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No. 9 has special meaning for couple
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Times photo: Brenda Steurer Michael and Melinda Rivers exchange rings Wednesday in Room No. 9 at the Green County Courthouse in Monroe. The couple selected Wednesday because they consider the number nine lucky.
MONROE - It only made sense that Michael and Melinda Rivers were married in Room No. 9 at the Green County Courthouse Wednesday.

Everything about their wedding revolved around the number nine. They began planning for the ceremony last year, Michael Rivers said.

They were married Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, or 9-9-09. The ceremony took place at 9:09 a.m.

Michael and Melinda Rivers recited their vows in front of Michael's parents, Louise and Vernie Rivers. Monroe attorney Jeff Ingebritsen performed the ceremony.

"This will never come up again in our lifetime," Michael said of the date. "It's symbolic."

The couple planned to get out of town for the rest of the day.

A wedding reception is planned for 7 p.m. Saturday at the French Quarter, 1201 17th Ave.

The couple plan to travel to the Bahamas in November.

The Rivers weren't the only couple to think about being married Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

Nine couples were to marry at the Madame Tussauds wax museum on the Las Vegas Strip at 9:09 a.m., while 99 more were waiting until 9:09 p.m. for a shared ceremony in the observation deck at the Stratosphere Tower. Each paid $99 for their wedding package.

Chapel of the Flowers spokeswoman Whitney Lloyd said the chapel booked 70 ceremonies for Wednesday, compared with 12 on Sept. 9 last year. She said three 9 a.m. slots were booked at least one year ago - an eternity by Las Vegas standards.

Employees normally off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the marriage services division of the Clark County, Nev., clerk's office were called in to help quickly distribute licenses, Marriage Services Supervisor Cheryl Vernon said.

Vernon said 418 marriage licenses were issued Monday and another 416 were issued Tuesday by mid-afternoon, with the bureau staying open until midnight. The bureau issues an average of about 260 licenses per day.