A Spooky Beaufort "Hallowedding" — Kimberly Cauble Photography

I grew up in Beaufort, SC, so anytime I have an opportunity to go back there, I do. There’s just something magical about the sea breeze, the ebb and flow of the tides, the scent of pluff mud, and the Spanish moss draping from the Live Oaks. Even though I moved away just before middle school, my ties to the area keep pulling me back: family, friends, the Chocolate Tree, the deer at Fripp. One of my friends who has become an integral part of my photography life is Blakely Fowler, who owns his own photography business, Blakely Clayton Photography. I had the joy of working with him at Oakridge Middle for a few years, where he helped me lead the #OMSPhotoClub, an after-school photography club for middle schoolers. He ended up moving back to Beaufort, but he has family in the Charlotte area, and I asked him if he’d like to start second shooting weddings with me. So in addition to visiting his family, he started coming back up this way (and sometimes all over the Carolinas) to work with me. (See our recent YouTube video about shooting weddings together!) When Blakely and Jordan got engaged and asked me to be their wedding photographer, I was so honored and absolutely excited! Their wedding was planned for late October—and it was going to be a “Hallowedding.”

I met up with Jordan in July while on vacation at Fripp Island to do her bridal portraits on St. Helena Island, and I can’t even put into words how much fun it was. We rode out to Coffin Point, a great spot to photograph her in her black wedding dress, and then we went to the Chapel of Ease at dusk, where the remains of the chapel and graveyard provided us with some spooky imagery. With the crypt, graveyard, and Jordan’s intense gaze…it was so creepy and fun, we almost forgot the gnats and mosquitoes trying to eat us alive.

As Jordan and Blakely continued to plan their wedding, they kept telling me that their families were DIY’ing many of the details, and they kept mentioning things like a “coffin cooler” and lots of skulls and cats. But I had no idea the extremes they were going through to make this the biggest Hallowedding and party imaginable! I arrived out at the Marine Corps Base for the rehearsal and my jaw hit the ground…added to the natural spookiness of a wood cabin shrouded by Spanish moss were the most amazing wedding details I have ever seen, most made, by hand, by Jordan’s mom and Jordan herself.

On the day of the wedding, most guests showed up in costume…and when I say “in costume,” I don’t mean those cheesy ones you can find in Target. They went all out! There were witches, clowns, animals, Harry Potter characters, an octopus, and the cutest little Dorothy you could ever imagine. The Gump family was even there! The ceremony was full of emotion and laughter, and after the photos were taken, everyone enjoyed a meal in the cabin at meticulously decorated tables. There were fun activities outside for the kids, a bonfire, and dancing by candlelight with spooky fog to add to the ambiance. Their grand exit was a candy toss, which ended up being hilarious…candy projectiles hit a lot harder than flower petals or bubbles! It was like walking through a bursting pinata!

My editor Chelsea and I edited the gallery using an editing style a bit different than my normal bright and colorful edits; this wedding just called for a more dark and moody vibe! What an amazing experience it was to be able to capture this unique day for the Fowlers; it will be a wedding I will continue to reminisce about and showcase for years to come!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Log Cabin on the Marine Corps Air Base in Beaufort, SC

Coordinators: Terri Hudson and Kathy Blazer

Lead Photographer: Kimberly Cauble Photography

Ceremony Officiant: Amanda Kenny

Florist: Sola Wood Flowers (painted and styled by Jordan)

Spooky Decor: Jordan and Blakely, Terri Hudson and Walter Brown

Catering: Olive Garden

Cake: Felicia English

DJ: Mike Dale

Wedding Dress: CoCo Melody

Rings: Madera and military base

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: LuLu’s