It's the Year of the Wedding in China

China wedding boom fuelled by big spenders
One hundred and fifty thousand couples are expected to get married in Shanghai in 2006.

That is 50% more than last year.

A wedding craze sweeping China is causing a boom for the country's retailers.

Hotels and restaurants are booked up months in advance, while florists and cake makers are busier than they've ever been, and all because 2006 is considered a lucky year in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Walking up the aisle to the familiar tones of Mendelssohn's Wedding March, Jiang Min and Dai Lixia got married at precisely 6.18pm on the 18th of the sixth month of 2006.

In Chinese culture, the number 6 means everything will go smoothly, while the number 18 means the couple will get rich soon, but, most importantly, 2006 is considered a fortuitous year because there are two spring times in the lunar calendar.

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Couples are tripping over one another to get married this year and many are stretching themselves financially in order to do so.

This couple spent $17,500 on their wedding and honeymoon - more than their combined annual earnings.