Couples have found themselves wondering just that as they check out the competition in a contest for a $50,000 package.

Shelley Chaplin and Kieran Matheson are leading the charge of would-be Bendigo spouses, with almost 1700 votes at the time of writing.

Though they presently call Melbourne home, the couple’s roots are in the region.

Shelley, a Paralympian, hails from Harcourt.

Kieran’s parents live in Elphinstone.

Had the women’s national wheelchair basketball team qualified for the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Kieran doubts he would have met his future wife.

A photo of Shelley in her Australian basketball uniform and wheelchair popped up while Kieran was using Tinder, a dating application, about 18 months ago.

Before he even met her, Kieran could surmise a few things about the woman in the picture: she was disciplined, dedicated and resilient.

He admired her all the more after their first date, and has been falling more and more in love ever since.

“It’s only been 18 months we’ve known each other, but when you go through that much with someone in that amount of time...” Kieran says.

Together, they’ve experienced the joys of success and endured the devastation of loss – from qualifying for world championships to the death of Shelley’s father.

Whether or not they win the competition, Kieran said he and Shelley would wed. 

But the prize would enable them to have the wedding of their dreams, while preparing for the 2020 Paralympics.

The act of proposing involved a feat of athleticism for Andrew Monti – scaling the so-called ‘Stairway to Heaven’ at the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand.

The country’s tourism website lists Mt Cook as a preparation site for Sir Edmund Hillary, who climbed Mount Everest.

Andrew said he picked the spot because of how much it meant to his fiancée, Louise McKerlie.

Hiking the trail had been one of her ambitions for five years.

“After walking up the 2500 stairs to get to the place where I actually did ask the question, it did seem quite surreal,” Andrew said.

Louise could not have been more thrilled by the proposal, exactly seven years after the pair met.

“It was amazing,” she said.

“I went from being completely exhausted from the climb to literally dancing down the 2500 steps.”

Scouting brought the pair together, despite the tyranny of distance during the first few years of dating.

Andrew lived in north-east New South Wales; Louise was in Bendigo, which the couple has since made their home. 

Winning the competition would ease the financial strain of a wedding on an apprentice’s wage.

Monika Bell and Ally Campbell-Smith considered travelling to a country supportive of same-sex marriage to tie the knot.

“The fact that it wouldn’t be considered legal as soon as we stepped foot on Australian soil was a factor for us,” Monika said.

“It was pretty hurtful to know we could go and get married somewhere like New Zealand but it wouldn’t be a legally recognised union in our home country.”

She and Ally have been in love for more than 2092 days, and engaged for more than 890 of those days.

But Wednesday’s survey result has given them hope it won’t be much longer before marriage equality is a reality in Australia.

“It’s comforting to know the majority of the country backs it,” Monika said.

Not that they will be rushing to get married as soon as the legislation is passed.

“We want it to be a day to remember. We want it to be special,” Monika said.

“We'll certainly take the time to plan everything and make sure it’s exactly what we want - we've waited long enough for it.”

Winning the competition will ease some of the pressure involved in organising and financing the celebrations.

“It hasn't been something that's been a reality for us before – we haven't done any planning or saving for a wedding,” Monika said.

The average couple spends $36,000 on a wedding, according to Money Smart Australia.

Countless couples from seven locations in regional Victoria and New South Wales have entered in the Thomas Jewellers competition.

Though the business has since closed its doors, the competition remains active.

Entries close on November 30, and votes can be lodged here.