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SIERRA VISTA — Couples marrying today may be hoping today’s date will bring them luck, but one couple who plans to marry in Sierra Vista today knows better.
“We don’t need luck,” said Tonya Wernette.
About 38,000 couples in the U.S., including Wernette and her fiance Austin Larrabee, plan to marry today, July 7, 2007, or 7-7-07, according to TheKnot.com, a wedding planning Web site. A typical Saturday in July usually has about 12,000 weddings is more typical for a Saturday in July, according to Melissa Bauer, a spokeswoman for TheKnot.com.
With so many couples choosing the same day to get married for its association with luck, including actress Eva Longoria and professional basketball champion Tony Parker, friends have accused Wernette and Larrabee of jumping on the bandwagon, but they chose the date for more practical and symbolic reasons, Larrabee said.
 Tonya Wernette, 22, and fiancé Austin Larrabee, 24, are getting in the mood for their wedding. The couple are planning a Hawaiian theme for their nuptials today. (Beatrice Richardson-Herald/Review) |
They began looking at July wedding dates and chose the 7th because it was a Saturday. They also liked the date because their first date was March 7, 2004 and Larrabee proposed on the same date two years later, but they didn’t initially realize the date they chose was 7-7-07.
“It was kind of ironic,” Wernette said. Although the date won’t be quite as unique to them as they had initially thought, Wernette said she’s glad to have something in common with so many other couples. Larrabee also saw an upside to the date.
“It’ll help me remember our anniversary,” he said.
Sevens on a biblical scale
The No. 7 hasn’t only inspired nuptials.
“It has a deeper root than just being lucky. It’s scriptural and Godly,” said Jim Hoston, pastor of prayer at Shiloh Christian Ministries and coordinator for the Cochise County Prayer Network.
The No. 7 appears about 400 times in the Bible, Hoston said.
“It represents completeness and fulfillment, so symbolically it’s a good time to pray for Godliness,” he said.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather today for “The Call” — a fasting, prayer and worship event led by Lou Engel in Nashville, Tenn., Hoston said.
In conjunction with the event, Hoston will be leading prayer at Shiloh Christian Center, 200 North Ave., for anyone who ‘has a heart to pray for Cochise County,” he said.
Hoston will lead prayer “for revivial and repentance in the nation” and will show broadcasts of “The Call.”
An accrostic for the word seven, “Saints enjoy victory even now,” has also inspired some of Hoston’s thoughts on the day’s significance.
“We’re able to enjoy the victory God has for the church right now,” he said.
No lucky seven in numerology
The date 7-7-07 isn’t anything to get to excited about for numerologist Hans Decoz in Bisbee.
“The number of dates get people excited, but it’s not based on anything,” Decoz said. “It’s more folklore that has made the seven into a symbol of luck.”
Decoz said numerologists have a different perspective on dates that incorporates patterns and cycles of numbers.
So what does 7-7-07 mean in terms of numerology?
“It’s actually kind of a mediocre day,” Decoz said.
Although Decoz said a numerologist probably wouldn’t recommend the day for a wedding, he realizes it has advantages.
“It’s very easy to remember,” he said.
Betting on seven
Diana Fields, a sales clerk at Gas City, 3999 E. Fry Blvd., wasn’t sure if the day would cause more sales in lottery tickets or scratchers.
“But I’ll buy one myself,” she said. “You can’t win if you don’t play.”
David Christy, car wash manager at Gas City, took a break to buy a few scratcher tickets Friday, including “Hot Sevens,” which has a grand prize of $7,777.
“It’s all about the sevens,” Christy said. “It’ll be a good time to go to the casino,” he said.
Glyn Ewing, a sales clerk at Sierra Service Center, 296 E. Fry Blvd., said Saturday is usually a good for Powerball lottery ticket sales, since drawings are held at 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
The Powerball jackpot is estimated at $27 million, which has “another seven,” Ewing said.
Many lottery players tend to be supersticious, but most are influenced by their own favorite numbers, rather than the No. 7, Ewing said.
Christy said he might buy some of the scratchers tickets tomorrow, he considers eight to be his lucky number.
But don’t expect to see him gambling on August 8, 2008. He’d rather do eight acts of kindness.
The luck that No. 7 inspired some of the engagment gifts Wernette and Larrabee have received from friends and family.
“We’ve gotten a lot of lottery tickets,” Wernette said.
herald/review reporter Laura Ory can be reached at 515-4683 or by e-mail at svhnews@transedge.com.
