Capturing an engagement session well is a true art. It demands technical skill, a human touch, and the ability to find beauty in real, unscripted moments. When it all comes together, the results can be truly magical—and each year, we go looking for the images that raise that bar.
For our 2026 contest, guest judges JusttheDaisies, Victor Lax, and Through the Glass reviewed thousands of submissions from talented photographers around the world. Fifty images claimed their place in the Best of the Best Engagement 2026 collection. We’re thrilled to celebrate 25 more photographers whose images left a lasting mark on our judges. Meet our 2026 Honorable Mention photographs, presented below in no particular order.
Congratulations to the photographers who made the Top 50, as well as the ones in this special Honorable Mention collection. Be sure to explore the full 2026 Best of the Best Engagement Photography Collection to see the official 50 favorite engagement photos of the past year.
Some couples plan a wedding venue. Anaïs and Glenn chose a landscape.
Their Norway elopement took place in the mountains surrounded by autumn colors, quiet trails, and small wooden cabins scattered across the landscape. It was the kind of setting that felt familiar to them both. Over time, the Norwegian outdoors had become an important part of their relationship, so exchanging vows there felt like the most natural choice.
The two first met at a small dinner party in Oslo through mutual friends. Anaïs had recently moved from Spain, Glenn from Sweden, and both had built new lives in Norway. What began as an easy conversation that evening gradually deepened over time. “There wasn’t one big dramatic moment when I knew,” Anaïs shared. “It was in the way he listened, in the way we both felt at home in silence, in nature, in simplicity.”
One winter evening, after a hike, they sat together inside their cabin as the light faded outside. “I realized that loving him felt peaceful,” she said. “And that was everything I had ever wanted.” That same quiet sense of peace became the guiding idea behind their special day.
What We Love About This Norway Elopement:
A ceremony framed by a floral installation that looked like it grew straight out of the mountain landscape
Getting ready together inside a candlelit wooden cabin
Anaïs’s French-designed gown paired with Glenn’s understated neutral look
Handcrafted vow cards the bride made herself
Traditional Norwegian jewelry worn to honor Anaïs’s grandmother
From the beginning, Anaïs and Glenn knew they didn’t want a wedding centered on heavy decor or elaborate styling. Instead, they wanted the setting to play the biggest role in the experience. “The Norwegian landscape has shaped our relationship so much,” Anaïs said. “Choosing to exchange our vows outdoors felt obvious.”
Their color palette reflected the season around them: earthy browns, mossy greens, and soft neutrals inspired by autumn in the mountains. A floral designer created a natural installation that framed the ceremony space without competing with the scenery. The arrangement felt organic, almost like it belonged in the landscape.
Anaïs wore a delicate gown by a French designer that felt romantic but effortless. Glenn kept his look simple with neutral tones and soft textures. Together, their style blended naturally into the setting rather than standing apart from it.
Starting the Day Together Instead of Apart
Rather than getting ready in separate spaces, Anaïs and Glenn spent the morning preparing together inside their cabin. “We helped each other dress,” Anaïs shared. “Buttoning sleeves, adjusting fabric, smiling nervously in the soft light.”
The cabin created a cozy atmosphere for the start of the day. Rustic wooden walls, a fireplace, and windows looking out toward the mountains made it easy to slow down and enjoy the moment.
The timing of their wedding also played a role in the mood of the day. October brought soft, muted light and earlier sunsets. As evening approached, candles and the fire gradually lit the cabin, creating a warm contrast to the cool mountain air outside.
Reading Vows Surrounded by the Norwegian Mountains
For the ceremony, Anaïs and Glenn walked together to the ceremony spot framed by their floral installation. Standing in the mountains felt both expansive and intimate at the same time. The open landscape stretched around them, but the ceremony itself remained quiet and personal.
“One of the most meaningful parts of the day was reading our vows to each other,” Anaïs said. The combination of the natural setting and the softness of the floral design created a space where they felt comfortable sharing their words openly. “That balance between the vast landscape and the intimacy of our vows is something I will never forget.”
Incorporating Meaningful Personal Details
Even though the setting was intentionally simple, Anaïs included a few thoughtful details that made the day feel personal. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, she created their vow cards by hand. She carefully selected the paper and assembled them herself so their words would feel tangible and lasting. “It was important to me that our vows felt like something we could hold onto,” she explained.
