Photo by Emmy Lowe
After exchanging vows in a circle of their nearest and dearest, Mary and Madison exited hand-in-hand to many applause.
Ceremony & Vows
25 Picture-Perfect Wedding Ceremony Exits
Updated on February 7, 2018
Get inspired because now's the time to celebrate!
As you know, we publish beautiful, emotional, and inspirational photos from real weddings every single day here at BRIDES. And in order to select said images, our editors pour though thousands upon thousands of photo galleries, Instagram feeds, and blog posts...you'd think it would get old eventually, right? Well, it doesn't! Every single time, in every single wedding gallery, we spot never-before-seen photos that stand out and moments that, quite frankly, stop us in our tracks. (In which case, we naturally send screenshots to other editors with captions like, "Look at that smile!" or "OMG, he's crying!")
Of course, these photos often include the firsts—the first dance, the first kiss, the first look—but the one moment we always fall for is the ceremony exit. (And, no, it's not because of the confetti toss or rice shower.) Why do we love this moment, you ask? There are a few theories, but mostly we love that the ceremony exit is a purely candid moment. It's the moment in which the couple realizes, "OMG, we did it!" Some brides cry, some grooms throw their hands in the air, and others sneak in another kiss. But no matter what the couple's reaction is, it's special to them. And in one photo, the photographer has (hopefully) captured all that joy and happiness. We love that—and we thought you would too.
Here we give you a curated gallery packed full of emotional, candid, real photos. We hope these newlywed couples inspire you—and get you excited for your own march down the aisle!
Photo by Jenny Fu
This couple may have shied away from a big wedding—“We’re both behind-the-scenes people. That’s kind of why we eloped,” says the bride—but they were definitely the center of attention during their rice-filled exit.
Photo by Katie Dessin Photography
After a celebratory exit, the newlyweds moved to the farm's lawn for cocktail hour, where the bride's close friend played the guitar, harmonica, and violin.
Photo by Fer Juaristi
After exchanging traditional vows during their church ceremony, Carly and Oscar exited to the bolero classic "Besame Mucho" as a nod to their Mexico City location.
Photo by Alea Lovely
After their intimate, personal ceremony in Italy, the couple's guests tossed rose petals as the groom scooped up his new wife for a kiss!
Photo by Sarah Falugo
Chanel and Eric exchanged vows under a chuppah made with the bride’s grandfather’s tallit, and then ran off as Father John Misty’s “Real Love Baby” played. “My heart still melts every time I hear that song,” she says.
Photo by Still55 Photography
After exiting to “Handel’s Hornpipe," the newlyweds popped champagne as they made their getaway on a trolley.
Photo by Pascal Chevallier
The couple married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at a private chapel on the family’s property, which was filled with thousands of pastel-colored petals. After exchanging vows, the newlyweds exited to a shower of more petals and doves flying away.
Photo by Kyle John
After their rainy, outdoor ceremony, this couple invited a groomsmen to sing “Beth Rest” by Bon Iver for their recessional. “It added to the romance that Joseph and I were feeling,” Chloe explains.
Photo by Mae & Minh Photography
As soon as these grooms were pronounced married, they were draped with pink “husband” sashes and surrounded by hundreds of bubbles. Says Chris, “With the skyline in the background and bubbles everywhere, it made for some really special pictures!”
Photo by Polina Vinogradova
Pernille Teisbaek and her groom made their official exit from the ceremony in a Porsche Speedster, decorated with cans, streamers, and paper hearts made by the bride's beautiful bridesmaids.
Olivia Rae James
This Charleston-based couple exchanged vows in a chapel covered in flowers before celebrating surrounded by even more floral beauty.
Photo by Meg Smith Photography
We think this groom likes the look of his new bling.
Photo by Jillian Mitchell
This photo is evidence that a rice toss always makes for fun photos!
Photo by Jenna McElroy
This couple embraced their destination wedding venue by enlisting a mariachi band to play for the recessional.
Photo by Forged in the North
These Brooklyn newlyweds exited to a shower of petals and plenty of applause! And how about the bride's epic reaction, right!?
Photo by Jay Lim Studio
After each walking down the aisle with their parents, these newlywed brides walked back down the aisle—this time, together!
Photo by Miss Gen Photography
This groom matched the confetti exit to his bright red pants!
Photo by Sean Money and Elizabeth Fay
This couple included their children in their walk down the aisle for a sweet family moment.
Olivia Rae James
Sometimes, a bride and groom must brace themselves for what's to come (in this case, a shower of rice!).
Photo by Katie Grant
This bride wrote the entire ceremony, including the recess to an instrumental version of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up,” a fun, upbeat song that would be the start off their celebration.
Photo by Olivia Rae James
This bride and groom included their adorable dog (wearing a flower crown!) in their exit.
Photo by Kate Headley
A flower-filled exit was perfect for this wedding in the English countryside.
Photo by Liz Banfield
Ribbons were the accessory of choice during this couple's church exit.
Photo by Nicola Lemmon
Molly and Joel had their wedding party line the stairs as they made their grand exit, which doubled as their grand entrance as a married duo!
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