Couple Tie The Knot In Cemetery

When it comes to planning a wedding -- a supposedly once in a lifetime event -- some people go against convention.

While most people choose to wed in public buildings, their houses, or places of worship, others prefer something a little different. Couples have tied the knot on cruise ships, in the air, while bungee jumping, rafting, canoeing, parachuting or diving. Some have even made a dash for the alter at one of the many little wedding chapels in Las Vegas.

Now, an Indonesian couple have gone one better -- by getting married on the triple-seven date (07/07/07) Saturday evening in a cemetery.

Cloaked in a black suit and a white wedding gown, the couple -- groom Andri Susanto, 28, and his bride Susilia Mardiahni, 25 -- stepped out of the Forest Chapel at Chapel Square, in Karawang, West Java, after being blessed by priest Edy Wagino.

The couple then walked along a red carpet and entered the Heavenly Dome next to the chapel to greet their guests, while two little girls walked behind them, sprinkling flower petals they carried in rattan baskets.

The newlyweds chose to get married at the 500-hectare San Diego Hills Memorial Park cemetery complex in Karawang -- 45 minutes east of Jakarta -- because they said they found the place unique and suitable.

"The couple chose to get married here because this place is one-of-a-kind and it's in Karawang, where they were raised. It's part of their heritage," said master of ceremonies Jenny Wulur.

"This place is very unique for a wedding... it's not taboo anymore to get married in a cemetery...," she said on behalf of the couple, who refused to make comments to the press.

The memorial park CEO, Rudy Nanggulangi, who was present at the wedding ceremony, said the park has been operational since January and was built to alter public perceptions of cemeteries.

"We want to show people a cemetery doesn't have to be filthy and spooky," he said.

"In fact, we designed this park to be a family recreational area where people can come to enjoy the surroundings and remember their deceased loved ones."

The father of the groom, Suryanata, said he was overjoyed his youngest child was now married.

"I'm happy. Now Andri and my four other children are all married," he said.

When asked why the couple chose the cemetery complex for their wedding, Suryanata said, "It's a nice place. And it's part of a promotion too, since the bride is one of the memorial park employees... their wedding is the first ever to be held here."

It was also a blessing to have their wedding, he said, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year 2007, at 7 p.m.

"Seven is a lucky number... and on this day there are four sevens. So, hopefully their luck will quadruple."