The most breathtaking wedding photography from around the globe has been officially recognised, offering a treasure trove of inspiration for couples planning their nuptials. The winners of the prestigious International Wedding Photographer of the Year (IWPOTY) competition for 2025 have been announced, showcasing an extraordinary collection of images that capture love, joy, and spontaneous moments.
A Lancashire Lens Captures the Grand Prize
The overall grand winner for 2025 is UK photographer David Scholes, who triumphed over more than 2,500 submissions from 568 photographers worldwide. Based in Lancashire, Scholes secured the top honour with a playful and perfectly timed image of a young wedding guest.
The winning photograph was taken at Mitton Hall in the Ribble Valley. Scholes explained that he spotted the scene while on his way to photograph the wedding cake. "I don't stop working at weddings," he said. "Even when there doesn't seem to be much happening I will still look for something interesting that can be part of the story. This is exactly how this image came to be."
He described seeing a boy running outside and framing the shot to include the cake through a window. "As I did, the kid suddenly stopped and noticed the cake – pulling the face that I've captured here. Moments like this happen at most weddings and are what I'm always looking for and challenging myself to get," Scholes added.
Runner-Up and Category Highlights
The competition's runner-up was American photographer Maddie Mae, who specialises in elopements. Her striking image was part of a three-day, 582-mile engagement shoot across Utah for artists Robin and Dillon.
To capture the shot, the trio woke before sunrise and hiked to a massive sand dune inside a cave. "I knew the perfect light hits the back wall only at sunrise, so the timing was critical," Maddie said. She used an ultra-wide lens to capture the scale and had the couple run down the slope, kicking up sand illuminated by the rising sun.
The awards, founded in 2017, celebrate global talent and are open to both professional and amateur photographers. This year's categories included:
- Black & White
- Break the Rules
- Couple Portrait
- Dance Floor
- Epic Location
- From Above
- I-Do Crew
- Solo Portrait
- Lit
- Single Capture
A Global Showcase of Matrimonial Art
The revealed gallery from the IWPOTY awards serves as the ultimate mood board for anyone planning a wedding. It demonstrates that the best wedding photos often stem from genuine emotion, stunning landscapes, and the photographer's keen eye for a fleeting, storytelling moment.
From dramatic cave portraits to intimate dance floor celebrations and cleverly composed candid shots, the 2025 winners push the creative boundaries of wedding photography. They prove that the magic of the big day can be found in both grand gestures and the smallest, most unexpected interactions.
