By AMY SMART
With seven diamonds set into both her wedding and engagement rings, Tauranga's Jenny Mckay knew she was meant to wed her husband-to-be, Dave Gamlan, today - the seventh day of the seventh month, 2007.
"I didn't realise but the other day I counted the number of diamonds in my
wedding ring and there's seven, so I think it's meant to be," Miss Mckay said.
They are one of thousands of couples who will marry on this supposed lucky day.
The most famous among them will be Desperate Housewives actress, Eva Longoria, who will wed basketballer Tony Parker.
The Tauranga couple's celebrant, Christine Grant, said she always asks people if there was significance in the dates they chose. "Eighty-five to 90 per cent of the time people said there is not, but a few had noteworthy reasons for a date."
Miss Mckay and Mr Gamlan had been planning to get married for the past three months. "We heard about this day six weeks ago and thought 'that's ours' and started planning the wedding," Miss Mckay said.
Although the number seven re-occurs, Miss Mckay is not superstitious - they chose the day because it would be easy to remember. "Down the track when we're counting the number of anniversaries, it will be easy."
The couple met at the Naked Grape 2 1/2 years ago. They are having a small wedding at their Maungatapu home.
Historians say lucky number seven originated from frequent use in The Bible which came to represent perfection and completeness. Seven is used more than 700 times in The Bible. For example, God created the world and on the seventh day he rested.
According to the Wikipedia on-line encyclopedia, the number seven is considered lucky in Chinese culture and symbolises "togetherness".
The Chinese consider number eight to be significant too - it means "sudden fortune".
So there is still a chance to tie the knot on a "distinctive" day next year on the eighth of the eighth 2008.
