Elizabeth Dye makes our hearts go pitter-patter with her gorgeous creations in her shop, The English Dept., in downtown Portland. Whether you’re an elegant bride or a fashion-forward bridesmaid, you can find the perfect dress in this shop. But why the name? Apparently Elizabeth got her English degree and wanted to name the store in a way that she would be able to say she was still working in the English department. Clever. Her dresses are simple and classic, and nothing in the store is over $1,500. There’s no going wrong when you go English.

The English Dept . www.theenglishdept.com . Portland, Oregon

You probably haven’t heard of a TTD Shoot, otherwise known as a Trash the Dress Shoot. I know what you’re thinking: since when do the terms “trash” and “wedding dress” go together?! But it actually has become pretty popular - and looks awesome in my opinion. After your big day has come and gone, wouldn’t it be fun to have a reminder of your dress in a less than normal fashion? In this photo shoot, the bride puts on her dress for one last time, but for a very different reason. Your photographer can help you find a fun locale to “get a little dirty”. Yes, dirty. Roll in the sand, prance through the ocean, plop down in a muddy field, put on some rubber boots and jump in some puddles, climb a tree, jump in a swimming pool, wade through a pond, get greasy under the hood of a car, etc. Get creative! You are not necessarily ruining your dress for good - you can always have it cleaned. If you do want to keep it pristine and packed for years to come, stay away from car grease and other things that could cause permanent stains. You also don’t have to go as far as rolling in a pig pen - maybe you just have your picture taken in a less than ordinary spot, like a construction site or abandoned building. Basically the photo shoot is to be yourself, get creative, and let go of all of that stress that’s been building for months. Sounds fun, right? And you’ll have some truly memorable photographs that aren’t posed and pretty. What a fun idea!

Loeat oking for an alternative to a pricey 4-tiered wedding cake? Use wedding pie! This new trend has been sweeping the nation and has been featured in USA Today, the Detroit News, and on the Food Network. So where do you get these “wedding pies”? Well, if you don’t feel like making them yourself, you can contact Achatz Handmade Pie Company in Michigan. For $23.95 + shipping, you get a delicious pie in your flavor choice and you get a special treat that many people don’t expect at a wedding. Choose flavors that have special meaning to you - like cherry because your Grandma always made it for you when you visited her house. They have tons of great-sounding options… it will probably be hard to decide. And at less than 30 bucks a pop, you can afford to get all the varieties you’re craving! Sounds like a lot of money? Consider the cost for a traditional wedding cake. Depending on size, flavors, and decoration style, wedding cakes can cost well over $1,000. Pie is sounding better already!

Achatz Handmade Pie Company . www.achatzpies.com . Various Locations throughout Michigan

Wedding invitations can be traditional or modern and funky - and all things in-between! This invitation is from Checkerboard, a company that we at New and Blue know and love. We carry many of their beautiful stationery albums, including multiple wedding albums, a baby album, and multiple party albums. Their finished products are absolutely amazing and everything is their line is easily customizable. Choose your paper colors, ribbon colors, invitation layout and size… it’s so easy! Even if you can’t find one of their ribbon selections that you like, you can provide your own for no extra cost. This invitation features a white top layer with a shimmery navy blue bottom layer. The design shows Persian Blue colored ink and a gorgeous, wide, blue satin ribbon. You can order this online, making the invitation even more attractive! : ) Simply follow this link to the Silken Satin invitation on the New and Blue website, choose your quantities, wording, and matching pieces - and you’re all set!

Company: Checkerboard on eInvite

Design Name: Silken Satin

Availability: In store or online at NewandBlue.com

Colors Used: Persian Blue and white

There are so many florists that have amazing photo galleries… how does one ever decide which one to use? One way to start in your search is the find a picture of a bouquet that you really like, then take it with you when you meet with your prospective florist. They should be able to suggest alternative flowers that might be available and should be able to tell you all the colors each bloom will be available in. In the NY area, check out Alana Rose Designs. The bouquets are big, bright, and beautiful. The photo gallery is extensive and impressive as well.

Alana Rose Designs . www.alanarosedesigns.com . New York, NY

Bridesmaid dresses have coe a long way since the days of poufy sleeves. Jenny Yoo Collection has some fantastic examples of how beautiful things can really get. With the flagship store in NYC, us Oregonians have the choice of looking online or travelling to Bellevue to see the collection.

Jenny Yoo on “redefining bridesmaids:

“What is the collective vision of the bride and her bridesmaids? In a time where tradition is emphasized, weddings as a result, have become more intimate, holding a special meaning for both the couple and those who care for them. I have created a special line of bridesmaid and occasion dresses that evolve with the footsteps of today’s changing times. — JENNY YOO”

Her dresses feature bright colors, unexpected decorative touches, and classy fabrics. These dresses would go well with a contemporary-styled wedding and a colorful motif. Take a look at the website for all the designs and locations for the shops.

Jenny Yoo Collection . www.jennyyoo.com . New York City, New York

At Bijoux Doux in Brooklyn, New York, cakes have reached a whole new level. The owner, Ellen Baumwoll, has perfected a new design style where she uses special printing techniques (edible, of course) to print intricate designs on an edible paper that adheres to the fondant icing. So your cake can have very small details and look amazing and clear. To see a picture of the cake I’m referring to, take a look at In Style Weddings this season. Check out the bakery’s website for other spectacular ideas!

Bijoux Doux . www.bijouxdoux.com . Brooklyn, New York

Hi all… I just returned from New York City. Everytime I go there, it’s like falling in love all over again. In honor of this great city, the next series of posts will all be somehow related to the Big Apple.

While looking through my most recent bridal magazine stack, I came across an advertisement that featured a dress that I think is amazingly gorgeous and perfect. It’s by Amsale, which has a flagship store on Madison Avenue in NYC. If you live in Oregon, you’ll have to go online or to Cali to find the creations, but they are gorgeous.

The dress I am drooling over is the Reese dress… and get this - it has pockets! How cool is that?! If you want to check it out, follow this link: Reese dress by Amsale.

I know you’re probably all losing sleep at night (or not) because it’s been a few days since the last post, but don’t worry - we’re ok. The Rose City Bridal Showcase just consumed all my time for a few days! It went very well though… saw some familiar faces and quite a few new faces. Brides are so fun. : )

I will be posting more tips soon, but there may be a few spaces between posts. I’ll try though! And the posts will be coming straight from New York City!

Guys are hard enough to shop for as it is for birthdays and holidays, but what in the world do you get them for a groomsman gift? I found this awesome idea: custom neckties! You can give them as a gift, or have the guys where them in the ceremony and keep them afterwards. Let their personalities shine through and get them designs that match their individual interests, or get them all to match with a funky design. I found these cool silk-screened ones on Etsy… check them out: Cyberoptix TieLab shop on Etsy. Grab one for your groom too!