December 12, 2012
Exactly 12 years ago today Scott Landers and Michelle Simpson met at Mt Wooroolin, so it seemed fitting for the couple to plan to exchange vows there … at 12:12pm on 12/12/12.
The couple wanted to have an auspicious date for their family celebration.
“These are the latest digits we can use. It would be 89 years before it rolls over again,” Scott said.
Kingaroy marriage celebrant Marie Shaw conducted the ceremony in front of a small group of friends and family, including the couple’s triplets Jesse, Caleb and Skye, and son Damon.
The 12/12/12 date was popular with other couples in the South Burnett. In fact, all over the world couples were taking advantage of the repeating date.
Registry offices were kept busy in Queensland, Victoria and NSW and there’s been reports of thousands of couples across China and Singapore tying the knot today.
China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that the rush was caused by the fact that 12/12/12 sounds like “will love/will love/will love” in Chinese.
In the Philippines, 300 couples exchanged vows in a mass ceremony held at a shopping centre.
In Malaysia, about 200 couples gathered at a Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur.
In the United States, research by a leading bridal gown fashion house suggested 7500 couples were planning to marry (in comparison, only 485 couples married on 12/12/11).
At Scotland’s Gretna Green area, 51 couples were booked in to marry.
The next repeating date won’t occur until 01/01/2101. And as Scott said today, that’s too long to wait!