Dave & Tina / 9.10.11 / Wedding Trailer / Orlando, FL

I met Tina and Dave through their wedding planner, Vanessa Alce of I Love My Planner, and I am so glad I did. I love so many details from this wedding: the amazing cake, Tina's heirloom earrings, her amazing dress and the couple's handwritten, heartfelt vows.

A torrential downpour earlier in the day kept Tina and Dave from having the sunset ceremony they wanted on the eighteenth hole of the golf course at Hunter's Creek in south Orlando; but the addition of an ivory backdrop transformed the reception room into a wonderful space for their ceremony. At the reception, the couple danced with their children to signify their brand-new family... and there wasn't a dry eye in the house (or a voice left without laughter!) during the bride's sister's toast.

Congratulations, Tina & Dave! Enjoy your happy ending!

Wedding Planner: I Love My Planner
Entertainment: Letz Dance On It
Photographer: John Shinner
Hair: Jessica Velez

Jennifer & Christopher / 8.6.11 / Key Largo, FL

Spending the weekend with a family at a destination wedding is a wonderful responsibility and a lovely experience for any wedding filmmaker. Jenny and Chris invited Elizabeth and I to capture their wedding on the shores of Florida Bay in scenic Key Largo. The whole experience was incredible, from the welcome we felt from their families to the admirable way Chris and Jenny handled every planning challenge (and there were many!) with class and positive thinking. You could feel the love and support their families had for their marriage at every point during the day, and it was a pleasure and a privilege to be able to be there.

Rain threatened the wedding for most of the afternoon, but the rumbling, massive thunderstorms thankfully held off until the bride and groom were safely inside the ballroom at the Hilton Key Largo. Guests danced to tunes played by the awesome DJ Rudy Infante. Photographs were taken by the always fabulous Sean and Candice Silver from Photographic Memories in Melbourne.

Chris and Jenny, you are meant to be. Thank you for inviting us to your celebration. :)

Ryan & Tracy / 5.7.11 / Florida Wedding Video / St. Augustine

It's been a while since I've updated the blog! I'll be updating it on a regular schedule from now on.

For now, though, I would love to share with you the amazing wedding of Ryan & Tracy, held on 5.7.11 in St. Augustine in the courtyard at the Lightner Museum with a reception in Casa Monica's Flagler Ballroom. The lovely Celeste Shaeffer served as photographer. This wedding had everything -- a packed dance floor, sparklers, tears, and one great, forever-and-ever romance. I'll just let this one speak for itself. :)

Congratulations -- enjoy your happily ever after, Ryan & Tracy!

Brian & Shaquanda / 2.5.11 / Wedding Trailer

Shaquanda & Brian were married Feb. 5 at the Florida Avenue Church of Christ in Melbourne with a reception at the nearby Lipscomb Park Community Center, and their lovely ceremony included an acknowledgment of the friend that introduced them and brought them together.

Sophisticated Gents Entertainment did a fabulous job transforming the community center into an incredibly gorgeous and modern dinner-dance space as well as keeping the party going -- just one look at the lighting and drapery they provided and you'll see why the decorations rank up there with my all-time favorites. The photographers were the fabulous Sean & Candice Silver of Photographic Memories.

Pary & Chris / 11.6.10 / Wedding Trailer

Pary & Chris / 11.6.10 / Wedding Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

I first met the super-sweet Pary & Chris through Scott Craig of Scott Craig Photography. I admire their solid commitment to one another and their amazing future.

They searched a long time for the perfect place to have their ceremony, and found it in the First Methodist Church in Winter Park -- with its long aisle and gorgeous sanctuary, it just seemed to fit. Their closest friends and family joined them as they pledged their love on a gorgeous cool day in November -- and I'd be surprised if there was one dry eye in the house!

Congratulations!

Denise & Eric / 11.4.10 / Wedding Trailer

Denise & Eric / 11.4.10 / Wedding Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

Denise and Eric were married at gorgeous Bella Collina. I remember when I met Denise we talked for hours about her wedding, and I found myself drawn in by her excitement about the wedding -- by having it on a Thursday, she said, she was able to have the kind of wedding she wanted!