She also wore traditional Norwegian jewelry that once belonged to her grandmother. Including those pieces allowed her to honor her heritage and carry a part of her family with her during the ceremony.
Working With a Photographer Who Helped Plan the Day
Planning their Norway elopement became much clearer once Anaïs and Glenn discovered the work of Junebug vendor Sophie Brioudes. “There was something about the way she approached storytelling that immediately resonated with us,” Anaïs explained. “It felt intimate and very connected to the Norwegian landscape.”
What made the biggest difference was that Sophie wasn’t only documenting the day. She also helped guide the planning process. Even though the couple lived in Norway, finding remote locations and navigating logistics in the mountains can still be challenging. Through her local knowledge and network, Sophie helped them discover a secluded ceremony spot far from busy tourist areas. She also helped shape the flow of the day so everything felt calm and unhurried.
Advice for Couples Planning a Norway Elopement
Anaïs and Glenn say the most important lesson they learned was to focus on what feels authentic. “Choose honesty over expectation,” Anaïs said. “Let your wedding reflect who you are, not what you think it should be.” Their advice is simple: slow down, create space for quiet moments, and surround yourself with people you trust.
In the end, their Norway elopement wasn’t about elaborate styling or a packed timeline. It was about sharing meaningful moments together in a place that already meant a lot to them.
Lauren and Jake didn’t begin wedding planning with a detailed vision board. What they did know was that they wanted the day to feel relaxed, welcoming, and a little outdoorsy. When they visited the Inn at Fernbrook Farms, the direction became obvious. The working farm, open fields, and historic buildings already carried the atmosphere they were hoping for.
Instead of transforming the space, they leaned into it. Earthy greens and warm neutrals were layered with fall tones like terracotta, cinnamon, dusty rose, and mauve. The result was a rustic-meets-garden party setting that felt easygoing and personal.
Their story began years earlier through a shared friend. Lauren’s coworker had gone to college with Jake’s childhood best friend, who was performing a live music set at a bar in May 2018. Lauren was dating someone else at the time, but Jake stayed loosely connected through that circle of friends. When Lauren’s relationship ended, their mutual friend gave Jake the signal.
As Lauren puts it, he “jumped right in—to my DMs.”
They officially started dating in November 2018. Then came quarantining together during the pandemic, moving in together in 2022, and an engagement on their front porch in June 2024. On September 27, 2025, they returned to that same friend group moment when Jake’s childhood best friend—the musician playing the night they met—stood beside them again as their officiant.
What We Love About This Inn at Fernbrook Farms Wedding
A greenhouse rehearsal dinner surrounded by fields and string lights
Guests discovering the mystery ring bearer by checking under their chairs
A snowboard guest book inspired by the couple’s Vermont ski trips
Lauren surprising her grandfather with a polka dance
Lauren turning her mom’s 1990 wedding gown into a party dress
A vintage trailer bar serving craft beer, coffee, and espresso martinis
Lauren and Jake decided early on to handle the planning themselves. “To be completely honest, we didn’t start with a clear vision,” Lauren said. “Once we booked the venue, the ideas naturally followed.”
Designing the wedding themselves allowed them to personalize nearly every detail. They created all of the printed materials, including save-the-dates, invitations, signage, menus, and seating charts.
One of their favorite additions was the guest book. Instead of a traditional book, they spray-painted an old snowboard white and asked guests to sign it. The idea came from the many winters they’ve spent skiing and snowboarding together in Vermont.
How Their Wedding Weekend Led Into a Personal Ceremony
Lauren and Jake wanted their wedding to feel like more than a single event. They began the weekend with a rehearsal dinner inside the venue’s greenhouse.
The space was surrounded by crops and greenery, with Adirondack chairs gathered around a fire pit and picnic tables under string lights. Dinner was served buffet-style from the bed of an antique truck while the sun set over the surrounding fields.
Before the ceremony the following day, Lauren and Jake shared a first look and exchanged vows privately in the fields with their parents and bridal party present. “It meant a lot to have them there,” Lauren explained. “They’ve all played such a big role in our relationship.”
