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.