flowerartgarden.com

Lively Spring color begins here with these Swarovski elements earrings by Robert Chiarella.

Below a floral bridesmaid dress by Prettybridesmaids.com is light and airy.

A stunning peacock cake from Markjosephcakes.com provides intense color.

At left, The Garrison linen silk suit from Ralph Lauren teams with a nice color scheme for shirt and tie.

Last, some cheerful Gerber Daisy favors from myweddingfavors.com.

The trendy looks below from the Rosa Clara 2010 collection, give these models a doll-like quality.  Each dress is flawless, with sculptured lines and wonderful detailing.

Rosa Clara 2010

Carolina Herrera adds a touch of color with this floral embellished gown for Spring 2010.

This gorgeous dress by Ian Stuart  shown here in Ivory/Honey has a bodice of beaded French lace.

At left, another Ian Stuart shown in Honey with metallic lace.

Below a Reem Acra design in pale blue with gold.

Oscar de la Renta adds just enough blue beneath this lace overlay gown.

Below, a stunning gown by Jim Hjelm, shown here in Blush.

Wow.  The new Spring arrivals are fantastic.  Below a sampling of oh so adorable dresses to stand out at a wedding or any grand event.

At left, a ruffled halter minidress by designer Milly.

Below, a black and white combo dress by Rebecca Taylor with ruffled sleeves is simple and sophisticated.

This black party dress by DKNY is decked out with a sequined top.

Below, a sweet as sugar white crochet macrame minidress from Diane von Furstenberg.

This Anne Klein taffeta dress makes a dramatic statement as a sexy alternative to a minidress.

Below, a plus size Mickael Kors little black dress is embellished with jewels.

Below, the stunning “Island Princess” dress by French Connection.

I just love this silk dress by Shoshanna with its own beaded necklace.

All dress are from Bloomingdales.com

Some couples, choose to add a  DJ to fill the lull when the band takes a break at the reception.  However, many couples choose to work with only a DJ when budget or space are a factor. 

A professional DJ can expertly choreograph your wedding , but as with any other aspect of the event, planning is essential.

1.Shop early.     Dj’s are booked many months in advance, as long as a year  during the peak months of the wedding season.  If you don’t want to choose only from those who are still available, you will need to give yourself plenty of time to locate and interview potential DJ’s.

2. Finding a DJ.  Referrals from those you know may be helpful, however,  if your taste in style of reception and music differs, then maybe not so helpful.  You can also ask other vendors, such as your floral designer or photographer for a referral or check local disc jokey associations for a list.   However, it will still be up to you to decide which professional fits your needs.

3.  Experience counts.  The DJ you choose should have experience in your type of event, not just in working any event.  If you want a DJ who is an entertainer who can emcee and coordinate you wedding, then you should make sure that is what you will be getting.

4.  References.  A professional will be able to provide references from satisfied customers.  If possible try to see a live performance.  If you can’t actually see a performance than a video tape or CD can give you a good idea of energy, personality and quality of entertainment.

5. The Music.  Discuss the type of music you want and don’t forget to include the type of music you don’t want.  You should provide a play list of your favorites, however, the DJ should also be able to play from their own wide-selection to appeal to many types of guests at your wedding.  Always ask if the DJ takes request from quests.

6.  Proper Attire:  This is not to be overlooked.  You want to be sure that the DJ and any assistants compliment the look of your reception.

7.  Insurance and Backup.  Its important to be sure that the DJ carries insurance in case of accidental damage to their equipment during your event.  You don’t want to be held liable for the damage.  It is also important to know if the DJ has backup equipment in case of an unforeseen malfunction.

8.  Special Considerations:  An outdoor wedding is a venue which requires special consideration.  As there are no walls for the music to bounce off, special arrangements must be made for sound.  Wiring also requires consideration.  If having an outdoor wedding, be sure you know well in advance how these items will be handled.

9.  Pricing:  DJ rates vary from region to region and cheaper is not always better.  However, you may be able to cut costs by booking your reception during non-peak hours or on non-peak wedding days.

10.  The Contract.  This is an extremely important item.  The contract should be in writing and include the date, time, cost, length of play time, and refund/cancellation policy.  It is important to have included the name of the DJ you are hiring to prevent a non-agreed to substitution.  You may also want to discuss the inclusion of any factors that you consider crucial to your particular event.

Most Popular wedding first dance song of 2009/2010:  “Amazed” by Lonestar.

These beautiful dresses and others are available at listings below:

Temperley London, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus

Below some brilliant engagement rings and wedding bands in updated styles.

At left, a heart-shaped stunner from Cartier.  Below, a vintage look ring by Ritani.

A simple, but elegant wedding band by Keepsake.At left, a fabulous band from the De Beers Pink Lotus collection.

The Trois flatband is from Michaelbjewelry.com.