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!

There are thousands of wedding invitations on the New and Blue website, not to mention the number present everywhere else! While it helps to see previews online, it’s not quite the same as seeing them in person in our retail boutique.

But before you trek down here…

Do yourself a favor and narrow down what you like. We have many, many invitation albums in the store and many, many couple freak out when they have to look through all of them. Have some idea of what you like, so we can at least start to narrow down your search. Ask yourself:

• What’s most important? A particular style? Shape? Size? Keep in mind the post office will charge you extra postage per invitation for square or over-sized envelopes.
• What colors are you using in your wedding? Do you want to see those used on the invitations?
• Do you have a theme? Birds? Cherry blossoms? Palm trees?
• How many pieces will your invitation include? Will you need additional inserts for directions, accommodations, registries, maps, local attractions, reception info, wedding website info, etc.?
• Is there certain company you have heard of that you like?
• Have you thought about what your invitations should say?
• Do you have a budget in mind that you would like to spend?
• How many will you need? Remember: you don’t need one invitation per guest… only one per household.

If you come to us with no ideas, that’s ok too. You are welcome to relax on our comfy couches with a glass of champagne (which we will provide, of course) or the latest Consumer Reports (we thought about the grooms too!) as long as you’d like. But following these guidelines will save you from spending hours looking through all of our albums.

You can also check out invitations on our site, and then just come down to see your favorites in person! See you soon!

I can’t believe how many people I know that are getting engaged! I have had many people ask me where they should start with the planning process. In the upcoming months you will have so much to do - and some things that you hadn’t even thought of! The key is to prioritize and break things down the best you can, while you’re still sane-minded.

First things first, you will need to set a date. Consider all alternatives before agreeing on one:

• Time of year.
• Indoor or outdoor ceremony?
• Weather/desired location.
• A date that has a special meaning to you personally (the date of your first meeting, your parent’s anniversary, Superbowl Sunday, etc.)
• Where other holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays fall in the year. For instance, things will probably be booked or more expensive if you’re planning for Memorial Day weekend. And you don’t want to have to cancel your romantic anniversary trip because it is your mother’s surprise birthday party on the same weekend.
• Perhaps you want to consider finances. If you know you will want to take a special trip each year to celebrate your anniversary, maybe you want to get married at the beginning of the month (i.e. pay day.)
• Is your dream dress going to collide with the 12 degree temperatures in early January?

Next, you will need to secure a location. Think about the setting you would like: Rustic? A city loft? Snowy mountain lodge? Beach front property? Destination wedding? Traditional church? All of these things will need to be considered. Once you decide what you would like your wedding to be like, it’s time to pick where you’d like it to take place. Try to secure a venue (for ceremony and reception) as soon as possible! Many places take reservations years in advance. Plus, deciding on the location will lend to other decisions: color choices, how many people you can invite, catering, etc.

Those are the two main things, but of course there are many other things you should take care of early. If you have your heart set on a certain photographer, florist, or catering company - contact them ASAP also.

Did you know that we have a monthly e-newsletter than contains new products, answers to commonly asked questions, and discount coupons? If you would like to receive this once-monthly email, please sign up here on the right side of the page, about half way down. You can also send an email request to kristen@newandblue.com.

New and Blue offers thousands of wedding invitations and social invitations right on our website. You can browse styles, edit information, and view a free proof for many of our designs right from home! We also specialize in Save the Date Cards and Save the Date magnets, as well as many essential bridal accessories. Would you rather see your options in person? Stop by our retail boutique in Portland, Oregon to view items from the website, and much more. Our experienced professionals can help you find what you need to make your wedding day plans complete. From cake toppers to attendant gifts to wedding and party favors - we’ve got everything covered.  

New and Blue

1321 NW Hoyt Street

Portland, Oregon 97209

phone 503.222.2355 or toll free 877.268.7117

Peacock designs and color themes are all the rage right now. And why not? The colors are gorgeous and the feathers are fun. 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: Peacocks

Availability: In store or over the phone only!

Colors Used: teal and forest

We’ve all seen Friends where Joey is ordained online to perform Monica and Chandler’s wedding ceremony. No? Just me? Well, anyway - now you can do something similar! Having a friend or family member ordained is fairly simple and can add a fun, personal twist to your ceremony. Not only will it feel special that this person is near and dear to you, but they will be able to relate on a personal level - and you have all the control as to how the ceremony is performed! Visit the website listed below for instructions to being ordained online to perform weddings. I went to a wedding this past summer where the couple had done this same thing… it was awesome! The “officiant” told jokes and personal stories about the couple and it was great because all the guests knew him too. It was much better than having some stuffy person whom no one knows up there.

Visit www.spiritualhumanism.org to be ordained online for free in just minutes!

Maybe you have your eye on a super fancy cake, but don’t feel like spending a hefty chunk of change on something that will be demolished and eaten in one day. I have an idea for you… rent one! Yes, it sounds a little odd, and maybe not your idea of “the perfect wedding cake”, but consider this: you could rent one of these beauties for the look of the fancy cake, and have a waitstaff butler around cut pieces of cake from a backroom supply of much more inexpensive varieties. Interested? Check out this website where you can actually rent a finished “cake” (they are foam forms under the outer layer): Fun Cakes Rental. Then for the cut pieces to share with your guests, check into a local bakery or grocery store for simple sheet cakes in yummy flavors. Pretty smart, if you ask me.

The idea of single cupcakes for each guest is so appealing, especially when you can get them “personalized” - decorated in a certain way or in colors or flavors of your choice. In Portland, there is none better than our dear friends at Cupcake Jones. Outside of Oregon, Once Upon A Cupcake looks to be pretty stinkin’ cool. Just take a look at their blog - tons of great ideas and pictures with cupcakes that look to be decorated with colored fondant. They are so fun and can easily by used for any occasion you could possibly think of (check out the Olympics themed ones!) From what I can see, it doesn’t say anything on the blog about shipping them to your location, but I guess it never hurts to ask! Otherwise, be sure to check them out the next time you head to Mission Viejo, California. Photo courtesy of Once Upon A Cupcake.

Don’t forget… October 25 and 26 is the Rose City Bridal Showcase at the Oregon Convention Center. Join New and Blue and tons of other Portland area wedding vendors for fashion shows, great advice and ideas, free giveaways, and more! Start your planning now…

What: Rose City Bridal Showcase

Where: Oregon Convention Center

When: Saturday Oct 25 and Sunday Oct 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For ticket information, please click here.