LOVING couples hoping their marriages will be blessed with luck have been clamouring to get wed today.

Because of the superstition surrounding the number seven, today, 7-7-07, will see more couples than usual couples tying the knot all around the York area.

Rob Livesey, super-intendent registrar at York Register Office in Bootham, said today was the busiest the office had seen this year.

There had been ten weddings booked at the office and a further six civil ceremonies would be taking place at licensed venues around the city.

Mr Livesey said: "The day has been booked up a year in advance.

"It is seen as a lucky day - and it's easy for the groom to remember it."

When Valentine's Day falls on a Friday or Saturday that can prove as popular, but normally a Saturday would see seven or eight weddings in the office and around three in licensed venues.

Laura Rollinson and Simon Anderson are one such couple who will tie the knot today at York's Hilton Hotel.

Laura, 25, said they did not pick the day specifically, but when offered the date it fitted in perfectly as the pair have been together for seven years.

With the number seven featuring so prominently in their big day they have carried the theme on to the naming of the tables at their reception. Each table will be named after a James Bond 007 film, although that's where the seven theme ends.

Laura and Simon, 26, met at York College and lived in Eaton Court in Foxwood, York, until late last year when they moved to Warwick because of Simon's work.

But the number seven is not the only way to guarantee a lucky marriage.

Laura and Simon did not see each other last night and Laura will be wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Weddings taking place outside of the register office and churches tomorrow are being held in hotels, at the Merchant Adventurer's Hall and at the National Railway Museum.