"Bashert" in Yiddish means destiny or "meant to be." Technically.....the first time we met was at a mutual friend's birthday party. We didn't see each other again until the next year...at the same friend's birthday party. Fast forward one year later, Steph was playing Hodl in "Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish" and they were holding auditions for a new Pertshik. Steph was a reader for the auditions and when Drew walked in, she didn't recognize him because he was now donning a beard. From the moment they locked eyes, there was an innate chemistry and connection. After Drew got the part, Steph messaged Drew online to congratulate him. Drew asked to meet up to go through lines since he only had two weeks to learn the show in Yiddish. While we did run lines, more importantly, we talked afterwards for three hours and realized that we had so much in common, and that maybe there was something more there than just your typical "showmance" chemistry. We both felt like we were home. Playing opposite each other, our love blossomed and grew on and offstage. The rest is history...

After dating for a little over a year, Drew asked Steph to go on a walk on a Friday afternoon before the evening performance of "Fiddler" that night. He brought her back to the bench in Central Park where they used to run lines and shared their first kiss to pop the question. Sparked by a street performer playing the song he was listening to on the way to pick up the ring, this became the obvious signal to get down on one knee. Simultaneously and unplanned, a professional photographer happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture the moment. Strangers strolled by congratulating us, including this woman who "wanted to give Steph our first wedding present" which was a butterfly pin. Steph has always associated butterflies with her father since his passing in 2008. This was especially meaningful because it felt like he was giving his blessing. It was as if the world stopped and smiled on us, making this the happiest moment of our lives thus far.