A bride gets a makeover before the wedding ceremony at the Hong Kong Park yesterday. Over 100 newly weds tie their knots yesterday, which is considered a lucky wedding date in Chinese culture. Edmond Tang

HONG KONG: For most people of Hong Kong, yesterday was just another day, but for 131 couples, it was the big day. Wedding ceremonies abounded on the 9th day of the 9th month of the 9th year of the 21st Century.

The date September 9, 2009 is auspicious in the Chinese tradition because the pronunciation of nine in Cantonese and Putonghua is same as that for the word that means everlasting.

There usually are fewer weddings on normal work days than occur on weekends and holidays. Yesterday's 131 nuptials surpassed the 93 during Lantern Festival and 123 registrations for Valentine's Day last year.

Solicitor Thomas Tse said his law firm received 60 couples yesterday, compared with about 10 on normal days.

A couple surnamed Cheung originally decided to marry on August 8, 2008, but changed their minds.

"Chinese people like the concept of everlasting," said the husband Peter, who had been dating his partner Dorothy for nine years."The date of September 9, 2009 carries a special meaning," he said.

His new wife Dorothy said booking a wedding date for yesterday was not easy. The couple booked the nuptials back in June. "On the booking day, we turned on our computer at about 6 am and kept clicking to the website (of the Marriage Registries). We immediately registered when the website was ready for booking," she said. "Seven or eight friends of mine were also sitting in front of their computers to do that for me!"

Another couple, Larry and Hilary, decided to marry at 9:45 am, September 9, 2009.

"I like the idea of five 9s in a row, meaning forever," said the husband.

Another couple surnamed Leung were so wrapped up in the day that the husband-to-be forgot to bring the wedding ring to the ceremony.

"I just asked the helper to get the ring for me at the running speed of 9.9 seconds," he said jokingly.

Federation of Hong Kong Restaurant chairman Woo Chu said some couples booked their wedding feasts for the auspicious day more than a year ago.

Some other restaurants offered dim sum costing HK$9.9, and a banquet that cost HK$999.

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/10/2009 page1)