Couples marrying Friday to clinch luck of triple eight

Thousands of couples are heading down the aisle Friday, hoping the date August 8th, 2008, brings them luck, as well as a memorable anniversary date.

Eight has long been considered lucky in China, where people pay extra to have it in phone numbers and on license plates. Eight-eight-oh-eight is when the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics are scheduled.

In the U.S., the wedding and gift registry site WeddingChannel.com reports a 213-percent increase in weddings for August 8th, 2008, compared with the same Friday last year.

Many couples are also planning eight-course dinners, eight bridesmaids and first dances timed for 8:08 p.m.

People give varying reasons for prizing the number. For example, a New York woman says she and her fiance always found themselves in seat eight, row eight at movie theaters with eight screens.

Another 8-8-08 bride in Arizona says she likes the way the number looks, because "it's continuous." Otherwise, she says, she and her fiance would have gotten married sooner.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)