Wedding planner is in 7th heaven

A year or so ago, a couple approached Barbara Wallace Weddings and requested a special date to tie the knot: July 7, 2007, or rather 07/07/07.

It turned out to be wise to book the day in advance. Wallace ended up getting more requests for weddings today than for any other day in the history of her business. The Newport Beach wedding planner has been at it for more than a decade, but not even 12/31/99, 01/01/01 or any other date could top the power of a triple seven.

Why the appeal? Wallace surmised the number seven had a positive ring for many people — especially compared to 06/06/06 last year, when a few zealous people were predicting the apocalypse.

“I think it’s got a lucky connotation,” she said. “There’s no fear involved. There’s excitement and a feeling of luck with those triple sevens.”

That excitement has caught on worldwide; a Google search for the phrase “07/07/07” turned up 2,740,000 hits Friday. The New York Times, reporting on the huge number of wedding and hotel reservations for today, called July 7 “a date with destiny.” USA Today wrote some mothers were even planning to have caesarian sections today to ensure that their offspring got a choice birthday on the calendar.

Seven may be a lucky number in gambling, but Lisa Schultz, the owner of Crowning Glory Hairstyling and Makeup in Costa Mesa, said she had other theories as well. A number of Asian brides, she said, had told her that seven was a favored number in their culture’s numerology. Moreover, Schultz guessed a number of men wanted to marry on the triple seven because it would be easy to remember the anniversary.

“Definitely, this was one of those days that everybody wanted,” Schultz said. “We were even invited to go to Vegas and do somebody’s hair and makeup.”