08/08/08 Is the Luckiest Day of the Year to Celebrate, According to TheKnot.com
8/8/08 Jumps 400 Percent in Popularity as Couples Take a Cue From Chinese Tradition and the Lucky Number Eight.
NEW YORK, NY (July 30, 2008) — What’s luckier than getting married on a date that occurs literally once in a lifetime? According to The Knot (www.theknot.com), the leading online wedding planning resource, tens of thousands of couples are flocking to the altar on Friday, August 8, 2008. The phenomenon follows last year’s 7/7/07 wedding craze and takes a cue from the Chinese tradition where the number eight portends prosperity.
Along with the good luck associated with the number eight, 8/8/08 has a few other factors that may make it a desirable day to get married. August is always a popular month for weddings since out-of-towners are more open to traveling in the summer and there’s more opportunity to wed outdoors. Also, when the numeral “8” is turned on its side, it becomes the symbol for infinity — a fitting motif to represent the beginning of a marriage.
TIPS TO INCORPORATE THE NUMBER 8
Want to use the number eight in your wedding? Evette Rios, the celebrity event planner who’s designing the upcoming Eight O’Clock Coffee Gr8 Wedding D8 Southampton wedding, shared these eight ideas with The Knot:
Party of 8: Ask eight girls and eight guys to stand up for you as your bridesmaids and groomsmen, or have four on each side for a total of eight.
Ceremony With 8: Incorporate eight passages into your wedding ceremony; arrange the space with rows of eight chairs on either side; or have an eight-person gospel choir sing as you make your ceremony exit together.
Diamonds of 8: For your wedding ring, choose a design that features eight channel-set diamonds. That way, you’ll always be reminded of your special wedding date.
Tables of 8: Forget round reception tables — set up eight square tables to create a more intimate setting. Even better, put two round tables together to replicate the number’s shape.
Menu of 8: When planning your menu for the cocktail hour, order eight different appetizers. Consider four hot and four cold for variety. For dinner, treat your guests to an over-the-top, eight-course meal.
Start Time at 8: If you’re getting married in the evening, begin the reception festivities at 8 p.m. Get double the luck with a rehearsal dinner at 8 p.m. the night before the wedding.
Desserts of 8: Ask your cake baker to create an eight-layer masterpiece for your wedding cake. If you’re not having a large number of guests, go for a groom’s cake in the shape of the number eight, or offer a dessert buffet with eight different choices to satisfy every guest’s sweet tooth.
Favors with 8: Consider giving out favors tagged with your names and wedding date. Some ways to write it: “8.8.8”; “8/8/08”; or “eight.eight.eight.” Or go all out and get lucky Magic 8 Ball wedding favors for all your guests.
BUSINESSES ARE BUZZING WITH 8/8/08 PROMOTIONS
Wedding professionals looking to land some luck on this date have responded with special packages, discounts, and contests. The Knot editors have rounded up three from the bunch:
“Gr8 Wedding D8” Contest: Eight O’Clock Coffee has teamed up with The Knot to throw a lucky couple a lavish wedding in Southampton, New York, on 08/08/08. The winning couple’s dream wedding will include such high-end details as a Priscilla of Boston wedding gown, Melissa Sweet bridesmaid dresses, and accessories by Blue Tux. The formalwear by MWTux, the new company from Men’s Wearhouse, will complete the look. Also, the couple will be going on a Luxury Included® honeymoon from Sandals Resorts.
The Venetian: The Las Vegas luxury resort is offering the Triple Fortune Wedding Ceremony Package, which includes a two-night stay in their suite, photographer, spa pass, gondola ride, and more for $3,888.
Sandals Resorts: The 8/8/08 Infinity Wedding Experience combines Sandals Resorts’ Luxury Included® amenities and the signature style of celebrity event designer Preston Bailey to create the ultimate wedding and honeymoon. For $4,888, the package features floral decor designed by Preston; an eight-course gourmet dinner for the bride, groom, and six guests; a wedding cake designed by Sylvia Weinstock; plus a personal consultant and spa treatments.
About The Knot Inc.
The Knot Inc. (NASDAQ: KNOT; www.theknot.com) is a leading lifestage media company. The Company’s flagship brand, The Knot, is the nation’s leading wedding resource, reaching well over a million engaged couples each year through the #1 wedding website TheKnot.com. Other products from The Knot include The Knot national and local magazines, The Knot books (published by Random House and Chronicle), and television programming bearing The Knot name (aired on Style and Comcast Networks). The Company also owns WeddingChannel.com, the most visited wedding gift registry website. The newlywed brand, The Nest, focuses on the newlywed-to-pregnancy lifestage, with the popular lifestyle website TheNest.com, a home decor book series with Clarkson Potter, The Nest magazine, and baby offshoot The Bump and LilaGuide. Also under The Knot Inc. umbrella are WeddingTracker.com; GiftRegistryLocator.com; party planning site PartySpot.com; teen-oriented PromSpot.com; and local baby services and community site LilaGuide.com. The Knot Inc. is based in New York and has several other offices across the country.
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