Weddings couples now find they have to prepare far in advance of their big day to make their nuptials extra special because of the sheer number of couples choosing to get married.

More and more, couples choose to marry on days that have a special meaning to them. And probably the most popular date this year is Aug. 8, 2008: 8-8-8.

Last year, thousands of weddings were held on July 7, 2007 (7-7-7).

August 8 falls on a Friday, and represents a special date for many bridal couples, with the figure eight synonymous with fortune in Chinese tradition. But it will not just be Chinese couples getting married on this day.

The hardest part about planning a wedding is finding the best venue, especially if couples want to get married on certain dates.

Erni Setyowati and her fiance, both of Javanese descent, have their hearts set on August 8. Erni said she almost lost hope after not finding an available venue for her wedding.

"It was a very tiring process. Venues in the capital were already fully booked for that day. I spent my weekends looking for any available venue. I almost lost hope," she said, adding her family also helped in her quest.

"I couldn't do it by myself because I was often out of town for research and my fiance was in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara.

"I was relieved when my family finally found one in Kebagusan, South Jakarta. It can accommodate about 1,000 guests and has a spacious parking lot."

Wedding organizer Tiara Josodirdjo said securing a wedding venue was the most important thing for bridal couples.

"Ideally, couples should reserve a wedding venue eight to 12 months in advance, especially if they want to hold their receptions in popular venues and on certain dates perceived to be lucky," she said.

"The concept of 'lucky' and 'unlucky' dates is actually just a cultural preference."

Television presenter Irvan Hakim chose to marry Della Sabrina on July 7, 2007, saying seven was considered a "good" number in Islam. In addition, he is the seventh child in his family.

"It was very difficult finding a venue for our wedding. Della and I had been searching since April 2006, 14 months before our wedding date," he said.

"But we found it hard to find a venue that could accommodate about 1,000 guests on that day because many people wanted to get married then.

"We searched around Jakarta for weeks, until a couple canceled their reservation at Balai Sudirman, South Jakarta. We were so lucky."

The wedding industry is having a field day with the much-anticipated 8-8-8.

At-Tin Mosque at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah park (TMII) in East Jakarta, for instance, is fully booked for weddings on that day.

"There will be four weddings at At-Tin Mosque on August 8. Most of the couples made reservations a year in advance. It's normal because the date is easy to remember and many people consider it a lucky date," said Yunanto, an employee at the mosque.

"Many couples wanted to make reservations for that day, but we can only host four weddings per day. So only four couples got their wish," he said.

Another popular wedding venue, Balai Kartini on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta, is also fully booked for 8-8-8.

Balai Kartini account executive Rita Rizal said the two packages offered by Balai Kartini, Mawar and Rafflesia, had been booked for that date from noon until night. She added the reservations were made a year ahead.

"Many people came to us to reserve 'good' wedding dates. Last year, many couples wanted to buy packages for July 7. Obviously we prioritized those who came first," Rita said.

Next year, many couples will be targeting Sept. 9, 2009, which falls on a Wednesday.

"We already have one reservation for 9-9-9," Rita said.

"I strongly suggest couples begin preparing their weddings now if they want to get married on that date."

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