Posted on Sun, Sep. 9, 2007

Married

Lucky Day for Love? Couples are Banking on 07/07/07
WPVI By Lisa Thomas Laury June 29, 2007 -

It is understandable that next Saturday, July 7th (the 7th day of the 7th month of the year 2007) is generating a great deal of excitement. Many are calling it the luckiest day of the century.
There are Seven Wonders of the World, seven continents and seven seas. Next Saturday, the new 7 Wonders of the World will be announced in Portugal, and Live Earth Concerts will be held on the 7 continents to promote action against global warming. And, with the lucky connotation of this special date, the 7th day of the 7th month of 2007 is shaping up to be the most popular wedding day of the century. "I need all the luck I can get and I know he'll never forget the anniversary date," said Donna Burns, who is trying her luck at 7-7-07.
Although her "luck" with planning the ceremony almost ran out. She had a hard time booking an officiant to marry her and her fiance Mark! "I ended up going online and getting a reverend online. I call him rent-a-rev," she said. In fact, wedding planner Christina Mitchell said her phone was ringing off the hook well over a year ago with brides eager to snag the so-called "luckiest date of the century" to say their I do's.
Mitchell said Donna wasn't the only bride having "bad luck" with the planning. "A lot of venues where booked up, and a lot of vendors and videographers were booked so it was really tough," said Mitchell. David's Bridal estimates about 65,000 weddings will be held in the United States next Saturday, which happens to fall on 4th of July holiday weekend. "It's at least double of what you would have on the busiest weekend of the year," said Cindi Freeburn. Triple 7's signify a jackpot, but are couples just rolling the dice on love? No, according to clairvoyant "Monica" who read the numbers for us. "It's a strong time with religion, astrology, marriages, commitment," she said. "It represents a very strong unity of energy," she said. University of Pennsylvania Professor of Folklore Dan Ben-Amos said culture has a lot to do with the luck. "This is a phenomenon involves long deep-rooted tradition in the western world and in the Christian world," he said. "Every culture has a set of good numbers and bad numbers and its culture related." Donna says she knows the number 7 is the number that will bring her luck.
So, it appears marrying your sweetheart next Saturday may guarantee happiness 24-7 for the rest of your life. At minimum, it should ensure your spouse will never forget your anniversary!

In Seven Heaven
The number seven reappears throughout human history in a myriad of forms and almost every culture finds some significance in it. If the number 666 is universally considered to be an "evil" number, then 777 could be its opposite as the universally "good" number. Perhaps it's just a number or perhaps it's magical; maybe it's plain or maybe it's lucky. One thing is for sure: July 7th, 2007â€"or 07-07-07â€"will be the biggest date for couples getting married.
Saturday is so popular that TheKnot.com reports that 38,000 of its registered couples chose it for their nuptials -- three times more than an average Saturday in July. Philadelphia-based wedding planner Christina D. Mitchell was overwhelmed with requests for her services on 7-7-07 and had to turn down several couples. "So many vendors and venues were booked up a year out," said Mitchell, owner of Heaven Sent Wedding Consultants. "When I was calling venues for the date, they were almost laughing saying 'We've been booked a year and a half for that date.' It was really tough to put on a wedding for that particular date." Karri Miller and Peter Melnychuck, luckily, secured Mitchell early last year for their July nuptials.
"One of the reasons my clients decided to pick that day is because of the significance of the number seven," explained Mitchell. "It's the number of completion, (which includes): seven days, seven seas, seven continents, the Seven Wonders of the World."
Other numeral seven customs include the seven candles are lit during Kwanzaa. Buddha is said to have walked seven steps upon his birth. The Islamic tradition believes in seven levels of heaven. In the Orthodox Jewish tradition, the bride circles the groom seven times to symbolize the seven days of creation.
The Big Dipper is formed from seven stars and a ladybug has seven spots. There are seven notes on a musical scale and soon, the seventh and final Harry Potter book will be released. The ancient city of Rome was said to be built on seven hills. There are seven deadly sins, as well as virtues, in some Christian traditions. And gamblers hit the jackpot with the slot machine combination 7-7-7. Tomorrow, the Pennsylvania Lottery Millionaire Raffle will offer 7,777 cash prizes worth more than $6.4 million when the game is drawn tomorrow at 7 p.m. "Seven has always been a popular number for lottery players, so we decided to celebrate July 7, 2007, with a raffle drawing," said Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees.
Celebrities tying the knot tomorrow include "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria and San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker at a French chateau and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck and his longtime companion Gelila Assefa on the Italian island of Capri. Prince will reveal his new perfume line, 3121 (which, if added, equals sevenâ€"a number the Artist has traditionally been fixated on), with an unusual hometown performance at Macy's in downtown Minneapolis on July 7. In 1997, vocalist Erykah Badu and former boyfriend André 3000 of OutKast fame, produced a son they named Seven. It should be noted that Badu's career has been heavily influence by a childhood spent listening to '70s Soul music.
If Cupid happens to spear (and spur) your heart into the nuptial mood, you can try to book a quickie ceremony at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Although its seven separate chapels are booked for more than 450 couples, there are $77 specials still available for seven couples to get married at the same time. 14 ministers (that's seven times two) will officiate the package deals offered at 7 a.m., 1:07 p.m. and 7 p.m. While many couples will count their lucky stars as they celebrate the magic of the number seven, Mitchell notes it is also an easy date for grooms to memorize. "7-7-7â€"they cannot forget that."

