A lucky local couple, or maybe two, could receive a dream wedding for free, courtesy of “;Wedding Day,”; a reality show set to debut June 16 on the TNT network.

The weekly show will make a bride's wishes come true with the help of her family and friends, according to publicity materials. A preview can be viewed at the TNT Web site.

Mark Burnett Productions and Dream Works Television have extended the casting deadline in the hope of finding an inspiring local couple or two whose nuptials will be covered on the show — and covered by the show, financially speaking.

Local people have long been spurned by national companies whose contests offer grand-prize trips to Hawaii — which are great for everyone else — or whose contests exclude residents of Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico.

In this case, Hawaii residents are not only eligible, the production companies are urging kamaaina to take a shot and maybe get a free wedding.

Hoards of mainland couples have told producers Hawaii is their dream wedding destination, said Charisse Simonian, casting director, but “;we want to do more than one (wedding) there.”;

“;We'd like to do one for a local couple, if not two.”;

Hawaii was chosen because “;you can't beat it for location, it's so beautiful and picturesque ... and the Hawaii tourism (officials) and everybody there has just been so cooperative and so welcoming,”; she said.

The ideal couple or couples “;really deserve an amazing wedding but cannot afford it in these tough economic times,”; the casting announcement reads.

Rae Alejado's sister is going to nominate her and she's not really sure how she feels about it, since her fiance is a shy guy. “;I'm kind of like, let's see what comes of it, if we're interesting enough,”; she said.

She and her groom-to-be met on eHarmony.com. He has had some medical issues and they wanted to move up their September wedding date, but “;financially it's not possible.”;

Times are tight for her family “;and people who would normally be willing to help, cannot,”; Alejado said.

Casting officials want to hear from or about couples who had to downgrade or delay weddings due to job loss, injury, illness or deployment. They want to hear about couples who are so busy helping others they deserve to have someone help them out, the notice says.

“;We'd love to find just really good, inspirational stories from local couples ... we're hoping we can find some great people and do an amazing wedding,”; Simonian said.

The announcement instructs couples, or friends wanting to nominate someone, to e-mail producers at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Submissions should include a brief paragraph about their situation, their wedding budget, a recent photo in jpg or gif format and contact information.

“;We'll send people applications and some might be asked to make a video, so we'll send instructions on how to shoot it, where to mail it and all that good stuff,”; Simonian said.

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On the Net:

www.tnt.tv/dramavision/?oid=47477

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Reach her by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)