Although the day was slightly overcast and it rained on and off all day, the skies cleared up long enough near sunset for the new couple to have their ceremony the way they dreamed it: on the event lawn, overlooking the amazing lake below. Guests later ate a three-course meal and partied the night away in the Bella Collina clubhouse.

An array of fabulous Central Florida wedding vendors helped them make their day extra-special: Les Kopacz of Soundwave DJs, Domenico and Cecily Castaldo of Castaldo Studios, Rev. Glynn Ferguson of Sensational Ceremonies and Christine MacPhail on harp.

Our best wishes for the future, Denise & Eric!

Kwiks & GV / 10.22.10 / Wedding Trailer

Kwiks & GV / 10.22.10 / Wedding Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

Spend five minutes with Kwiks & GV, and you'll know that this amazing couple is just meant to be together.

Kwiks & GV were married at Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando, and added some absolutely delightful touches onto their wedding reception at the Hilton Altamonte Springs, including a Hollywood-like backdrop where we filmed paparazzi interviews! In addition, the newlyweds sang a song for their guests, and had an awesome new take on the standard garter-and-bouquet tosses -- check it out. Kwiks' dress is also absolutely breathtaking!

The couple's photography by the super John Shinner and music by Chuck Johnson of Classic DJs.

Carina & Dhanesh / 10.10.10 / Wedding Trailer

Carina & Dhanesh / 10.10.10 / Wedding Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

I met Carina and Dhanesh at my very first wedding show in Orlando. I was absolutely taken by their bright, sparkling personalities and the incredibly positive way they saw the world, and knew immediately that their wedding was going to be a lot of fun!

They were married at the Royal Crest Room in St. Cloud, with Carina's mother taking the honor of being the officiant. Carina herself designed the beautiful autumn-influenced reception decorations -- and spent two hours before the wedding putting the final touches on everything herself! Carina's amazing makeup was done by the extremely talented Jules of Dollface by Jules of Savannah, GA. Guests danced to music by White Rose Entertainment and ate delicious cake by Orlando's Party Flavors.

Congratulations!

Rebecca & Adrian / 10.9.10 / Wedding Trailer

Rebecca & Adrian / 10.9.10 / Wedding Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

Rebecca & Adrian were married in a gorgeous bilingual ceremony at their church, La Primera Iglesia Bautista in Mascotte. Given away by her father, the couple professed their vows in Spanish and exchanged rings in front of their friends and family.

Later, hundreds of wedding guests dined on carnitas and pico de gallo provided by La Hacienda Catering at the Sumter County Fairgrounds in Bushnell and danced to the sounds of two amazing bands until after midnight. One of the things I was most touched by was the fact that the bridesmaids participated in serving the guests -- and the bride herself took a turn at handing out pieces of the delicious cake!

Rebecca and Adrian, muchísimas bendiciones!

Never stop learning.

No matter what your profession, conventions are great for charging your creative batteries -- especially in the field of wedding and event filmmaking!

I've spent this week at the WEVA (Wedding and Event Videographers' Association) Expo at the Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World.

It's so wonderful to see what new and wonderful editing ideas videographers and event filmmakers from around the country are developing, and try all the brand-new gear at the trade shows.

There's still one more day of the convention to go, but what I've learned this year so far is already worth the price of admission -- especially since style and technology are changing so quickly. Part of my commitment as an event videographer and filmmaker is to never stop learning and never stop making better wedding videos, and WEVA is one way I can continue to do that.

Current queue status: I'm nearly done with the weddings that were filmed at the end of May. As always, if you have any questions, just give me a call! I would be happy to hear from you.

Chris & Kristin / Wedding Trailer / 7.24.10

Chris & Kristin / Wedding Trailer / 7.24.10 from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

From the moment I met Chris and Kristin last March, it was obvious that their love was once in a lifetime. This amazing couple was married in a beautiful ceremony at St. Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, FL. Their classy reception was held in the church fellowship hall, with a Gators groom's cake and a first dance to Frank Sinatra's "Always," after which there wasn't a dry eye in the house!

