Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

Seka Menke reacts to her reflection in the mirror after the final fitting of her wedding dress at Budget Bridal. She asked her mother, "Am I the most beautiful girl in the world?" Menke started planning her wedding two years ago to ensure she could get everything she wanted for the day she wanted — July 7, 2007, or 7/7/07.

Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

Rose Perea inspects a bouquet for her parents' wedding on July 7. Seka Menke and Christopher Perea are among the many couples who chose the auspicious date July 7, 2007, to wed.

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For gamblers, the number seven means luck. In the Bible, the seventh day means rest.

This year, with the date 7/7/07 falling on a Saturday, the serendipitous digit is taking on some different meanings.

If you're a wedding professional, there's no doubt you'll be working. If you're a bride and you didn't plan ahead, you're out of luck.

"There's a couple more girls that I know that are getting married on the date, and they cannot find anything, because everything is booked or sold," said bride-to-be Seka Menke, who started planning two years ago for her wedding on July 7. "It's the biggest day in history, it seems."

It's likely the biggest day this year, those in the wedding business say. Florists, photographers, ministers — all say they are working hard to keep up with demand for the triple-digit day.

Bill Howden, a wedding minister for Marriage Makers, said he anticipated 7/7/07 being the biggest day of the year for his company.

Marriage Makers has nine ceremonies scheduled for July 7 and no way to accommodate any last-minute needs.

"We've had to turn down quite a few couples, because we just can't do any more," Howden said. "We need to have two hours between ceremonies for travel time and in case they start late. You can only do so many."

DeAnna Dimmitt, a senior photographer at Kevin's Photography, said business will be booming come July 7.

"Last week, we had to turn down two different weddings for that day," Dimmitt said. "We're very careful not to overbook, so we're good. We've got everything covered. But we definitely can't take on any more."

It's hard to say exactly what it is about sevens. Beyond the Bible and the casino, there are Seven Wonders of the World. There are seven musical notes in the diatonic scale. It takes seven dwarves to make a Disney movie.

Wedding consultant Fran Meyers said she had to refer numerous brides to other consultants for services on July 7. But she thinks seven is just another number.

"I think June 6 of last year was probably the same madness," Meyers said, when the date was 6/6/06. "And next year on Aug. 8, 2008, it will probably be the same thing. It's probably a fad."

Fad or not, Menke, 24, will marry Christopher Perea, 25,on July 7, hoping the date will bring their marriage luck.

Menke and Perea met in the town of Cuba 13 years ago when Perea helped Menke open a jar of pickles.

They became friends. Then their relationship turned romantic. Now, they have three kids: Isaiah, Rose, and Maximus.

All three kids will partake in the triple-seven wedding experience this weekend.

Charlotte Evans of Charlotte's Flowers arranged Menke's bouquet in addition to the flowers for the rest of the bridal brigade.

Evans said she couldn't imagine anyone waiting until the last week to try to secure services on 7-7-7.

"Everybody knows that everything is booked," Evans said.

Fortunately, Menke had the foresight to plan ahead.

And just in case the date isn't enough to bring her a lifetime of blissful wedded luck, Menke added one more key detail: Her wedding is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

"The luckiest part is that we're still together," Menke said. "We've been together for 10 years, since I was 14, and we're a happy family. We're all healthy and happy."