A Tauranga bride-to-be could be walking down the aisle dressed as Princess Elsa from the animated feature film ‘Frozen' if she wins More FM's Kids Choose the Wedding competition.
Penny Brake, Kerri Harnett and Jo Churchward and fiancé's Ben Marks, Andrew Berntsen and Sean Kelly are finalists in the radio competition to win a wedding ceremony and reception chosen by the couple's children.
Team Red: Kerri Harnett, 38 and Andrew Berntsen, 40 with children twins Jordan and Samantha Harnett, 19, Callum Berntsen, 9, Ethan Berntsen, three months, Bailey Berntsen, 12 and hosts Brendon Weatherly and Bell Crawford.
Team Blue: Ben Marks, 36, and Penny Brake, 33, with children Phoebe Nicol,8, Connor Nicol, 10, Nikita Marks, 12, Devon Marks, 11, Elias Marks, 9.
Team Yellow: Jo Churchward, 39, and Sean Kelly, 40, with children Cade Churchward, 11, Diaz Churchward, 9, Àine Kelly, nine months, and Finn Kelly, 3.
The pair that wins will wed on September 12 at Bella Vista Lodge in front of a guest list of up to 50 people paid for by MORE FM.
Couples have been divided into three teams: red, blue and yellow – and the pair with the most votes will win.
Yellow Team - Jo, 39, and 40-year-old fiancé Sean met on TradeMe's ‘Find Someone dating site seven years ago.
'We just want to get married because we're just good mates and we've got an awesome family,” says Jo.
They believe having four children, aged from nine-months to 11-years, decide on the wedding is a fun idea.
'They're already thinking about themes. Diaz likes the idea of walking down the aisle with Àine in her arms and she likes the idea of dressing up,” says Jo. 'And she would quite like us to arrive in a helicopter.”
Jo and Sean describe the family as fun, outgoing and unconventional.
'I think we're just a fun family and we're out to have a good time and the kids are a big part of that. We don't like the norm; we like to be a bit different,” says Jo.
'We talk, we play, we sing, we just hang out and that's what's different about us.”
Representing the Red Team, Andrew, 40, and his 38-year-old bride-to-be Kerri got engaged about one year after they met 14 years' ago.
Andrew says he and Kerri haven't tied the knot yet as they wanted to have a family and purchase a home first.
'We've always put the kids first. It's always been a full house so we've never really had time. There's never a dull moment that's for sure,” says Andrew.
Their six children, aged nine-months-old to 19, have talked about dressing Kerri as Princess Elsa from the animated film ‘Frozen'.
'I've never seen the movie Frozen so I'm a bit scared about that one,” says Andrew.
Team Blue's Penny, 33, and her soon-to-be husband Ben, 36, went to high school together.
'We kind of knew of each other and didn't really see each other for a long time after high school,” says Penny.
'But we were Facebook friends and he messaged and asked me out and I've never looked back.”
The pair has been together for three years and engaged for two of them after Ben popped the question while they were camping.
Penny says she and Ben want to get married to 'complete the blend”.
'At the moment we're kind of two families living together. It would be nice to make it all official and everybody can be one family.”
To have their five children plan their wedding will relieve the pressure on them, says Penny.
'I think it's a great idea. You just turn up on the day and I think the kids will have much more investment in the day than they would if we picked stuff,” says Penny.
'I think it makes it more special,” says Ben, who could be waiting at the altar dressed in a Stormtrooper outfit if the children have their way.
A Princess Elsa wedding dress was also mentioned for Penny.
'She did says Fiona from Shrek just as a threat I think, but that's okay I can be green,” laughs Penny.
The winners of More FM's Kids Choose the Wedding competition will be announced by breakfast announcers Bel Crawford and Brendon Weatherley on August 22 between 7am and 9am. To vote, click here.



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