Meet this year's Bride & Groom

Sandra Flessak and Tony Schollum

Growing up in Brazil was very hard and I used to dream of finding a Principe (Prince) to build a better life with.

At the time, it seemed unrealistic, as my family struggled to make ends meet and I became the primary caregiver for my brother and started working, when I was just 14.

But, in 2000, I found myself in the perfect place for a fairy tale: New Zealand.

When I arrived, I washed dishes (like Cinderella) and saved for University. At the same time, fate saw to it that a man called Tony Schollum also moved to Auckland - all the way from sunny Hawkes Bay.

7 years later, at a new year's party on Waiheke Island, I finally met my real life Prince, Tony - a moment that will forever feel like my vision of Cinderella being given her glass slipper.

After exchanging numbers, Tony began to pursue me and, even when I moved to Mt Maunganui (for work), Tony would ring me every night and, every Friday (for 6 months!), he drove to Mt Maunganui to see me, returning to Auckland (for his job) just before sunrise on Monday mornings. It was love!

In 2009, I became a New Zealand citizen (one of the highlights in my life, so far) and moved in with Tony. Like a true gentlemen, he asked to meet my family, so we travelled to Brazil.

While there, Tony sat up until 1.30am most nights playing cards with my 93 year old, card-shark Baba (the grandmother that raised me) and learnt enough Portuguese to converse with her. When we left, Baba whispered to me that I am never to bring another man home - she loved Tony. Tony had won her over!

In October 2010, Tony took me to a farm in Kawakawa Bay. He walked me out to a hill, overlooking a quiet beach, got down on one knee and proposed. It was the most amazing moment in my life. The only word that felt right was "Sim"(Yes!)

While Ihave now lived in New Zealand for 11 years, my family hasn't had the resources to visit. So, we are saving to pay for some of my family to come to our Wedding - it would mean the world to have them there on the biggest day of our lives.

If we were to win this competition, it would complete the "happily ever after"ending to our love story by making it possible for us to get married in a fairy tale setting (the Mangapapa Petit Hotel) and also allowing us to bring my family over to see me "casar com meu principe branquelo" (marry my pasty white prince). 

 Visit there facebook page http://www.facebook.com?#!/OurDreamWedding