Yes, you should probably still have a rehearsal for the wedding. But skip the boring after-party! Who needs a sit down meal when you can do something fun and memorable?! Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is where the extended families are meeting each other for the first time, or are being introduced to best friends. Help everyone to feel more comfortable and relaxed by hosting a casual fête. Here are some ideas to shake things up and let your family and friends have a blast!

• Have a BBQ Party. After the practice ceremony, head to someones backyard or to a park to have an outdoor cookout. Picnic tables and paper plates are much more comforting than suits and porcelain china. You could even make it into a potluck and invite everyone to share the details of their dish as an icebreaker. Use personalized favors for guests gifts, such as personalized salt and pepper shakers.
• Bride’s Family vs. Groom’s Family. Host some sort of sports game for everyone to participate in. We’re not talking about Throwdown 2008 here… think of something sort of tame. Silly relays, croquet, golf, touch football, frisbee, bowling, or badminton are good choices. The idea is to get everyone Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve really gotten into wedding planning and trend spotting - no doubt you have heard of Mindy Weiss. She is a big-time event and wedding planner in L.A. who does many celebrity wedding and large corporate events. If you look at her site, you will see why she is such a big name… the photos and client list speak for themselves.

Recently, she has launched her own line of cute accessories, planning books, and bridal gifts. When we saw the items at the New York Stationary Show we were immediately intrigued. Even the packaging is adorable! We have some items on our website, www.NewandBlue.com, but even more in the boutique.

My favorite item is the Wish Book Set. It is a new twist on a traditional guestbook, but has the same idea. Each page in the book has six little pockets so that guests may jot down their thoughts and wishes for the new Bride and Groom and place them in their own pocket. There is plenty of room for pictures and other mementos, so it doubles as a scrapbook. Don’t worry - it comes with perfectly-sized notecards and a pen.  

Sorry, that title had nothing to do with the playground game you played when you were just a tyke. But it does incorporate two things we love: rings and flowers. Originally when we happened upon this site, we were looking to score some truly original ring bearer pillows. But when we saw the ring pillows and the cute sofa pillows - we were hooked. Anna Whitford makes custom ring pillows in all sorts of colors, but the flower on top was the part that really caught our eye. Then as we started diggin’ a little deeper on the site, we found adorable coin purses (great bridesmaid gift), fabric corsages (they’ll never wilt, so people will never forget your day) and floral ties that will make your favors unbelievably attractive! Check out her site at www.AnnaWhitford.com. And don’t forget your currency conversion skills: she is based in the UK, but will ship to the US.

A few of our favorites: Small Box Decor, Primrose Ring Cushion, and Gerbera Clip Purse.

You’ve just had your nails done. They look absolutely perfect! Bad news: you have to dig in your purse to find your keys and then try to make it into the car and all the way home without smudging your fresh paint. Bummer. Don’t you wish you could get a spa quality mani-pedi at home sometimes? Good news: now you can! The Mobile Manicurist is a new service in the Portland area that will come to you for all your nail needs. What a great idea for a bridal shower, bridesmaid tea (now that we all know what that is!) or for the day of your event! Heck, maybe even just for a slow Tuesday afternoon at the office…

Find them at www.MobileManicurist.com or give ‘em a ring at 503.443.0344. Even better: stop by the New and Blue boutique for a 20% off coupon!

Here’s a new addition to the New and Blue blog. Every week we will showcase a wedding invitation set from some of the hottest stationery companies in Portland. Most of these designers do not sell directly to clients, so you will have to get in touch with us to order. However, if we have a link so you can place the order online, we’ll lead you in the right direction. These picks will show what’s popular, introduce different invitation styles, and showcase different printing methods. If you have any questions about an invitation we show, here’s how to reach us:

by phone 877.268.7117 or 503.222.2355 and by email at kristen@newandblue.com

This week’s pick is by B.T. Elements. You’ve heard us mention them countless times, and for good reason. They are awesome! The end-product quality is unbelievable, they offer tons of colors for your ink or paper, and the designs are very modern and fun. You can order many pieces of stationery to match your invitation, such as thank you cards, place cards, menus, etc. You are also able to customize these invitations to whatever your perfect vision may be: add or remove ribbon in tons of colors, choose your shape, make the invitation double-layered, mix-and-match ink colors, etc. B.T. Elements is very exclusive and is available only in the store. But if you see something you like in our photo gallery, we can try to help you over the phone.