Kristin tells me that her hair was inspired by Audrey Hepburn, and her bridesmaids took care of the floral arrangements. The church catered the lovely reception in their hall; guests danced to music by Direct Entertainment; and photos were taken by Brian Pepper of Digital Imaging Direct.

Ashley & Kevin / 7.10.10 / Wedding Trailer

Ashley & Kevin / 7.10.10 / Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

Ashley & Kevin were married July 10th, 2010 at the Eaglebrooke Country Club in Lakeland.

I just adored nearly single every detail about this wedding -- the bright summer blooms hanging from the light fixtures; the light green kissing balls hanging from the chairs; the collared bolero jacket on Ashley's gown; the way the country club's light yellow decor was tied into the color scheme chosen by the bride and groom; and most of all, the sheer amount of happiness experienced by everyone at the party.

Ashley & Kevin also provided a kid-friendly table with sand-buckets full of activities for the littler ones at the wedding -- coloring books, bendy straws, toys and more. Guests both young and young-at-heart got a kick out of their wedding favors -- a candy bar where guests could load up on M&M's, rock candy and jelly beans in personalized monogrammed bags.

Guests danced the night away to music provided by White Rose Entertainment; photos were taken by the extremely talented Scott Craig. Congratulations!

Julie & Reyes / 6.18.10 / Wedding Trailer

Julie & Reyes / 6.18.10 / Wedding Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

Julie and Reyes -- one of the sweetest couples I've ever met! -- were married June 18 in a beautiful wedding Mass celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs.

Viewers might notice that the priest is facing a different way than modern Catholics normally expect -- this is because the couple chose the Tridentine Rite for their wedding Mass. This rite, common before the changes at the Second Vatican Council in 1962, is celebrated completely in Latin. Along with her bouquet, Julie carried a rosary; music for the ceremony was provided by a traditional schola singing gorgeous Gregorian chant.

Afterwards, the new couple danced the night away at their amazing reception at Timacuan to salsa and merengue tunes spun by Soundwave Entertainment's DJ Ray. Photos by Abba Photography. Hair and makeup by Hair Connoisseurs.

Ad multos annos, Julie & Reyes!

Amy & Bruce / Trailer / 6.6.10

Amy is one of the most organized brides I've ever met, and it shows in the sheer gorgeousness of her wedding day. I was absolutely impressed by her ability to keep track of even the tiniest of details!

Amy and her fiancee, Bruce, chose a gorgeous deep purple and a brilliant lilac as their wedding colors, something which gave their reception a royal feel. They took dance lessons and their first dance went off without a hitch. Amy herself took care of most of the reception details, and the care she took to make sure everything was perfect showed in the fun had by all of the guests!

One detail I thought was absolutely beautiful and meaningful -- the couple wrote their vows in a letter to one another that morning, framing each to display in their home.

Congratulations, Bruce & Amy!

Reception venue ideas!

When it comes time for the wedding reception, most brides and grooms want a little more than cheese, crackers and a champagne toast. Here are some ideas to make sure your reception venue fits your new family like a glove:

Watch the room capacity. Too big a room, and your guests will feel lost. Too small, and they'll feel cramped. In a perfectly-sized wedding reception venue, guests will be able to walk between tables without moving chairs or shimmying between them. This will make everyone feel a little more comfortable, which will make the party last longer. Ask to see a real wedding at your location to make sure the space feels great.

Consider dramatic lighting. Your guests will want you to turn down the lights when it's time for dancing, leaving that awesome and gorgeous room you hired for your reception in the darkness. Play up what you've got by hiring a lighting company to add light to the space where it matters most. Check out Chip & Meilyn's trailer to see how one couple converted a simple tent into a fabulous, club-like atmosphere with a few simple, well-placed lights.

Think about your family. If you're dancers, consider a space that allows for a large dance floor; if you're not, you might want more socialization space by the bar.

Everyone is going to want to see you cut the cake -- including your photographers and videographers! Make sure your cake space is big enough to handle your chroniclers as well as the friends and family that are gathering around with their own cameras.

