Wednesday is not typically the most popular day in the week to get hitched, but today it's a different story because the date only comes around once in a century.

It's 12-12-12: the 12th month and 12th day of 2012.

Krisztina Sebesi and Rex Lu got engaged on New Year's Eve and the Brampton, Ontario couple will be tying the knot in Aruba on 12-12-12. Sebesi says she and her fiance were drawn to the ``last of our lifetime'' date for their wedding.

Bridal retailer David's Bridal has some 381 brides registered in Canada who say they'll be getting married Wednesday. Spokesman Brian Beitler says the reason these dates are so important is because the wedding is one of the most significant events in a bride's life.
   
In Las Vegas, land of the quickie wedding, chapels in a city accustomed to playing the numbers aren't about to let the latest money-making opportunity pass even in the midst of a serious love recession.

They are hoping the lure of a wedding license stamped with a once-in-a-century date will help boost revenue. Sin City's share of the weddings business has fallen by a third since 2004 as cities from New Orleans to New York have gotten into the elopement industry.

``From a marketing perspective, it's a very big deal. Numbers are associated with Vegas,'' said Ann Parsons, marketing director for Vegas Weddings, which runs four chapels in town. ``Unfortunately, it's the last date like that we'll have.''

Chapels from the rundown courthouse area to the ritzy Strip are jumping at the chance to sell 12-12-12 packages at three times the normal price for weekday ceremonies during the wedding off-season, from November to April.
    
The industry is not giving up on the gimmickry that is its hallmark. Chapels are already starting to market ``Armageddon Wedding'' packages for Dec. 21, 2012, the close of the Mayan calendar said to portend the end of the world.

(AP & Canadian Press)