Shopping for attendants gifts can get a little tricky.  These are the people that are key contributors on your wedding day and end up playing a pivotal role in the planning and celebration of events.  Well, lately we have come across some pretty nifty groomsmen ideas and we thought we would share.  With gifts like these, your sure to leave the gentlemen well pleased, appreciated, and excited to demo their new goodies!

From top left: Solar Battery Charger (good for I-Pod, I-Phone, Blackberry and more), Red Envelope; Golf Ball Bag, New and Blue; Shaving Duo, L’Occitane; Squirt 4 Pocket Leatherman, Leatherman; Flask and Cigar Holder, New and Blue; Onyx Tube Cufflinks, Cufflink Afficianado; Money Clip, Designs by Donna.

Congratulations!  This is such an exciting time! People to tell, plans to make, and gifts to give!  What do you do? Let New and Blue guide you through some of your first steps.  Stock up on varied bridal magazines to view the latest trends.  Keep track of your ideas with a note pad like this one from Bonnie’s Style.  Throw a party!  Check out engagement invitations or opt for these imprintable invites on SALE NOW at New and Blue.  Whether you are newly engaged or if your looking for gift ideas for someone else, you can’t go wrong with a wedding planning book.  We especially like a Bride’s Year Ahead: The Ultimate Month by Month Wedding Planner which provides all sorts of useful tips like budget and etiquette information as well as a month by month “to do” list to help the bride meet her wedding goals and schedules.  Other great gift ideas include an adorable “Just Engaged” tank or a cute diamond ring key-chain.  Oh-and don’t forget the card!  We especially love this “Congratulations” card by Jenny Sweeney- too cute!!

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We love Etsy!  So many handmade items in one place…it’s like a candy store without the calories!  While browsing yesterday, we came across these adorable clutches.  GirlbyAileen began sewing at an early age, having watched her mother sew dresses for she and her sister, and has always dreamed of having her own boutique.  What a boutique it would be with these unique creations.  We love the bold colors and patterns and think they would make fabulous bridesmaids gifts!  You can choose from her selection of fabrics here.

A central party theme is a great idea when throwing a party- especially a bachelorette party or bridal shower.  Aside from kitchen themed decorations and invitations, there are many ways to showcase a kitchen theme for your recipe shower.  You can throw the party with a “potluck” menu and have your guests bring a favorite dish to sample and recipe share, gift your guests with one of these cute kitchen favors, and choose kitchen themed games to play like these from Party411……

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We absolutely adore the new folded Thank You Cards by Bella Ink!  Sold in a boxed set of ten, each come with corresponding envelopes, are printed on cream premium paper, and are reasonably priced at $12.95.  The unique artwork and bright color combinations are a fresh burst of energy!  Stop by New and Blue today and pick up a set or two of one of the below designs for a truly lovely thank you!

Not only are your bridesmaids some of your closest friends and relatives but they play an integral part in all your wedding processes. They help in planing events such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party but also provide continued advice and support in what can be at times, a stressful process. So, beside the obviousness of not making them wear ugly dresses, what little tokens of thanks can you gift to the people in your life that help you through this monumental process and who take part in your special day?  New and Blue has some ideas for you…   

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To remember the special day, brides may choose to keep the gown, veil, shoes and other bridal accessories but what happens to the wedding bouquet?  We all know that most likely the gorgeous arrangement is catapulted into a crowd of hopeful single women, reaching and sometimes pushing to grasp a bit of wedding luck.  Even if this bridal tradition never came to pass, flowers are not exactly long lasting memorabilia.  Here at New and Blue we are always on the lookout for unique products and bouquet charms from Etsy are a perfect keepsake to remember your walk down the aisle.  These personalized silver charms by Cherry Creek Designs are $40.00, come in sets of two, and are customized to include the Bride and Groom’s initials as well as their wedding date.  How cute!

We don’t know about all you brides out there but here at the New and Blue we have family and friends that live quite far away.  There are many ways to thank the people in your life that go the extra mile (literally) and a “Welcome Bag” is one of the ways you can do this.  A welcome bag can be placed in your guests hotel room and is usually filled with goodies that celebrate their arrival.  The items you choose to include are totally up to personal preference but some popular choices are snacks, sweets, and information that pertain to the location of the wedding. There are many companies that provide pre-assembled bags for purchase but if you have only a few to compile, a personalized one is well worth it.  Below are some items you could include in a welcome bag for guests in Portland, Oregon.

Mooonstruck Chocolates, Cooper Mountain Pinot Gris, Perfect Portland Weekend guidebook, Tillamook Cheese, Freddy Guys Hazelnuts, and Oregon Growers Marrionberry Fruit Spread.

Here at New and Blue we see brides on a daily basis.  We get asked questions on wedding etiquette, floral and favor ideas, invitation wording, and just about everything else wedding.  One of the most frequently asked questions is- do you know where I can find bridesmaid dresses?  I honestly believe that no bride wants to send her closest friends down the aisle in a hurricane of tulle, but the bottom line is that cute and versatile bridesmaid dresses are hard to find.  I’ve done some searching and here is one that I absolutely love.  This light and airy silk chiffon dress by J.Crew is priced at $170.00, comes in nine different colors, and would be perfect for a spring or summer wedding.   

The sun is beginning to shine in full force and flowers are blooming in abundance, spring is a beautiful time of year to have a garden themed wedding.  When planning your wedding, its nice to have a centralized theme that you can incorporate into all of your wedding pieces.  Here at New and Blue we have multiple garden themed decorations, gifts, invitations, and other fun wedding accessaries. All of which would compliment your garden themed wedding beautifully.  All items pictured below are available at www.NewandBlue.com.