No wedding would be complete without a showstopper of a cake and champagne to pop and toast with. It’s all about the celebration and joy of the occasion. Here are our favourite snaps of the year, hand-picked for our Wedding Photography Awards. From classic cake-cutting moments, to chic champagne towers, there’s something for everyone!

OVERALL WINNER: Cream Photography | Amanda Wilcock

The story behind this photo: “This shot was one the bride had imagined for 3 years! It was shot at 8pm immediately before the first dance and was an amazing end to the day’s reception.”

Why we chose this photo as our overall winner: What a vibrant and joyful photo! This is what cake moments are all about – cake, colour, confetti, celebration! There is a real party atmosphere, from the couple’s laughter to the guests’ cheering. We love the composition with the guests winding up the spiral staircase, showering the couple below with confetti. And the cake itself is incredible – towering and beautifully decorated. This may be a staged shot, but the reactions of the couple and their loved ones give it a wonderfully candid and natural feel.

Read on for our list of honourable mentions, whose submissions simply blew us away!

Alexa Poppe Wedding Photography | Alexa Poppe

Photo © Alexa Poppe Wedding Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “Liz the bride loves champagne. So just after she said ‘I do’ we got the bride’s clan together to open a bottle. So much fun!”

Why we shortlisted this photo: This is such an uplifting and celebratory shot. We love to see the excitement of the three bridesmaids, and the champagne splatters on the camera lens.

Anthony Elvy Photography | Anthony Elvy

Photo © Anthony Elvy Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “This was taken looking into a mirror. Early morning Prosecco livening up the late morning bridal prep.

Why we shortlisted this photo: We love the spirit and liveliness of this photo. There is a real sense of togetherness and celebration, which is what champagne moments are all about!

Amy and Omid Photography | Omid Behi

Photo © Amy and Omid Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “An LGBTQ+ wedding cake-cut moment with matching outfits for brides Lucy and Yak !”

Why we shortlisted this photo: We love to see such a joyful and colourful image, with the matching floral outfits complementing the magnificent floral cake. The composition, with the cake centrally placed in front of the brides, is also very effective.

Captured By Chris | Captured by Chris

Photo © Captured By Chris | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “After months of planning, Kat was finally able to enjoy the sweet taste of a doughnut and taste the success of all her hard work!”

Why we shortlisted this photo: The expression of pleasure on the bride’s face speaks for itself! This is a moment of pure indulgence and delight, as it should be!

Imogen Eve Photography | Imogen Eve

The story behind this photo: “During a workshop at Asylum Chapel run by Emmy Shoots.”

Why we shortlisted this photo: For a TikTok trend (check out the hashtag #champagnetower, with its 40 million views), this photo has such a timeless, classic feel due to being shot in black and white. The bride’s expression adds a fun, modern touch to this impressive shot.

James Ireland Photography Ltd | James Ireland

Photo © James Ireland Photography Ltd | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “Shauna and Tom wanted something a little bit different and fun for their night portrait at The Old Kent Barn and you can’t beat a champagne spray!”

Why we shortlisted this photo: This is photo is both artistic and theatrical, and fun and playful. We love how the drops of champagne look like stars against the black sky.

Jeff Oliver Photography | Jeff and Sarah Oliver

Photo © Jeff Oliver Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “A completely unprompted moment between Ross and Dale where she grabbed the sharp end of the knife!”

Why we shortlisted this photo: This is a beautifully candid and light-hearted image. We love the playful look the bride and groom share with each other.

M Banka Photography | Magdalena Banka

Photo © M Banka Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “The bride was a Polish girl, and the groom was from Italy. The wedding was in Scotland, where they both met. Beautiful couple!”

Why we shortlisted this photo: Candid cake moments are the best, and this photo is no exception! We love to see the couple having so much fun with the cake-cutting. The way the groom leans back, as the bride playfully reaches out, makes for a vibrant, dynamic composition. The bright, colourful tones perfectly capture the spirit of the photo.

TaylarJayde Photography | Taylar-Jayde Dodwell

Photo © TaylarJayde Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “The couple were eloping together in Scotland and we decided to kick off the celebration in style.”

Why we shortlisted this photo: An elegant and refined recreation of a classic Instagram-worthy moment. The artistic monochrome tones contrasts nicely with the couple’s playfulness.

Teri V Photography | Teri Vincent

Photo © Teri V Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “The less traditional cheese wedding cake being attacked by the bridesmaids…”

Why we shortlisted this photo: We love the drama and intensity of this photo, with its moody lighting and striking composition. Not to mention the bridesmaids’ fierce expressions!

White Thistle Wedding Photography | Simon Fox

Photo © White Thistle Wedding Photography | See their Bridebook profile

The story behind this photo: “It’s like rain on your wedding day! When Abby and Cree were married it unfortunately poured down, so we made the best we could with being indoors. In their honeymoon suite was a huge jacuzzi built into the floor, so they jumped in and grabbed their prosecco! The rain might have ruined the outdoors but we found fun inside.”

Why we shortlisted this photo: This is such a sweet and intimate champagne moment. We love the way the brides are looking at each other, and kicking their feet up to relax in the tub.

There you have our top cake and champagne moments of 2022! Up next in this blog series is one for the romantics, with the best couples photos of the year.