the Guest Book that is!  Traditionally, the purpose behind the guest book was to remember who came to your wedding, help you organize your thank you notes and start a formal address book.  The latter seems strange to us because wouldn’t you have that if you invited them to your wedding in the first place?  Regardless, today you can think outside the box, or the book in this case, and choose a more creative option that really represents the two of you as a couple.

Do you love photos?  Why not mat and frame a pictures of yourselves for guests to sign that you can see everyday in your home.  Love to cook or entertain?  Try the Signature Platter that will last through years of entertaining.  Still love a book but want more than just a signature?  We love the Wish Book Set.  Each page has mini envelopes and cards for guests to write you wishes.  It includes a pen and photo corners so you can personalize it with pictures of yourselves.

Whether you’re looking for a traditional guest book or something a bit more contemporary, New and Blue is the store for you.

Contemporary Signature Frame & Guest Signature Platter by Beverly Clark,  Wish Book Set by Two’s Company

Here at New and Blue we are always looking for new items and ideas to share with you.  We recently came across this personalized dinnerware from Jessica Rust Designs.  The designs are playful and eclectic, and would make a very unique and special bridal shower or wedding gift that would be treasured for years to come.  Some of our favorites are Birds on a Wire, Birch Tree, Love Bug and Family Tree, but don’t let us decide for you.  Visit rustdesigns.com and browse their collections for the one that would fit your happy couple perfectly.  Of course, if you are the happy couple, let guests stock your shelves with their online registry.

If you haven’t found the perfect topper to symbolize your love, don’t despair, New and Blue has a wide variety for you to choose from.  From the traditional bride and groom in their formal wedding attire to monograms with bling, and everything in between, you are sure to find one that represents your togetherness, shared passions and everlasting love. 

Stop by New and Blue today to browse our selection and don’t forget to check out our recently updated window display on your way in.  Not in Portland, then shop on line at www.newandblue.com.

Themes add a fun element to any party and a bridal shower is no exception.  There are many theme options for your bridal shower such as a tea party, luau, traditional, and pretty much anything that you can come up with.  We thought it would be fun to highlight some ideas for a lingerie themed event,  fit with chocolate covered strawberries, lingerie inspired invites, cosmopolitans, sexy questions just for giggles, and of course, using the girlie color combo of black and hot pink!

For shopping and how to detials… Read the rest of this entry »

Colin Cowie points out in his book, For The Bride, that “Your wedding guests are your nearest and dearest friends and relatives-the most important people in the world to you as a couple.  You’ve chosen them above everyone else to share one of the most special days of your life.”  Some may have taken time off of work and traveled to be with you on top of putting time and thought into selecting a gift for you.  Letting your guests know how much you appreciate all that they have done to share in your special day takes just a few moments and means so much.

Here at New and Blue we recommend purchasing your Thank You notes when you order your invitations.  Not only will they coordinate but you will have them on hand for when gifts start arriving, and they will arrive before your wedding day!  Why wait until after your honeymoon to begin when it will no doubt seem like a much larger project.  Most importantly, it is all about the quality of your note not the quantity of words on the page.  Be thoughtful, gracious and timely, and by all means, put pen to paper.

If you are in need of thank you notes now, stop by our shop or order these on line at www.newandblue.com.

When it comes to wedding dresses, all that really matters is that you find one that makes you feel beautiful on your big day.  Our opinion is that the trend is quite secondary to your love for a dress.  Well, if you ladies are anything like us, you could fall in love with more than a few dresses at once!  If this comes to play, heed the trend.  Pictured below are wedding dress trends that have made more than a few appearances on the runway.  One shoulder, non- traditional color, mulitple tiers, and a dash of color are just a few of our favorite looks for the Fall 2009 wedding season.

From Left: Vinyard, Vera Wang, Melissa Sweet, and Monique Lhuillier

Yes!! Due to popular demand, we are creating our own line of invitations and stationary!  We wanted to start a line of eco-friendly invitations that would be affordable but still have the quality and elegance that every bride wants.  With 100 different color options and a growing portfolio of designs, brides out there can find the invite that is just right! 

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We honestly believe that one can’t go wrong with a bit of bling.  Chances are that most of you ladies have already taken care of the most important bling of all (the ring!) but who says you have to stop there?  There are many ways to incorporate a little extra glitz into your big day.  Choose a wedding gown with bling details like this Henry Roth dress with Swarovski details and accessorize with a sparkle of Meg Jewelry, vintage inspired rhinestone hairpins (found on Etsy), and glamorous shoes like these by Bourne.  If you would like to go even more glam, check out these silk invitation pouches by Simply Unique and bling your reception with bejeweled cake toppers by WMI Designs.

Always trying to keep you up to date on new items that come in the store, we are happy to announce that New and Blue now carries the invitation album, Marsupial Wedding Four.  Marsupial Invitations are known for their high quality paper and details, vibrant colors, and unique designs.  They are exquisitely crafted to bring you gorgeous, original pieces that “take the planet into consideration” and are made to fit your individual style.  Come in and check out Marsupial’s newest album with invitations that are “all for the new economy”.

No matter how many pieces we add to our closets there is just no answering the never ending question- what to wear?  This dilemma is even more exaggerated when it comes to special occasions like weddings.  An invitation arrives in the mail and at the bottom you read “Black Tie”, does this mean you have to buy a ball gown? What about “Casual Attire”, can you really get away with donning your favorite pair of worn jeans? From Black Tie to Casual, New and Blue and About.com has you covered! Read more for details. 

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