According to Brides Magazine, March, 2010, guest books are making big changes.  Here are some fresh ideas which may be right up your alley.

a.  Have guests sign river rocks and then display them in a glass bowl or vase

b.  A typewriter.  Leave it on its own table and have a large scroll of paper on which guests can leave their wishes.

c.  A giant champagne bottle and silver and gold pens to sign the bottle

d.  Cards - have each guest fill out a card with their thoughts and then hang each one from a tree.

e.  During the first hour of the reception, have all guests get into the photo-booth for a picture. Then have those pictures put into a book and have guests sign by their photo.

There are a ton of fun ideas out there. 

Black and white is a classic combination that never goes out of style.  It can be dramatic when left on its own or have a vintage feel when used in a damask print.  Looking for a bit of whimsy?  Try mixing in some dots or popping it with another color.

Clockwise from the top:  Kate Spade Larabee Dot Tidbit Plates, Kate Aspen Damask Tea Light Holder, Damask Clutch from Etsy Seller Tulip Couture, Hugs & Kisses Soap, Kate Spade Naomi Flat, New and Blue Barcelona Wedding Invitation.

…a collaboration of Portland’s wedding community to give one couple the wedding of their dreams while benefiting the Children’s Cancer Association.  Over 20 vendors have come together to create the wedding of a lifetime.  One couple will be chosen and then details will be voted on by readers of participating blogs.

Here’s how it works:

• family and friends nominate couples with compelling stores from throughout the Portland area
• one lucky couple is chosen from three finalists by readers of the RLP Studios blog on April 20th
• a team of coordinators present three amazing themes to voters to select for an amazing, once in a lifetime event
• throughout April, participating Dreaming in Blue vendors will present ideas from those themes to blog readers
• when readers make their selections, they will pay $1 per vote to benefit the Children’s Cancer Association
• the winning couple will celebrate their dream wedding at the Oregon Golf Club in the fall

For submission guidelines click here.

You have your dress, you know your colors.  But how do you possibly match your groom to your chartreuse bridesmaids dresses and flowers?  There is a way! 

 We love this idea because it allows you to incorporate whatever color scheme you want for your big day.  Find a location near you!

We love this link to a woman in 1947 who was so obsessed with turkeys that she hand-made her wedding gown as well as the bridesmaids dresses out of turkey feathers!  She even had her guests throw feathers instead of rice!

So sit back, relax and appreciate that there is somene out there more obsessed than you with making her wedding perfect!  Check out some of the pictures from her wedding.  LIFE did a wonderful spread on her.

New and Blue is proud to introduce our Beautiful Day wedding invitation  and Save The Date line.  Choose from 100 color choices.  Back printing option is available too for an extra special touch!

Looking for the perfect eco-friendly favor or gift?  We have it!  It’s the Tree-in-a-Box.  Each kit provides everything you need to grow your own tree.

During the month of March, if you order these trees, you will get FREE PERSONALIZATION! (A minimum order of 36 is required.)  A label will be placed on the top of each lid.  Click on this link to view the tree options and when ordering, make sure you include your name and event date.

We love this idea from Martha Stewart on DIY Style-Memory Keeping from her winter Weddings magazine.  It’s a really unique idea for your wedding guest book and a wonderful keepsake for generations to come.  Simply set up a table during your reception and have an array of fabric squares and fabric pens for your guests to write you their well wishes.  Then post-party/honeymoon you can either DIY with these handy instructions or hire a professional quilter to do it for you.  Here in Portland, quilter Linda Dunk, has done this before and would love to stitch up your wedding keepsake.  She will even help you figure out how many squares you will need for the quilt size you would like and cut the squares for you.  You can contact Linda Dunk, of Linda D’s Creations, at 503-968-5297.

Looking for a unique favor idea?  Give the gift of trees!  The Arbor Day Foundation packages the trees in tubes that are made of recycled material and even have directions for constructing it into a bird-feeder once you’ve planted your tree.  Talk about green!  Trees are $3 each and you can add a customized label for an additional charge.  Choose from Redwoods, Pines or Spruces and give a lasting gift to the ones you love.

Love is always in the air at New and Blue!  Our Romance save-the-date magnet certainly sets the tone on love and how darling is the Lenox Chirp place setting?!  The contemporary Love Birds cake topper adds that romantic touch to any cake and what a sweet favor the miniature bird nests make when filled chocolate eggs.  No wonder they call you “Love Birds.”