Luck Be Your Lady

The 9,000 Beijing couples who planned their wedding for August eighth could not have picked a more fortunate date.

Not only does it coincide with the Olympic opening ceremony, but since the Mandarin word for "eight" sounds nearly identical to the word for "to get rich," the number has the same implications as lucky seven has here in the States. In fact, in the posh casinos on the island of Macau, gamblers hit it big when they spin "888" on slot machines. The date also happens to fall on the day after the Chinese equivalent to Valentines Day, but couples seem to be more caught up in Olympic fever.

"We want to show our support for the Olympics, a century-old dream for China, and take part in a major event," Liu Huiling, a 24-year-old office assistant told USA Today. "Who knows if we will ever see another Olympics?"

Are you planning your wedding to coincide with a special date or event? Tell us about your plans for the special day! [USA Today]