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POSTED: Friday, Aug. 08, 2008

888 spells luck for newlyweds

BELLINGHAM - Like most brides-to-be, Amy Girton wanted her wedding day to be special. So along with personalizing wedding favors and selecting a meaningful venue, she chose to marry her fiancé, Matthew Brace, on Friday, the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the millennium.

"We chose 8-8-8 because my finance and I wanted to have a special day, and we knew that the eighth symbolized eternity," she said.

The 39-year-old from Mount Vernon married Brace, 50, at the Bellwether Hotel in Bellingham.

The number eight, which is similar to the word for prosperity in Cantonese, is considered lucky in Chinese culture. That's why the Olympics also started on Aug. 8. An eight turned on its side is the symbol for infinity. Eight also represents new beginnings in the Bible.

And with couples searching for ways to make their big day memorable, it's no wonder that Friday was a busy day in the wedding industry in Whatcom County.

"I probably could have booked that day a dozen times," said Diana Schmidt, event coordinator for Lairmont Manor, a popular wedding venue in Bellingham.

The manor holds one wedding per day.

Schmidt said it is unusual for so many people to call requesting a Friday date for a wedding. Usually couples want to be married on Saturday and then settle for a Friday wedding at the manor when Saturday is booked.

Pam Needham, owner of Alicia's Bridal Shoppe in downtown Bellingham, also experienced a surge of brides requesting gowns for Friday.

She estimated that 25 dresses were purchased by brides getting married on Aug. 8, compared to 15 that were purchased for nuptials the Friday before.

"Brides typically like to have something special to remember the wedding date by, so it makes it really easy to remember, for one," Needham said. "The groom is not going to forget, and this way (the couple) has something special and can say, 'Look we got married on 08/08/08.'"

Reach Anna Walters at anna.walters@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2220.