I like to watch Tim Gunn’s  Guide to Style, What not to Wear and Project Runway, but usually with one eye while surfing the net with my laptop.

Last night, I came across a fun site - Taaz - which brought back memories of playing an old dress-up software game with Nina and Kate.

It allows you to upload your own photographs and play with different hair and makeup styles - I think the site may be helpful, or at least fun, when you’re planning your wedding day hair and makeup styling.  At the very least, it’s a good way to kill some time with a glass of Merlot.

Here’s the result of my makeup artistry and hairstyling expertise in a before and after photograph using the tools available on the site. Well, maybe I need some work - I’m not totally digging my florescent highlights upon further review.

While I highly recommend using a professional makeup artist on your wedding day and we have some suggestions for you,  some brides are more comfortable with applying their own makeup.

From a photographic perspective and especially if you’re wearing a veil, makeup is much more important than your hairstyle.

Here’s a few tips for your wedding day makeup.

•    Mix your foundation with a little moisturizer. It will give you a lighter, more natural coverage.

•    Limit the amount of concealer to the amount that just covers blemishes.

•    Powder is very important to reduce shine, especially during a hot summer wedding. It’s better to use a powder with some color rather than translucent color which can give you a washed-out look.

•    I hate glitter and pearlized finishes - to the camera and especially when flash is used, it looks like tiny holes in your skin. I’ve spent countless hours retouching little white spots from glitter.

•    Select a blush that’s close to your skin color - the camera’s sensor really heightens  the difference between light and dark tones.

•    Don’t go overboard with mascara, which can darken your eyes and create shadows over your cheeks.

•    And, don’t go too dark with your lip color - the camera sees the contrast to a much greater extent and your lips can look quite dark, especially in black and white photographs.

On Tuesday night, Steve and I had the privilege of attending the Omni William Penn Hotel’s Private Tasting.

We love photographing at the Omni because the staff is so friendly and efficient, and last night was no exception. Twice a year, the Omni invites their clients and prospective clients to taste and choose items from their menu and meet their preferred vendors.

Lora Peluso, Corey Makrush, Darlene Coons and Megan Vassanelli, the Chef is Jacky Francois, and the rest of the staff prepare each dish to perfection and then, take it a step further by presenting everything in beautiful buffet stations.

I heard one comment repeated over and over again throughout the evening, “How are we ever going to choose our menu, everything tastes sooo good!!”

Aside from the fabulous food, we really enjoy the Omni’s event because it gives us a chance to see other preferred vendors who have become our friends over the years. Anne & Jason Lehman of A. Lehman Invitation & Design Studio – Anne has created stunning award winning marketing pieces and holiday cards for us.

Kathy from Reed & Petals and Christine from Bethel Bakery (yes, there were samples, yum!) attended, along with Bea Nyilas, Bob Abrahamson and Allison and Clarke McGeary, who all share our passion for photography.

We often run into our clients as they choose their menus for their wedding feasts, Sarah and Blaise were there on Tuesday along with Sarah’s mom, Jan. We are really looking forward to getting to know them better!

After enjoying the music (Steven Vance on violin!), the company of vendors and clients, and the plentiful spread, everyone left happy and very full!

Thanks Omni William Penn!!

Spring is in the air and Barb and I are excited about the start of wedding season. We’ve spent most of the winter in our cave, working on album designs and planning for the upcoming season.

We do really need the down time to recharge the batteries after a long wedding season, but we’re starting to feel that surge of energy and excitement for out first wedding of the season on April 5th.

This is the time of year when all of our couples are beginning to finalize their wedding plans - there are so many details and decisions that it seems to be an impossible task. Here’s a few ideas to get you started on your journey.

Planning a wedding can be a stressful undertaking - we joke that it’s like book camp training for marriage - vows, readings, religion, guest lists, family issues, bridal party decisions, cake, flowers, transportation, photography, wedding dress, bridal party dresses and tuxes, invitations, itinerary, honeymoon - and you and your fiance may have very different ideas, requiring some compromise.

One of the most important decisions revolves around the color scheme for your wedding. You can’t shop for a cake, bridesmaid dresses, tuxes or flowers without having a firm color scheme in mind.

Some brides have a favorite color and know beforehand that their color scheme is going to be based on the favorite color.

If you don’t have a color scheme in mind or a favorite color, don’t dismay, there’s lot of help available online.

Here are the hot, trend-setting colors for spring of 2008.

Fall is typically a time of muted colors but this year is seeing cool hues with bright undertones.

Your color scheme really revolves around your gown. if you’ve selected an ivory, vintage gown with needle lace and button back closure, you may enjoy pastels and neutrals that suit a 1930’s vintage or garden wedding or perhaps Martha Stewart’s more subdued color palette.

If your style leans more towards diamond white A-Line or Empire Waist gowns, investigate some of the more fun and playful palettes like black and white, aqua, lime green and coral.

Your venue’s architecture and ambiance may play a part in your color scheme selection.

Sherwin Williams has a fun online tool to help you select complementary colors - just click “find a color”, select your primary color and it chooses two complimentary selections.

Have fun with your wedding planning and know that everything will work out. Take one thing at a time. You’re wedding is going to be beautiful and all of your family and friends will have a wonderful time while celebrating the beginning of you new life together.