[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. G: D7 r3 u, Y: M2 H
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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。6 }, U+ R' Q) f8 ?8 o( N1 a( ^* _& Y

! l. ~# R  \0 J( m　　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。! X8 S- f+ c; o$ {' O
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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。: n$ Q0 f# e' t
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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。7 D5 c1 s+ E/ q
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Good luck coupling July 7 with a wedding date
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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.
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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'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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0 }- B8 }. v# `0 @% `That 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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5 u( l7 Q0 q' K7 v0 n. k, r"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.5.35.249.64' T1 s) K( _0 s# y' x. H8 _

- g1 E/ L8 k  a' f人在德国 社区"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."6 O9 `4 }3 W5 a3 o6 S. E
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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.
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  r& a, D1 m1 m0 fBut this year, July has joined the field.& F5 g+ v' e3 k7 [

5 m# @2 j# ^" A* d9 N/ a7 p4 }5.35.249.64In Catonsville, SugarBakers bakery owner Jamie Williams noticed the trend, as 15 wedding cakes were booked for July 7.# |# i7 c7 K$ H, H

- K1 Z/ O- l9 d! `6 C# ]"And we have a bunch more pending," she said, adding that a cash deposit finalizes a booking.0 D) W4 v) v/ S9 @
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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.7 z. Q0 |) r8 h

& e; \0 q7 z; |9 e8 K"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.
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& v+ C4 y' }7 t2 U3 D. q人在德国 社区For Whitehouse Caterers receptionist Judy Ganz, the date's appeal surfaced by accident last year.8 g9 ?: X4 T( m+ E/ w

1 w% z; }' _* U# @4 v& BA couple came in wanting a Saturday in June 2007 at Whitehouse's home base, Overhills Mansion in Catonsville.; x0 `& s0 P& ]3 B5 T1 d
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With none open, Ganz found herself recommending the first Saturday in July as an easy date to remember: 07-07-07.
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0 i5 g9 ]4 L; g0 X8 N% P! L人在德国 社区"That was the first time we'd realized it," she said, adding that Whitehouse staff typically check the calendar each year for possible trends.
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A short time later, Ganz saw an overwhelming demand for July 7.2 u/ T! F$ k5 U2 y
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"It's the most popular date for this year," she said.# S; h9 g$ p+ |

/ a% Q7 _% _/ nFor reasons yet unexplained, however, couples wanting a sacred wedding venue should have no trouble finding several.人在德国 社区& T! P6 B: e; ]! f1 [
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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.
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; D  m$ Y2 E* Z8 i: V- o5.35.249.64Similarly, Cy's of Catonsville had no overwhelming July 7 demand for grooms' wear. The store doesn't carry bridal apparel.: e! S7 }0 c) z1 O) f2 H

9 H$ O& `4 O* H! h"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.人在德国 社区$ s3 [3 L. ^  B& b% c

! c/ s( b" C% ]7 ?& YHe anticipates last-minute planning from the grooms involved, as "guys are poky."  Z" }+ m3 ~# i# w6 `# m/ w, D8 `9 I

5 U$ ]2 x% \- v- e5.35.249.64Williams agreed, saying brides tend to book a reception location first, then a cake.5.35.249.64  i/ F7 V; Y  }* Z" v

; t$ D3 f, l5 B! R/ s5.35.249.64"I don't even like to take cake orders unless they have a site," she said.  j) s3 A" z; v1 Z6 i5 i' \9 n
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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.
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  ?$ z' R: ]1 Z( ]7 p; r5.35.249.64"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."5.35.249.64& a( |1 u: ?& q2 @0 J
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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.
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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.+ L: A! Q6 q* a' r& i+ d7 G

  f& o+ q' l* e( D1 k7 V; F6 c0 ^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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) ?$ h2 g3 g# VThose numbers were lucky enough -- the marriage is still going strong, she said.* w' H! r6 \1 s" ?
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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.4 X+ M$ [& D! s2 ?- ^+ X9 O2 @$ L
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"As long as it gets me more business, I don't care.") W+ L6 E4 J. w/ Y
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