Winder policeman, Athens nurse become finalists in Florida wedding contest

A Winder policeman and an Athens nurse are one of three couples with the chance to win a dream wedding on a Florida beach.

Policeman Andrew Drake, a 2005 graduate of Oconee County High School, and Anna Stapleton, a pediatric nurse at Athens Regional Medical Center, entered the Emerald Coast Destination Wedding Contest sponsored by the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce in Santa Rosa, Fla.

They are one of only three couples who became the finalists in a contest attracting submissions from across the U.S.

Drake proposed to Stapleton on a video filmed at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, where they first met several years ago. Drake's marriage proposal was videotaped by a friend and is posted on the chamber's Facebook.

People can vote for the couple by going to the Facebook page. The contest ends at midnight Monday.

When they met, Stapleton was in nursing school and Drake recently joined the Army National Guard. Drake, who has been a policeman for the past six years, is also enrolled in college.

"We both work night shift, so it's difficult to have time off together, but we make it work," Drake posted on the video.

"I knew I wanted to ask Anna to marry me, but I didn't know when," he wrote. "The chance to commit our love to one another in front of our closest friends and family in such a beautiful and memorable place would mean the world to us."

To view the video and cast a vote for the couple go to:

https://www.facebook.com/WaltonAreaChamberEmeraldCoastWedding?ref=hl.