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Johanna Somers, a member of The Virginian-Pilot newsroom staff, photographed October 2015. Steve Earley | The Virginian-PilotAuthor
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Two York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office employees were engaged Dec. 20 and recently entered a contest to win $25,000 for their wedding. The contest is organized by Be Inspired Bridal Show in Williamsburg.

“We thought we were going to have a small wedding but as we looked at the list of family and friends – well it’s really hard to eliminate people,”said bride to be Shelley Asher, social media director for the sheriff’s office. “We were really on a tight budget. We want to include everybody and have a nice event, but it’s very difficult to do on a deputy’s salary.”

Deputy First Class Kris Ward of the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office and Asher met at work about eight years ago and have been a couple for four-and-a-half years, Asher said.

They were required to create a video of themselves to enter the contest and whichever wedding couple’s video gets the most votes wins the $25,000-bridal package. The package includes paying for the wedding venue at Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg, a $400 cake, flowers and live entertainment, among other items. It doesn’t include money for the dress.

Click here to vote, then click on the blue button at the bottom of the video. The last day for voting is Feb. 5 and the winners will be announced Feb. 15 at the Be Inspired Bridal Show at the Hilton DoubleTree in Williamsburg.

If they don’t win, Asher said their wedding won’t include a sit-down dinner and entertainment. They will have the wedding and then provide an hour or more for people to socialize and have appetizers after the wedding.

Asher said even if they don’t win she appreciates all the community support they have already received from businesses who have re-posted the sheriff’s office’s original Facebook post and community members who have walked up to her to tell her they voted for her.

Their wedding is scheduled for Sept. 12.

Somers can be reached at 757-298-5176.