[国际新闻] 7/7/07结婚充满乐趣

日月光

全年最旺7月7日美国结婚人潮破纪录
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今年7月7日可能是全年的最旺结婚日子，至少在美国如此。由于当天适逢周六，更加带旺在当天举行婚礼的热潮。美国一个代客筹办婚礼的网站指出，它已收到三万一千多宗生意预订。而新人行婚礼的热门地点拉斯韦加斯，各教堂已作好一切准备，迎接这个好日子。
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　　由于美国人看好这个全年结婚吉日，当地的婚礼主办公司、酒店业人士及旅行社，均收到破纪录的预订服务，再加上当天是星期六，各有关业界正各出奇谋，务求满足客人的需要。专门代客筹办婚礼的网站theknot.com说，接到三万一千多宗计划在7月7日行婚礼的生意，现正处理约一万两千宗。这是近年来最多人选择共谐连理的日子。
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　　来自麻省的24岁准新娘亨德里克森形容，成为7/7/07新娘子充满乐趣，希望未来丈夫对这个特别的结婚周年日子永世难忘。她道出不少准新人的心声说：三个七的日子是幸运日，简直是完美的配搭。在赌城拉斯韦加斯，当地一向是准新人选择行礼的热门地点，7.7.7效应更带旺在当天结婚的热潮。整个赌城的教堂计划在当天延长服务时间，以应付结婚人潮。人在德国 社区; M4 M5 H2 T$ i  d; Y. ^' j: N% w' \
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　　其中一间行礼的热门教堂Graceland，已对预订人潮应接不暇，当天的开放时间将由早上8时至午夜，每隔15钟便举行一次婚礼。拉斯韦加斯的会议展览及游客中心指出，对赌城来说，7.7.7是充满幸运的数字，因此很多人选择在这个富有纪念性的日子到赌城结婚。1 E# P" y6 ~: _8 Y8 m$ [, e0 d6 _

* {* \, t8 \+ C4 a　　赌城的酒店在当天为新人准备特别的菜单庆祝，例如Ritz-Carlton酒店，特别推出幸运三条七套餐，售价分777或7707美元两种。Ritz-Carlton说，现时每周平均接到两至六个电话，查询当天在酒店结婚的事宜，迄今已接到至少两宗婚宴预订。
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Good luck coupling July 7 with a wedding date5.35.249.649 ^: D7 c6 i/ }
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Celebrity watchers say Eva Longoria plans to marry Tony Parker July 7, hoping the special 07-07-07 date brings the couple luck./ I, P( ]% `2 U9 |/ B3 o0 L& K
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If so, the "Desperate Housewives" actress and the NBA player are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg -- or seven-layer cake -- according to Susan Hepperle, general manager at Town & Country Caterers in Lansdowne.
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" I+ Y# F# Z$ |- s% ^人在德国 社区"I've never seen such a stink made over a date," she said, having fielded requests for "everything in sevens" since last fall.' |4 \, j0 [3 F* l* a/ u% v7 U

4 M) M' T! R' |0 K: S* YThat includes more than the hour and number of bridesmaids, groomsmen and cake layers.
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One couple wanted Seagram's 7 whiskey and 7-Up soda in their beverage fountain.
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! d& d0 Y0 s4 n, V  ^"We've had call, after call, after call, after call, just looking for this date," said Hepperle, who long ago booked the maximum four receptions Town & Country can handle in one day.* `' d1 b% V( p+ \

  K+ i; H' _2 ~3 C( f/ m"All I'm hearing is that triple sevens is a lucky number," she said. "One guy actually said it's a roll of the dice with getting married."* i% n7 ?7 T6 q3 t; N$ z
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According to the wedding planning Web site www.theknot.com, May, June, September and October are the popular months for marching down the aisle.. l9 ]8 v* u0 e  [5 b
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But this year, July has joined the field.& J. r" ^0 ?: C/ m9 T