By Bobbi Booker Published: 7/11/2007

Expo Gives tips for hassle-free nuptials

 Avoid becoming a ‘Bridezilla’ a new breed of soon-to-wed women who abuse the idea, by using tips from the experts on bridal etiquette and dazzling style for the ultra special day

By Bobbie Booker: Published: 12/15/06

Although most people are dashing about preparing for the upcoming holiday season, potential brides-to-be are dealing with a different calendar.  According to Heaven Sent Wedding Consultants owner Christina D. Mitchell, the 2007 wedding season is almost half over.  “Believe it or not even though it’s December, you might as well say it’s January or February in wedding season because things get booked up so rapidly in this industry.”

In fact, Mitchell has had to turn down several potential clients because the most popular wedding date of the up coming year is July 7, or 07-07-07.  Similarly, this year’s big wedding date was June 6^th as in the upcoming date August 8^th, 2008.

Still for this Sunday future brides may glimpse emerging nuptials trends at the Mahogany Wedding Expo 2007 at the First District Plaza, 3801 Market St. The expo will be held from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. and feature couture designers, along with a dazzling bridal fashion show.

Mitchell, a certified wedding coordinator and event planner is a graduate of Temple University’s wedding consulting program, and has honored her skill by getting hands on experience with nationally recognized wedding experts.  She notes that as brides prepare for their upcoming nuptials, wedding trends have shifted, including the loss of the month of June as the favorite month to marry.  

October is the new June because the weather is still warm and, for brides that want to go on their honeymoon, hurricane season is over,” she said.

Another trend the newly engaged must handle is hot to avoid becoming a Bridezilla.  Bridezilla are a new breed of soon-to-wed women who abuse the idea that wedding are their “day.” They terrorize their bridal party and family members, make greedy demands and break all the rules of etiquette to insure that they are the single most important person on the planet from the time they are engaged to the time they are married.  Mitchell offer sound wedding planning advice and peace of mind to these overly anxious brides.

“The self-centered control freak brides says, I can do this on my own’ and then they get stressed out and getting on everybody’s nerves” said Mitchell, who recalls her experience when she was hired by a client who was initially a Bridezilla.  “I had to make sure I gained her confidence and let her know that I had her best interest at heart. And I say with any coordinator (who’s_ dealing with a brides that’s that way communication is the key.  Let the bride know every tiny detail that is going on because they love that.

Mitchell’s Christian beliefs set her apart form other coordinators. “And what makes Christina unique is here professional training, her dedication to her clients and her integrity.  Mitchell employs an investigative approach when initially meeting her potential clients.  I ask my brides what is the most important thing for them on their special day. 

“Some says food because they want their guest to enjoy a great cuisine.  Another bride may say décor and want specialty linens, chair covers and sashes. Every bride is unique with her style.