The Chinese say 8 is a lucky number.  And 8-8-08 is not only easy to remember, but is turning out to be a perfect time tie the knot.

Its a day that comes once in a lifetime, once every 100 years, in fact.

The eighth day of the eight month of 2008 which was chosen as the start of the Olympics in Beijing is expected to be a particular lucky day especially for people getting married.  Dozens of couples rushed to tie the knot in Austin Friday.

At the Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 courtroom in downtown Austin, Travis County Clerk Iris Noriega can't remember a time when it's been so busy.

“It's just one license after the other.  I can't even talk … I'm so busy,” she said.  “We have never experienced such a high demand for weddings,” she said.

Stephanie Truong and Thep Tan are hoping the date will bring them good fortune.

“No one knows so everyone is going to be shocked tonight especially because we're planning a big wedding in Asia. Everyone is going to freak out,” said Tan.

Despite that, they went ahead with the wedding ceremony

“For the fun of it make it official on 8-8-08,” said Troung.

“I saw everybody getting married and I thought 8-8-08 and us Asians know the luckiness and importance of it,” said Dan Trinh, who crashed Stephanie and Thep’s wedding. 

“I got to be ring barer. I didn't trip. I didn’t fall. I didn't object to anything,” he said.

“That was true love in there.  That was really sweet.  I was just happy to be part of it,” said Trinh.

One more reason people like the number 8:  when you turn it on its side it's the symbol for infinity.