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It also is a coincidence the two will marry today, July 7, 2007 — or 7/7/07.
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Tracie Skoug and Rob Szmanda are getting married on Saturday, July 7 at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Holmen. They and other couples getting married on 7/7/07, think it may be good luck.
PETER THOMSON photo |
“It was the only date that (worked),” said Hendricks, a diesel mechanic who lives in Holmen. “I don’t think luck has anything to do with it.”
Jenna Alitz of Onalaska, Wis., disagreed. Alitz chose today to wed Dan Forsythe because “we thought it would be so cute,” she said. “It has to be (lucky).” Plus, her fiance won’t have any trouble remembering their anniversary.
Whatever the reason, couples across the nation are tying the knot today. A look at theknot.com’s 1.1 million membership shows 31,000 couples planned to marry today, more than twice the average for a summer Saturday.
In La Crosse County, 29 couples will say “I do” today, compared with 75 the entire month of May.
“We didn’t have to send out save-the-date cards,” said Tracie Skoug, a Holmen native who lives in Clarkdale, Ariz. Skoug and fiance Rob Szmanda will be married in Holmen today.
“We didn’t even pick up on (the seven thing) until my mom pointed it out,” Szmanda said.
“Apparently we’re supposed to go to Vegas after our wedding,” said Skoug, whose grandmother sends her newspaper articles about 7-7-07.
Could today’s date be a good omen? Sevens are everywhere, it seems: the Seven Wonders of the World, the seven days of creation, the seven dwarves.
Seven is a spiritual number, said Sister Bridget Donaldson of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Holmen. In the Bible, seven encompasses everything, she said. It represents totality. For example, Jesus states in one Biblical passage the number of times we should forgive someone is “seventy times seven.”
The triple sevens certainly have been a jackpot for local businesses.
“We’re very busy,” said Ben Skemp, co-owner of Monet Flowers & Gifts in La Crosse. Skemp is handling four weddings today. “We probably turned down four or five,” he said.
“It’s crazy, but it’s super fun,” said Jenn Walker, co-owner of Charlotte’s Bridal in La Crosse, which was packed Thursday night with people picking up bridal gowns and tuxedos.
On a typical summer weekend, the store dresses about 10 wedding parties. This weekend it’s 16, which Walker predicted will be their biggest all year.
Jenny Dolan can be reached at (608) 791-8220 or jdolan@lacrossetribune.com.