Company: B.T. Elements

Design Name: Madison

Availability: In store or over the phone only!

Colors Used: fuchsia and cornflower blue

I know what you’re thinking: another party?! Typically this party is one for the bridesmaids, to thank them for all their help and for throwing you a shower. Don’t worry - it’s usually more casual and more for the bonding experience than about the wedding. This is the perfect opportunity for you to present your girls with the bridesmaids gifts you bought them, and to relax a little before the big day. This gathering is usually a brunch or lunch affair (or traditionally, afternoon tea) and can be in whatever locale you fancy. It’s usually held a day or two before the wedding. You can invite just bridesmaids and the flower girl, or include moms, grandmothers, and other female relatives as well. You can make the event as formal or casual as you’d like: think frilly dresses and fancy hats versus bathrobes and face masks. Depending on the location, hour, or day, the menu can be as varied as you’d like. Some brides choose to have the gathering the day of the Read the rest of this entry »

Bridesmaids dresses can be a bummer, but they don’t have to be! Cute dresses are everywhere in Portland - you just have to know where to look. Lucky for you, I can tell you. Some of these places you have probably thought of, but hopefully you’ll find at least one new place. Please don’t limit yourself to just bridal shops! All you are really looking for is a cute dress in a color that you like and a cut that will flatter many shapes. The hunt is on…

• Nordstrom
• J. Crew
• White House Black Market
• Express
• Bubble Boutique
• Mimi & Lena
• Two Birds Bridesmaids   www.twobirdsbridesmaid.com  Online only!
• Mabel & Zora
• Seaplane
• The English Department   
• Matisse

When making your wish list, don’t forget about the unexpected items. Everyone expects you to go with basics, but mix it up a little and add some more personalized touches to your registry as well. Some of these items are “big ticket” (i.e. kind of expensive) so make sure you have a variety of items at different price points. If you have a few expensive items it allows for some people to go in on one big thing together to get you a very nice group gift.

• BBQ. Enjoy the gift of grilling all summer long - and for many to come. This would be the ultimate gift for a couple who loves to entertain outdoors, and will easily be a favorite. The trick will be getting to the reception and then home afterward.
• Luggage. Luggage is becoming more and more standard on wedding registries. A couple who loves to travel will surely use (and appreciate) this gift. These kinds of presents are fun for you to get because it’s not something you would be super excited to buy for yourselves. For an extra touch of class, Read the rest of this entry »

Yay! You are starting a wedding registry! Sheets and towels and china… oh my! Before you go scan-crazy, consider items that are useful. Here, we’re telling you the Top Ten Kitchen Gadgets that you should add to your registry first. We’ll also clue you into when you would use it, and why.

1. Seafood Scissors. When preparing seafood, you know it’s not always easy to keep a tight grip and use a knife at the same time. These super tough shears will even cut through crab shells! Look for a non-slip handle of some sort to aid in the preparation. They usually have curved blades, to get into the toughest of spots.

2. Ball Whisk. Whisks mix ingredients evenly for sauces, custards, and more. The added benefit of the ball whisk is the weighted tips, which add whipping power and reach into the angles of your mixing bowl. It is Read the rest of this entry »

As of this summer, bright colors are coming up everywhere! Say “so long” to the bridesmaid dresses of the past… those pastel peachy-pink dresses are history! (We’re not complaining.) The newest color combos combine vibrant hues in the boldest fashion. Here are some suggestions:

• Teal and Bright Green
• Orange and Slate Gray
• Green, Coral, and Khaki
• Fuchsia, Teal, and Beige
• Violet, Teal, and Gold
• Bright Blue, Eggplant, and Lime Green
• Red and Orange
• Gray, Navy, and Yellow
• Lavender, Green, and Periwinkle Blue
• Bright Blue, Emerald Green, and Slate Gray
• Eggplant and Gray
• Teal, Bright Blue, and White
• Periwinkle Blue and Chocolate Brown
• Yellow, Bright Green, and Lime Green
• Bright Blue, Yellow, and Orange
• Bright Blue, Navy, and Black