Their officiant, Phil—Jake’s childhood best friend—also added a few unexpected touches during the ceremony. One of them was a clock engraved with their wedding date. At the end of the ceremony, the couple set it to permanently display the exact time they were married.
Another playful twist involved the rings. Instead of a traditional ring bearer, the ring box was taped beneath a guest’s chair. During the ceremony, everyone checked under their seats to reveal who would bring the rings forward.
Why the Venue Became the Starting Point for Planning
For Lauren and Jake, the venue shaped nearly every decision that followed. The property felt familiar to Lauren right away because it reminded her of the farm her grandparents owned while she was growing up in southern New Jersey. “The venue felt genuinely rustic, not like a farm-themed ‘barn’ venue,” she shared.
The property offered several outdoor ceremony locations, cocktail hour areas nearby, and a reception space inside a permanent clear-top tent attached to the historic inn. The farm-to-table menu was another reason the couple felt drawn to the venue.
Because the setting already carried so much character, the design stayed simple. Soft fall colors blended naturally into the fields and greenery rather than competing with them.
Hiring Vendors Who Brought the Right Energy to the Day
After booking the Inn at Fernbrook Farms, Lauren and Jake started assembling their vendor team. Many came recommended by the venue, while others were referrals from friends.
Personality mattered just as much as experience. “It was important to us that they were genuinely good people,” Lauren said. “Not just vendors showing up to do a job.”
Photography was their first priority. Jess Palatucci and her team documented the day in a candid style that Lauren loved. “She caught every little moment naturally but still guided the posed photos without them feeling stiff. I don’t know how she does it, but she’s a magician.”
Music was another big decision. Bachelor Boys Band handled ceremony sound, played jazz during cocktail hour, and kept guests dancing well into the evening.
For florals, the couple worked with Blushing Fields, a nearby family-run flower farm. Their arrangements felt as though they belonged on the property rather than being brought in for the day.
Instead of hiring a videographer, Lauren and Jake booked a wedding content creator. Vanessa from Happily Ever Socials captured behind-the-scenes moments and delivered photos and videos just two days later.
Adding Details That Reflected Their Shared Interests
Lauren and Jake added several details that reflected their shared interests throughout the reception.
A vintage trailer from Brew Sip n’ Joy served craft beer during cocktail hour before switching to a coffee and espresso martini bar later in the evening. Toward the end of the night, guests gathered around a bourbon and cigar station.
One of Lauren’s favorite parts of the evening involved her grandfather. Growing up, they spent summers in the Poconos dancing to polka music together. During the reception, Lauren surprised him by asking the band to play one of those songs. “I’ll never forget that,” she said.
Later in the night, Lauren changed into her second outfit—a shortened version of her mother’s 1990 wedding dress. She kept the original oversized bow on the back, which quickly became her favorite detail.
To honor Jake’s Jewish heritage, the reception also included the Hora. Guests gathered around the dance floor while Lauren and Jake were lifted into the air on chairs.
Rolling With Surprises on the Wedding Day
A few unexpected moments added their own personality to the day. At one point, a shuttle of guests arrived earlier than planned while the couple was still finishing portraits. To keep Lauren hidden before the ceremony, venue staff tucked her behind the greenhouse on a golf cart. When another shuttle appeared, the driver took her on a longer route around the farm.
What began as a small logistical scramble turned into a quiet moment. “I ended up seeing parts of the farm I wouldn’t have otherwise,” Lauren said. “It gave me a few peaceful minutes to myself.”
Another moment happened at the start of the ceremony when Lauren’s veil slipped off halfway down the aisle. Her dad joked “fumble!” while helping put it back on after a guest brushed away a spider that had landed on it. The laughter instantly eased the nerves.
Practical Advice From Their Planning Experience
Lauren and Jake encourage couples to trust the work they’ve already done before the wedding day arrives. “Go into the day knowing the planning is finished,” they said. “Let yourself enjoy it.”
They also suggest pausing occasionally to take everything in. “We stopped during the rehearsal dinner and again during the reception just to look around. Everyone there was there for us, and that’s a pretty amazing feeling.”
Planning the wedding themselves gave Lauren and Jake the freedom to include the things that mattered most to them—family traditions, music, and small details that reflected their life together.
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