Couples tie knot on 9/9/09 with wax as their witness

By Amanda Finnegan

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 | 1:20 p.m.

Today might not have been as lucky as 7/7/07 or as devilish as 6/6/06, but for a handful of couples in Las Vegas, 9/9/09 will mean something for years to come.

The number 9 is known as one of the most significant in Chinese culture. As the Emperor of China’s number, the number 9 is thought to represent longevity. The number is especially lucky for Chinese couples looking to marry as the word for “nine” in Chinese sounds like the word for “long-lasting.”

Under the disco balls and faux gold ceiling of the entrance of Madame Tussauds, one couple took the plunge while four others renewed their vows.

The museum was hoping for nine couples to marry among their wax celebrities but settled for five after trying to wrangle passersby with a free vow renewal just minutes before the 9:09 a.m. ceremony.

Dressed in a pale pink, lace dress, Lisa Thompson held hands with her future husband, Tony Thompson, in front of the Rev. Janet Miller and wax statues of Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Lopez.

The New York City couple, surrounded by the four couples waiting to renew theirs vows, recited their vows in the presence of the Blue Man Group, Whoopie Goldberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson -- all in wax form, of course -- and a small crowd just outside the Madame Tussuads entrance.

Their wedding location and date was somewhat a spur-of-the-moment decision. Lisa Thompson said the couple was looking forward to a September trip to Las Vegas and since airfare was cheaper during the week, the 9/9/09 date just happened to fall during their trip.

And when you flip it upside down, it’s 666, the devil’s number. “She’s a bit of a devil herself,” Tony Thompson joked about his new bride.

As for plans after their nuptials, Lisa Thompson said they’d do nothing boring or run of the mill. The couple said maybe they’d try sky diving or riding the thrill rides atop the Stratosphere before their reception dinner at “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” tonight.

Dick and Pam Conley of Akron, Ohio, used to opportunity to renew their vows for a second time after 39 years of marriage.

The couple made the decision to renew just a half hour before the 9:09 a.m. ceremony after seeing a woman in a wedding dress walking into the museum.

The Conleys both teared up as they said their wedding vows Wednesday. They renewed their vows in Hawaii years ago, but no matter how many times the vows are exchanged, Pam Conley said the experience is always an emotional one.

“The minister said exactly what I wanted to say. Sometimes you’re at a loss for words. You don’t say what you really think,” Pam Conley said. “She put the words in my mouth that I’ve been wanting to say.”

Megan Seaton was the woman in the wedding dress who prompted the Conleys to enter Madame Tussauds. She and her husband, Matt Seaton, came to celebrate their 11-month anniversary by renewing their vows, too.

Finding a dress for the wedding was almost fate in itself for Megan Seaton. The model borrowed the dress from the designer she’s working for at this week’s bridal show at the Rio.

Midway through reciting their vows, a cry from 2-month-old Addyson Seaton brought mom running to her side, bringing their renewal to a slight halt. The couple continued through the ceremony as a family, with Addyson in their arms.

“She wanted her 2 cents to be heard,” Matt Seaton said.

The ceremony at Madame Tussauds won’t be the last for 9/9/09 in Las Vegas. At the Stratosphere, the hotel-casino is hoping to gather 99 couples to marry at 9:09 p.m. on the Indoor Observation Deck. The La Bella Wedding Chapel at the Las Vegas Hilton is hoping couples will take advantage of its 9/9/09 deal. Both packages are priced, of course, at $99.

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 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.

While Wednesday was shaping up to be a busy wedding day, officials didn’t think it would be as lucrative as July 7 two years ago or Aug. 8 last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.