Houston couples are finalists for America's Favorite Couple

A married couple with a blended family said their relationship started after a broken pinky promise. The other sweethearts bonded over a love of rainbows and whimsy.

HOUSTON — A national contest is underway to find America’s Favorite Couple, and two pairs from Houston are in the quarterfinals.

Variety magazine holds the annual contest with voters choosing which couple wins $20,000 and a featured article in the magazine.

Voting began on Monday, August 11, and ends on Thursday, August 21.

You get one free vote a day, or you can donate a minimum of $10 for multiple votes, with donations going to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank or Oceana.

On the second day of voting, these two Houston couples were in the top five.

Sheri Bright said she met her husband Richard at a beach party.

“He was sunburned, loud, and not my type,” she said.

They became friends and made a pinky promise never to date each other.

“Turns out, we’re terrible at pinky promises,” Sheri laughed.

She admitted it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

“We were a hot mess with good intentions.”

The couple eventually got married, and now they have a blended family of three kids, a grandson and a “life full of love and laughter.”

The Brights taught marriage classes at church and eventually started Brighter Marriage, a non-profit to help other couples.

Now, they share their love story with humor during stand-up performances across the U.S.

If they win the $20,000, Sheri said they’d use it to host a marriage retreat/conference “where people feel seen, hope gets stirred, and love gets stronger.”

Vote for Sheri and Richard Bright here.

Greenjeans and Biv met online a couple of years ago and have been together ever since.

Biv said they were drawn together by their love of rainbows and whimsy.

“Somehow, through all the noise, we recognized each other’s magic. I’m usually too shy to swipe right first, but something about him felt different,” Biv posted. “I took a chance, swiped right, and he messaged me.”

Their first trip together to the Renaissance Festival, north of Houston, sealed the deal. They camped out the night before, sleeping in his van.

“He borrowed costuming from me and we matched and everyone loved it!” Biv shared. “Watching him light up as he discovered the whimsy and magic of faire for the first time (while we shared a giant turkey leg, of course) is something I will never forget.”

If they win the money, Biv said they’d use it to buy Richard a more reliable vehicle since they live far apart and only get to see each other on weekends.

Here’s a link to vote for Biv and Greenjean.