Try a distinctive venue, like a museum, barn, nightclub, theater, garden, restaurant or gallery, depending on what you and your fiance love the most. Having your wedding reception in a place that is unique always kicks your party up a notch, as a certain TV chef would say!

Factor in the weather. If you want to get married in the late spring, summer, or early fall in Central Florida, you need to think about thunderstorms and severe weather. You might fall in love with an outdoor location -- but make sure your site has a fabulous secondary spot in case the weather strikes back.

Whatever you do, have fun with it!

Drew & Shana / 5.22.10

Drew and Shana were married today at the Life Center Church in Eatonville, Fla. At the ceremony, Drew sang "The Last Time I'll Fall In Love" to Shana as she walked down the aisle with her father. How incredibly romantic! There were very few dry eyes in the church. Congratulations!

Chip & Meilyn / 4.25.10 / Bella Collina, Montverde, FL

Meilyn & Chip -- Trailer from Karen Osborne on Vimeo.

Chip & Meilyn were married on April 25th at Bella Collina in Montverde, FL. Congratulations to both of them!

Here are some gorgeous details to notice:

-- Meilyn's modern-yet-retro birdcage veil was absolutely stunning. The bridesmaids also had smaller versions of the veil.

-- Meilyn found the perfect bridesmaid's dress: Not only did it look fantastic on all eleven of her bridesmaids, but it's definitely something they can wear over and over again.

-- Meilyn and Chip brought punches of bright color -- greens, pinks, and purples -- into a mostly black-and-white palette, lending their evening wedding a very swanky feel without losing the edge of fun that is just so *them*.

Bella Collina itself is an amazing place to get married; it's like a little slice of Tuscany here in Central Florida. Robert McCrory of Weddings By Robert took the pictures and Marie Lynn Events coordinated.

Congratulations again, Meilyn & Chip!

Makeup tips for high-definition brides

At Studio Osborne, we think that high definition video is absolutely astonishing. I am continually amazed at the details I can see when going over footage in the editing process -- the surface tension of tears, individual feathers on a bird, a vanity light or photo flash reflected in the eyes of a bride.

But not every detail is as... amazing, so to speak. Brides are often concerned that HD can pick up skin flaws that standard definition video often overlooks, like fine lines, oily areas and uneven pores.

Luckily, Hollywood has your back! Here are some tips and tricks that have helped celebrities, news anchors and brides just like you use every day. They're all budget-friendly and will make you look amazing in high definition.

Stay natural and go light. Slathering on foundation will only make your face look fake and mask-like. Make your keyword "even" rather than "heavy." Likewise, make sure your foundation, concealer and powder matches your skin tone as accurately as possible.

Always use brushes. Avoid using your fingers, cotton balls, or makeup sponges to apply foundation, concealer or powder. These often leave streaks that high-definition cameras easily pick up. Instead, special brushes -- one for each step -- will apply makeup in an even, thorough and camera-friendly way. Sonia Kashuk's brushes, available at Target, are budget-friendly and come highly recommended.

Include mattifier. Most women don't usually go this far on a day-to-day basis, but mattifier is great for video and takes relatively little time to apply. Apply it under your foundation where needed, and it's instant, day-long control of pores, fine lines and oily areas. This "seals" your face for the day and blocks much of the stuff you want to avoid from the camera. Try Cargo's blu_ray mattifier, which is made especially for women who need to look good on camera.

Hire a professional, especially one experienced with airbrushing. Airbrush machines are still mostly out of the range of the average bride -- at over $200, Sephora's TEMPTU system threatens to break many a bridal bank -- but they're used by Hollywood professionals and news anchors to very good effect.

Splurge on some makeup designed with HD in mind, like Smashbox's HD line or Cargo's blu_ray line. A visit to Sephora or ULTA or a consultation at your bridal salon can give you more ideas.

Hire a professional, especially one that works with the local video production industry. Since news stations, production companies and videographers mostly work in HD these days, many local makeup artists have adjusted their style accordingly and can take care of any questions, comments and issues you might have with big-day makeup.