More than 200 couples have entered to win a dream wedding in Bermuda.

The competition was launched last week by the Department of Tourism and The Knot, a top US wedding site.

The Bermuda's Perfect 10 contest is open to engaged couples who are US residents. The winning ten couples will all get married on October 10 the tenth day of the tenth month of 2010. By press time last night 228 couples had entered.

On offer are ten themed six-day, five-night, dream wedding getaways, specifically tailored to Bermuda. An eco-friendly wedding, sunset wedding and exotic cave wedding are a few of the options.

The couples vary in age with some fresh out of college while others are on their second wedding and others are looking to renew their vows.

Each couple must list ten reasons why they want a wedding here and upload pictures of themselves.

Denise and Dexter are regular visitors to the Island citing their first reason to marry in Bermuda as: "We are Cup Match fans!"

Denise also has a photo of Elbow Beach as her screensaver and her childhood pastor was from Bermuda. She added that the two-hour flight from Washington DC was a plus. And showing their love for the Island's culture she added: "Maybe we can get (Bermudian reggae singer) Collie Buddz to perform at the reception?"

Sharon and Kirk included a photo of their original wedding here in Bermuda under the moongate on the former Sonesta property in 1998. They had planned to come back to renew their vows after five years of marriage but their daughter was diagnosed with cancer, which she survived. Since then they have had twins and are in desperate need of couple time adding: "What could be better than renewing our love in Bermuda?"

Katie and Peter played on the 10/10/10 theme. They said their names combined included ten letters, Bermuda sun had ten letters and she will have three times $101,010 worth of debt when she finishes graduate school.

Katie added: "Ten months ago Pete had brain surgery and has a ten percent risk of death if complications occur. Marriage has ten times more meaning now."

Frances and Justin got straight to the point: "We are poor and need a break from it."

But they also showed they have done a bit of research on the Island with their ninth reason: "Bermuda bans billboards, neon signs and fast food places, only KFC got in before the ban."

The ten couples who win will receive a package which includes round-trip, coach class air transportation for the couple and eight of their friends and a five night stay for the group of ten.

They will also receive a wedding reception with a three-course meal and a champagne toast, wedding photography, a two-tiered wedding cake, bouquets for the bride and maid of honour and boutonnières for the groom and best man. The winner will also receive a marriage licence and access to a wedding coordinator.

The value of the packages range from $19,000 to $40,000.

The competition deadline is May 23 and the winners will be announced on June 17. Unlike other competitions the public is not able to vote for their favourites, although people may leave comments which could help sway the panel of judges.

To check out more of the couples competing go to www.bermudatourism.com and www.theknot.com