What if it Rains on my Wedding Day? (And No, it's not Ironic.)

“It’s like ra-a-ai-in, on your wedding day…”

Thanks, Alanis, for the lyrics that strike fear and trepidation in the hearts of most brides. The thought of rain ruining the day that a bride has meticulously planned for months can instill panic and dread! But it’s not ironic…it’s a very real possibility.

First, let me say: I’ve been photographing weddings for over a decade, and if there’s one truth I’ve come to embrace—it’s that the weather has a mind of its own. I’ve shot weddings in blazing sun and heat, freezing cold, soft mist, a hurricane, and downpours that seemed to roll in out of nowhere. And here’s the comforting part: some of the most breathtaking, emotionally rich images I’ve ever taken have been on rainy wedding days.

So let’s take a deep breath together, and talk through how to handle rain on your wedding day—not with panic, but with perspective, preparation, and maybe even a little excitement!

Summer & Chris's Romantic Robertson Homestead Wedding | Rock Hill Wedding Photographer

The Historic Robertson Homestead is a 200+ year old restored home complete with a bridal suite, groom's quarters, creekside ceremony space, and the "Tipsy Goat Barn," an air-conditioned barn set up for receptions and other events. Located just outside of Rock Hill, SC, it’s a gorgeous venue with so many options for weddings and photos--a photographer's dream!

Understanding Wedding Photography Packages (or Collections, or Investments, or Whatever People Call Them)

Booking a wedding photographer can seem overwhelming. There are so many options that can be offered or included in a wedding package! And some photographers get fancy and don’t even call them packages…they call them “investments” or “collections.” Whatever they’re called, here’s a breakdown of possible wedding package components to consider when booking your wedding photographer.

A Guide to Capturing Key Moments of a Wedding Day (Steal My Timeline!)

Every wedding is unique and has original moments, but most wedding days follow a similar flow. As a photographer who has been photographing weddings for 13 years, I have developed a few different timeline templates that include most, if not all, of the major events most people want on a wedding day. When I am consulting with a client and/or wedding planner on planning out the timeline of a wedding day, I will send my timeline template first, and then we will fill in all the times and details and adjust as needed. If you’re working with a wedding planner, they should have planning a timeline down pat. But it’s always good to communicate, communicate, communicate and make sure you are all on the same page! Check out today's blog post to steal my most popular timeline!

To Do or Not To Do: A Grand Exit at Your Wedding

There’s something magical about leaving your wedding, all dressed up, surrounded by your best friends and family members, blowing bubbles, holding sparklers, or waving ribbons. But is it really? For some, having a grand exit to their wedding is like the culminating event of their biggest day of their lives. But for others, it seems forced and restrictive. Here are all the things to think about as you plan your wedding timeline and consider whether or not you want a grand exit!

Put Your Phones and Cameras Away (Uncle Bob)

In the photography world, there’s a common “Karen”-like term used for the random person at a wedding with a camera who often gets in the way of the hired photographer(s). Because that person is often an older gentleman with a DSLR or point-and-shoot, or God forbid an iPad, photographers affectionately refer to these people as “Uncle Bob.” We get it. Things have changed drastically over the last couple of decades as digital cameras and phones have become better and better for amateur photographers. It could be that these people think they are providing a special gift to the couple, or they want to have photos to show off to family and friends. They will film the bride walking down the aisle, the first dance, and special speeches and then send these photos/videos to the couple or post them on social media. However, here’s why that is not a desirable “gift.”

Wedding Party and Family Photos (It's a Lot Like Wrangling Cats)

The most traditional and expected part of wedding day photography is the wedding party and family photos, but I’ll be honest— it’s a lot like wrangling cats. Without proper planning and coordination, you’ll lose groomsmen and several cousins to the bar, Uncle Joe will wander off to the bathroom, and you’ll be left standing, frustrated, as you wait for someone to go find your missing family members. However, with careful planning and an experienced coordinator/wedding photographer, this part of the day CAN be made as painless as possible.

An Epic Lowcountry Wedding at Wingate Place | Sarah Claire & Chandler

Sarah Claire and Chandler’s wedding day began with a gloomy, rainy forecast. It was supposed to rain all day long, so I arrived armed with my Crocs, set of clear umbrellas, and a couple of extra changes of clothes. But the forecast and rain definitely did not dampen anyone’s spirits! The girls were in the house having such a fun time getting ready, singing, and dancing, and the rain miraculously stopped right as we headed out for bridal party portraits…and never started again!

The Benefits of a "First Look" on your Wedding Day

One of the first questions I ask my wedding clients in their planning phase is whether or not they want a “first look.” For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, a “first look” is when the bride and groom meet on the wedding day, before the ceremony, to see each other for the first time. For some, this is out of the question…some more traditional couples want to wait to see each other for the first time in the aisle. And there is nothing wrong with that! But there are some benefits to a first look…

Why You Need an Engagement Session with your Wedding Photographer

You’ve just gotten engaged and are embarking on one of the most exciting and daunting things you will ever have to do: plan a wedding! After you secure the date with your venue, one of the first vendors you should book is your wedding photographer. Many wedding photographers offer "complimentary” engagement sessions as a part of their wedding packages, and there are several reasons why (and why photographers LOVE doing them!). An engagement session is not just something extra added into a wedding package to convince you to book with a photographer. Having an engagement session with your actual wedding photographer has so many benefits…

A Wedding Photographer's Guide to Preparing for a Wedding Day

I have been photographing weddings for 13 years this month. I did not go to school to be a wedding photographer—this second career sort of fell in my lap when I got my first DSLR, took a few classes, and people started asking me to take their family photos. When my husband’s cousin’s wedding photographer bailed, they called me, and three days later, I shot my first wedding! I was terrified; I literally had no idea what I was doing! But it was so much fun; I loved capturing all the special details and moments of the day. That’s when I fell in love with wedding photography, and I have never looked back! I recently booked my 100th wedding, so I thought it was a good time to share some things I have learned about getting ready for a wedding day in case there are any photographers out there just starting out who are preparing to shoot their first wedding and have no idea where to begin!

