‘It’ll be easier to remember our anniversary’: Valentine’s Day marriages way up on last year
Lovers take advantage as Western and Chinese days of romance coincide
The icy weather did little to cool the ardour of the city's lovebirds as they celebrated the city's most romantic day in almost two decades.
As the Chinese and Western versions of Valentine's Day coincided - an event that had not happened for 19 years - some 493 couples were booked in for weddings with marriage registries, almost three times the 187 weddings that took place on February 14 last year.
At Wong Tai Sin Temple, about 200 couples sought the traditional blessing from the matchmaking deity Yue Lao for the Yuen Siu Festival, the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day.
Among the newlyweds yesterday were shop worker Leo Lee Ho-man, 24, and 23-year-old clerk Christy Ng Sin-tung.
"Today is a very special day, given the fact that the Western and Chinese Valentine's Days coincide," Ng said. "I'm sure it will add special meaning to our big day - and it will be easier for us to remember our anniversary!"
The pair took their vows at Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry in Central, in front of cheering friends and relatives. The bride said the low temperatures had not cooled her excitement on their big day.