7 Z' R. p: ?/ R) p* [In Catonsville, SugarBakers bakery owner Jamie Williams noticed the trend, as 15 wedding cakes were booked for July 7.
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. v+ ^* t6 h+ p6 X+ ]# Z"And we have a bunch more pending," she said, adding that a cash deposit finalizes a booking.& V; G1 f3 a* U' P! R

$ L6 @9 P- l5 X4 x' r9 O人在德国 社区Although her bakery specializes in wedding cakes and stays busy all year, often with more than 50 orders in a single weekend, Williams knows that July 7 is special this year.
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"I've heard from brides that it's supposed to be some kind of magic day, 7-7-7; it's supposed to be good luck," she said, noting that many of her clients said they had trouble finding an available reception site.. Z9 K3 _# a8 P$ A6 L! m4 X

/ l* S% q7 m) n, P8 {1 j6 G人在德国 社区For Whitehouse Caterers receptionist Judy Ganz, the date's appeal surfaced by accident last year.
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& O( Y: |) b  R$ }6 n7 B$ PA couple came in wanting a Saturday in June 2007 at Whitehouse's home base, Overhills Mansion in Catonsville.
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, s+ D: |+ t; R; ?& `, N7 g. ^, UWith none open, Ganz found herself recommending the first Saturday in July as an easy date to remember: 07-07-07.人在德国 社区2 h& n6 T1 v  _- D# C0 c, z

/ U4 ?$ j( o) U5.35.249.64"That was the first time we'd realized it," she said, adding that Whitehouse staff typically check the calendar each year for possible trends.人在德国 社区: E1 e5 D7 D( }& m, g, B
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A short time later, Ganz saw an overwhelming demand for July 7.
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"It's the most popular date for this year," she said.
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For reasons yet unexplained, however, couples wanting a sacred wedding venue should have no trouble finding several.
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7 D! h, y$ C; o9 {. r  h7 J3 G7 dReceptionists and clergy at more than a dozen Protestant and Catholic churches in Catonsville and greater Arbutus reported no demand for July 7. The date was still open and available on their calendars as of last week.
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Similarly, Cy's of Catonsville had no overwhelming July 7 demand for grooms' wear. The store doesn't carry bridal apparel.6 N0 v8 h- w2 ]  U
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"That would be a cool time to get married, but nobody has come here yet," said Paul Delivuk, who manages the store's tuxedo rentals.
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He anticipates last-minute planning from the grooms involved, as "guys are poky."
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7 U0 ]  @& L3 J; `Williams agreed, saying brides tend to book a reception location first, then a cake." \/ b- p; t6 A/ v: X! Q9 G
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"I don't even like to take cake orders unless they have a site," she said.
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3 K! t9 V$ c. h; b. hAt Arbutus Library, where manager Gail Ross' 1960s wedding gown is on display with a collection of books, magazines and CDs on wedding planning and etiquette, July 7 is magic.% g7 }1 h* @/ A: C% ?% V/ M/ z& D
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"That's a big Harry Potter date," Ross said, referring to J.K. Rowling's popular series about a boy with magical powers. "That's Harry's birthday."人在德国 社区3 H' }: P. t; Y8 ?
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Book 7, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," will be released in July, although not July 7 as planned, according to Rowling's Web site.5.35.249.64& i( W/ C. R2 g+ w7 {( H
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Library circulation manager Carolyn Ovelgone created the wedding display simply to show how many resources the library offers on a particular subject, Ross said.  V; C9 H+ j; w3 S
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Ross and her husband, Bruce, chose Aug. 24, 1969, for their wedding because their Randallstown synagogue was free that day, and both families were available to attend.
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& q. C! u' y- a  L人在德国 社区Those numbers were lucky enough -- the marriage is still going strong, she said.3 F+ h  l9 C# G+ M3 f
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"I don't get the big deal," said Hepperle, who has had more requests for July 7 this year than she could count.8 j) g$ Q* K0 }! `8 w

' b4 \; [8 N, f/ r4 E+ p1 D9 k人在德国 社区"As long as it gets me more business, I don't care."
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