IF THE number eight augurs well for a marriage, then Mr Steve Ngiam is off to a good start.

On Friday, the 26-year-old sales executive underwent an elaborate wedding ceremony featuring a heavy dose of the digit, which is considered auspicious by the Chinese.

Not only did the ceremony happen on 08/08/08, but Mr Ngiam began the day with an eight-minute uphill trek to the altar in a building on River Valley Road. He carried with him the wedding rings and a bouquet of 88 roses for his bride-to-be, Ms Moon Liew, 23.

Upon his arrival, the couple were married at exactly 8.08am and shared an 88-second kiss, to the delight of 15 family members and close friends.

Said the groom's father, Mr Ngiam Kiah Seng, 58: 'I feel happy he is getting married today.'

Echoing his sentiments was one of the groom's close friends, Mr Calven Chong, 26. 'I'm happy for them. In Chinese tradition, eight is a lucky number!' he said.

In Mandarin, the number sounds like 'prosper'.

According to a spokesman from the Registry of Marriages, 308 ceremonies were performed on Friday, a significant dip from the 772 ceremonies held last July 7 - 07/07/07.

Many believe fewer couples are tying the knot this year as it is currently the Hungry Ghost month, a time thought to be inauspicious for everything from marriage to buying a house.