the bride's shoulder as she became emotional during her maid of honor's speech

The groom kissed the bride's shoulder tenderly at The Woods at Eisler Farms, Butler, PA

groom kisses bride Butler PA groom speech The Woods embracing vows

Jeremy Sauterel is an artistic wedding photographer for Fribourg

Photo by: Jeremy Sauterel - Villaz-Saint-Pierre Fribourg

Switzerland wedding reception couples wedding in Fribourg wedding wedding Switzerland embracing couple wedding reception

The couple shared an intimate moment of saying their vows at an elopement on a wood deck in the snow in Denver, Colorado

In Denver, Colorado, the couple eloped, saying their vows on a wood deck in the snow

snowy landscape Denver Elopement Photography vows intimate ceremony wood deck Colorado Denver

At Tunnels Beaches in Devon, England, the groom was filled with emotion as he said his wedding vows during an outdoor garden ceremony

At Tunnels Beaches, Devon, England, the groom was emotional saying his vows during an outdoor ceremony

Devon wedding photography Devon Outdoor Ceremony garden Ceremony England emotion Tunnels Beaches Devon

The wedding photojournalist captured the beautiful and emotional moment of the Bride as she reads her heartfelt vows in the sunshine beneath the trees at Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine

At Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine an image captured the bride's emotional and beautiful moment of reading her heartfelt vows in the sunshine beneath the trees

Maine outdoor ceremony Maine Hardy Farm trees Maine bride Fryeburg Wedding Photographer Fryeburg

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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.