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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Despite enduring 12 hours of labour on her wedding day, Jackie Lyn Carcqmo wasn't letting anything stop her from getting married, not even the birth of her first child. It was Aug. 8, 2008, or 08-08-08.

By hook or by crook, she said, "It's a lucky day, we planned to get married this day and I wanted to get married."

Proud new parents and newlyweds Jackie Lyn and Pacito Laceste with their first born son Pierre Jose Laceste. The couple got married about an hour after the birth of their baby. - Ben Morgan/NNSL photo

The baby boy was born at 7:30 p.m. that day, three weeks earlier than the couple expected. But only an hour and a half later, a Justice of the Peace married Carcqmo to her longtime boyfriend Pacito Laceste inside the hospital.

The couple moved to Canada from the Philippines late last year.

"In Asian culture the number eight is lucky, so we really wanted to get married on that day," said the proud new mother and newlywed.

The couple have been friends for five years and started dating three years ago. They got engaged in 2007.

They named their wedding-day baby boy Pierre Jose Laceste. He was six pounds, one ounce and measured 19.5 inches long when he entered the world.

His mom said his early arrival was a surprise.

"It was the best gift we could have ever had on our wedding day," she said. "I'm so happy. It was such a lucky day. The baby completes our family."

She said now that she has her husband and the baby, "there isn't anything else I want in the whole world."

Dad Pacito Laceste said the baby just wanted to be present for the wedding.

"I think he wanted to watch," he said.

They were supposed to get married in a backyard garden at the home of Deborah and Greg Barton - the couple's bosses. Their wedding guests were still gathered at Northern United Place when they heard the fantastic news about the early birth.

Laceste told her husband to go to the hall and greet their guests to deliver the good news.

"They were excited for us and everyone was very happy," he said.

Mother and child were out of the hospital by Tuesday and back in their Yellowknife home.

Both of the happy parents work at Tim Hortons. Store manager Robert Young said everyone at the store was surprised to hear the news and very happy for the Lacestes.

"They wanted a lucky day, looks like they got one," he said.