[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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( q# ^9 K  H8 p  }8 w5.35.249.64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。
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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。
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　　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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' U: V2 w/ B2 O8 a1 bGood luck coupling July 7 with a wedding date
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3 D+ p) \+ U1 zCelebrity watchers say Eva Longoria plans to marry Tony Parker July 7, hoping the special 07-07-07 date brings the couple luck.9 Q7 y1 Z6 h" z. ^$ n4 F& i& k

( y5 N6 \% _) H  |5.35.249.64If 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.5.35.249.643 u! K5 k, [( N8 W8 K- F; O
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"I've never seen such a stink made over a date," she said, having fielded requests for "everything in sevens" since last fall.
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7 F8 n& p. Y& _" A. S5.35.249.64That includes more than the hour and number of bridesmaids, groomsmen and cake layers.$ \* V' R" |' D6 |, R

) o& C  E* b" @5.35.249.64One couple wanted Seagram's 7 whiskey and 7-Up soda in their beverage fountain.人在德国 社区& S# X( F6 w8 v3 S) @/ W- Q1 P4 I% _: y
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"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.
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"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.") J* y, m7 z+ \: |0 D$ [

$ \9 W( X0 T, Y* T$ a+ g) `5.35.249.64According to the wedding planning Web site www.theknot.com, May, June, September and October are the popular months for marching down the aisle.
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, c" h* y* S4 S1 A2 q) }人在德国 社区But this year, July has joined the field.人在德国 社区0 c# g1 A) d2 m) _( n/ v
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In Catonsville, SugarBakers bakery owner Jamie Williams noticed the trend, as 15 wedding cakes were booked for July 7.
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"And we have a bunch more pending," she said, adding that a cash deposit finalizes a booking.
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/ S2 ~% X6 F* M4 d+ KAlthough 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.9 U: @' f( p; k# R, M  @& l

3 L( d( i, E/ w# Z' t"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.( S  {. ~0 u( Z- p3 y
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For Whitehouse Caterers receptionist Judy Ganz, the date's appeal surfaced by accident last year.5.35.249.642 {/ U" P6 f$ n( L; X

+ @1 ]' a; N6 Z4 \) Z人在德国 社区A couple came in wanting a Saturday in June 2007 at Whitehouse's home base, Overhills Mansion in Catonsville.5.35.249.642 ]# W0 q. N0 {9 K* ~

  C% r" k+ Z6 T* iWith none open, Ganz found herself recommending the first Saturday in July as an easy date to remember: 07-07-07.
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"That was the first time we'd realized it," she said, adding that Whitehouse staff typically check the calendar each year for possible trends.! w9 W% n( u& ?2 G
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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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6 l/ \) e; h- g9 X" w( q" ]% dFor reasons yet unexplained, however, couples wanting a sacred wedding venue should have no trouble finding several.) [. B" |" R9 Y
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Receptionists 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.5.35.249.64  Q& s; L% Y* }! ^2 k% k+ q: h& H
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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.
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+ {" X2 \. |) j/ w) P# ^9 v4 z"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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Williams agreed, saying brides tend to book a reception location first, then a cake.5.35.249.64; @6 P. A7 l: X: m, b: Q1 z
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"I don't even like to take cake orders unless they have a site," she said.3 x* K$ {- k. L/ ?
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At 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.7 \+ I% M) C4 T
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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."* _7 i. q6 L; C% ?& n! }
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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.( j& i( ~8 l- `# l' f7 _- v$ ]

' {6 g$ t( S' C人在德国 社区Library circulation manager Carolyn Ovelgone created the wedding display simply to show how many resources the library offers on a particular subject, Ross said.
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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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/ V9 w* ^) O! X8 f  h/ }Those numbers were lucky enough -- the marriage is still going strong, she said.: v5 \( \; m! ^1 x# Y
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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.
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"As long as it gets me more business, I don't care."% k8 V* Y% E) b6 I% k+ J; U/ u/ @

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