Mild weather and blooming flowers make April and May perfect months to get married or propose to a loved one.

During these two months last year, DeKalb County issued 95 marriage licenses. Throughout June and July they issued 142.

Considering April and May are prime times for proposals, DeKalb area businesses enjoy an increase of sales.

“[We] primarily [sell] women’s jewelry much more so than men’s,” said John Wright, owner of Wright Jewelry, 124 E. Lincoln Highway. “People looking to get married of course are looking at engagement rings.”

Wright Jewelry carries between 50 and 60 different engagements rings at any one time and also has the option of ordering or customizing rings for custumers.

For Cooper’s Diamond Jewelers, 303 W. State St., it is the prime time for wedding purchases.

“We have a gift line that carries crystal, pictures frames, attendant gifts and jewelry for the bride and groom that they purchase for each other,” said Dawn Sukach, an employee at Cooper’s.

A popular trend in engagement rings is colored diamonds and stones. With this new trend, there are thousands of possibilities for unique jewelry.

Other popular sellers during April and May are graduation and Mother’s Day gifts.

“As far as graduation, it’s popular to sell watches,” said Wright. “[For] Mother’s Day, it’s assorted jewelry of all types.”

Another popular item for Mother’s Day is a ring with gems that represent her children’s birthstones.

Ducky’s Formal Wear, 323 E. Locust St., also is affected by the oncoming wedding and prom season.

“When the weather’s good, the wedding business is good,” said Steve Anthony, president of Ducky’s Formal Wear. “In other words, from mid-April through mid-October there’s a lot of weddings.”

Ducky’s Formal Wear has been in business for 60 years and for the past 20 years have offered free rental for the groom’s tuxedo when six suits are rented. In addition to a free tuxedo for the groom, Ducky’s sets itself apart by offering specials including free invitations with the groomsmen’s tuxedo rentals.

“Invitations have been pretty successful,” Anthony said. “It’s a really good deal, saves $200 to $300.”

The end of May is when business picks up for Ducky’s, as hundreds of high school students rent tuxedos for prom.

“There’s hundreds of kids at each [high] school looking for clothes,” Anthony said. “It’s kind of our Christmas season.”