Cheyenne & Ethan's Wedding | The Venue at Edgewood

This past October, I was once again called to capture the magic of another Fowler family wedding—this time, it was for Blakely’s brother Ethan and his bride Cheyenne. While their wedding wasn’t quite as “Halloweeny” as Jordan and Blakely’s, it certainly carried a hauntingly beautiful, almost ethereal vibe, with details that seemed pulled from a ghostly dream.

Common Wedding Photography/Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

I have been shooting weddings for over 12 years, and I’ve built a strong workflow for ensuring I capture all the important moments of a wedding day. But there’s nothing worse than feeling rushed and unable to deliver the quality and quantity of photos I know I could deliver if I had enough time on the wedding day to dedicate to documenting them! Couples put so much time, energy, and money into planning their perfect day, and obviously, they want every moment captured. In order to get every moment captured, though, thoughtful planning and consultation with your photographer is essential. Here are ten mistakes I have seen my wedding clients make over the years and suggestions on how to avoid them.

Weddings, Wedding PlanningKimberly CaubleFebruary 15, 2025Wedding Planning, Wedding timelines, Wedding TipsComment

Logan & Caiden's Cedar Creek Ranch Wedding | Waxhaw, NC Wedding

Logan and Caiden got married on October 5, 2024 at Cedar Creek Ranch, in Waxhaw, NC. It was a perfect sunny, warm, October day! Cedar Creek Ranch is a gorgeous barn on an open space at the end of a wooded drive, with a bridal suite, pond with water features, several spaces for ceremonies, and a huge reception tent! It’s the perfect spot for a couple wanting a venue that has plenty of space, amenities, and a rustic yet sophisticated vibe!

Bridal Portraits, Engagements, Love Stories, Portraits, WeddingsKimberly CaubleJanuary 31, 2025Cedar Creek RanchCedar Creek RanchComment

Hangry Photographers Don't Take Good Pictures (Feed Your Vendors)

In the wedding industry, there’s a definite controversy over feeding vendors. Some clients/coordinators suggest vendor meals, and others opt not to feed their vendors at all. But I’m here to tell you that hangry vendors do not perform well! You really should plan to feed your vendors, or at least the ones who will be at your event for the entire day, and here’s why.

What to Put in your Bridal Emergency Kit

As I was writing a blog post with tips for planning weddings a while back, one of my suggestions was to have a bridal emergency kit with you on the day of. As a photographer, this is something I always carry with me, and it has come in handy more than a few times! So I decided to expand upon that post and create this one outlining some important things to put in your bridal emergency kit. (This would also make a fantastic bridal shower or Christmas gift for a future bride!)

Canaan & Kyle's Vineyard Wedding | Dugaren Vineyard

It’s no secret that I love color. When my children or students ask me what my favorite color is, I have a hard time answering, because I love them all! Canaan & Kyle’s Dugaren Vineyard wedding was so full of color, I could not help but feature it. Just a little over an hour away from my home, Dugaren has a beautifully crafted building with both indoor and covered outdoor areas, a big open vineyard surrounded by beautiful trees, and the most amazing bridal AND groom suites! And on June 8, the weather was warm, but not too hot, and sunny…a perfect summer day.

Love Stories, Photography, WeddingsKimberly CaubleSeptember 30, 2024Dugaren VineyardsDugaren VineyardComment

Catie & Kishon's Dairy Barn Wedding

Catie & Kishon got married in the loft of the Dairy Barn at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill. Her soon-to-be brother-in-law officiated the ceremony. One of the biggest surprises of the ceremony was the song that Catie chose to walk down the aisle with her dad to; it was her mom and dad’s wedding song. Surrounded by family and friends, their day was perfect…the weather could not have been more beautiful, and there was the most dreamy sunset before their reception began.

Love Stories, WeddingsKimberly CaubleApril 21, 2024Dairy BarnComment

Some of my Favorite Wedding Venues in the Charlotte, NC/York County SC Area | Kimberly Cauble Photography

If you’re a couple who has recently gotten engaged and begun planning your wedding, you know that one of the most important things is finding your venue, which will also dictate your date and other vendors! There are so many things to consider when choosing a venue: your vision, the size of your wedding and the number of guests, whether or not you’re set on getting married in a church, whether or not you want an all-inclusive venue, and of course, your budget. Luckily, if you are in the Charlotte, NC/York County, SC area, you have a plethora of wedding and event venues that suit every wedding vision imaginable to choose from!

What to Look for in a Wedding Photographer

So you’ve just gotten engaged and are in the beginning phases of planning your wedding…congratulations! What an exciting time! After that initial excitement, however, it can become overwhelming when you start thinking about all the vendors you will need and all the choices and decisions you will have to make. At the top of your list should be your photographer, because after all, your photographer will be tasked with capturing all the beauty and special moments of your big day. You want to make sure you pick one with the skills, vision, and style who will document your memories perfectly. So take a deep breath… and let me share some steps that might help you find the perfect wedding photographer!

Engagements, Love Stories, Photography, Photography Education, Weddings, Wedding PlanningKimberly CaubleFebruary 2, 2024Comment