Valleywide : Events Will Kindle or Rekindle Romance

You can hurry love.

Or at least you can improve your odds, says Rich Gosse, president of the nonprofit group American Singles which will host the forthrightly named “I’d rather be married” singles convention tonight at the Warner Center Hilton.

The convention’s purpose is--you guessed it--to allow singles to “play the numbers” by meeting other singles and increasing their chances of entering into wedded bliss, Gosse said.

“Everyone who comes to the Woodland Hills convention is coming with a single intention: to get hitched,” he said.

To that end, the convention will feature mingling, an inspirational talk by Al Crowell, author of “I’d Rather Be Married: Finding Your Future Spouse” and dancing into the wee hours. As an incentive, the first couple to meet at the convention and later say “I do” will receive a free honeymoon trip, destination as yet undecided, Gosse said.

Other Valley Valentine’s Day events include two gatherings for folks who have already found their life partners.

About 20 married couples who first met at Weber’s Place in Reseda will reunite with 150 of their closest friends at 4 p.m. Saturday. The couples will be able to drink, dance and renew their vows, said Brandy McKay, who owns Weber’s.

At the Burbank Ikea, about 50 couples, and a maximum of 20 guests per couple, will attend a mass wedding between 7 and 9 a.m. on Valentine’s Day.

The couples will be treated to Swedish gravlax and lingonberry juice and live music.

Participants must be at least 18 and have a California marriage license.

For information about the “I’d rather be married” convention, which runs from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Hilton, 6360 Canoga Ave., and costs $15, call (818) 788-7878. For information about the Weber’s Place wedding party, call (818) 345-9800. For information about the Ikea mass wedding, call (310) 217-8005, Ext. 414 today.