9-10-11: Here Come The Brides!

One particular date in September will push Debra LaSpina Goldwater's bridal shop, Dori Anne Veils in Castro Valley, over the top. It's 9-10-11, as in Sept. 10, 2011, this year's "it" day for brides.

Goldwater will be dressing 15 brides that day — two or three times her average, she said. And that's counting only what she has booked so far. 

She has been selling wedding gowns, veils and other bride-to-be accoutrements for 25 years, so Goldwater knows bridal fancies change. Knee-length is the new tea-length, hats are out and strapless is in, she said.

But the “dream date” trend has endured for years, Goldwater said. She recalls a mobbed City Hall 23 years ago when she went for her own marriage license.

 “We said, ‘What the heck’s going on?’ And then we realized it was 8-8-88.”

California's brides prefer September

June is traditionally linked with weddings. But not so in California, where June gloom can dampen plans.

Fall is preferred to tie the knot in this state, say those in the industry. And an easy-to-remember, flowing date like 9-10-11 — which falls on a Saturday — has “wedding day” written all over it. 

“It’s a big, big date,” agreed Kristen Jensen, an East Bay event planner who has had to turn away three clients because she's booked that day.  

“Numbers are huge to brides. They have a lot of significance,” said Jensen, who owns and operatesSugar Rush Events.

“Last year, it was 10-10-10,” she said.

Early birds catch the bridal venue

Crow Canyon Country Club was reserved more than a year ago, said Stacy Manzo, the Danville club’s private event director. As for the catchy 9-10-11, Manzo said, “It does have a nice ring to it.”

Three brides snagged the popular Wente Vineyards in Livermore for their special day.

Wente’s Diane Stanton said she has space for one more wedding, but her three bookings for that day were made nearly a year ago.

Tony Trifiletti of Livermore also is well aware of the “I do” day,  having fielding a spike in inquiries for his Tri-Valley limousines.  

Trifiletti’s company, Applause Limousine Service, has ferried hundreds of newlyweds over the years, so he’s used to the “big day” being really big.

“The one I remember most was 7-7-7,” he said, a date that reportedly made vow-exchange history.

One couple's discovery of the date

Soon-to-be husband and wife Jennifer Smith and Richard Soares chose their 9-10-11 wedding date before Soares even popped the question.

While talking marriage two years ago, the East Bay couple agreed that 2011 would be the year and September the month. They had the “9” and the “11,” and were delighted to flip through a calendar and see “10” fall on a weekend.

“I said, ‘It’s a Saturday. That’s our date,’ ” said Smith, who was raised in Castro Valley.

“I am really excited. It’s like it’s meant to be,” she said.

The pair got engaged in 2010 in New York City, and immediately locked in the San Ramon Golf Club for their reception.

“Once we flew back home, we booked it,” Smith said.

They hoped for a "math" day, but ...

“We really wanted that date,” said Amber Azevedo, a math teacher at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton who is engaged to be married. For her, numbers are huge and numerically lined-up dates are, well, celebratory.

“We got engaged on 12-11-10, so we wanted to get married on a ‘math day,’ ” Azevedo said.

But September clashed with her school schedule, so she and her fiancé are opting for a June ceremony.

She’s looking forward to the wedding, to be sure. But the date?

Azevedo laughed: “6-25-11. See? It’s no fun.”