Danielle and Drew Inselman
First Date: Feb. 15, 2008
Where: Sushi dinner and a movie in Philadelphia
Wedding Date: March 23, 2013
Wedding Venue: The Belvedere, Baltimore
Current Residence: Cherry Hill, N.J.
Favorite Activity: Relaxing on the beach
In January 2012, Drew Inselman ordered a pair of running shoes to get “one last joke in” on his girlfriend, Danielle Schneyer. He went online to design his own New Balance shoes and had them shipped to his parents’ Cherry Hill, N.J., home.
After their arrival, a friend spent the day with Danielle, an Owings Mills native. Danielle returned to Drew’s apartment to find a shoe box on the table. Instead of saying hello, she quipped, “Really, Drew, another pair?”
Drew prides himself on his shoe collection. His is 25 strong and of the sneaker variety.
“These are a limited edition, one of a kind,” he told her. “If you don’t like them, I’ll get rid of them.”
Danielle removed the size 12s from the box and commented that they were “nothing special.” Drew turned the sneakers over to reveal the heels. On the right was printed “Will You,” and the left read “Marry Me?”
Instantly the tears flowed, as Danielle accepted the ring, which Drew presented from bent knee.
Danielle called her parents Helen Klatsky and Fred Schneyer, siblings and grandmother, and then they “stopped by” Ilene and Marc Inselman’s only to find a catered surprise dinner with both families in attendance. The surprise continued with a celebration with friends.
Danielle and Drew were acquaintances at Towson University, but it wasn’t until a weekend away with
mutual friends in December 2007 that they exchanged more than a hello. By then, Danielle was in graduate school at Towson and Drew had returned home to New Jersey. Today, she’s an occupational therapist at an
in-patient rehabilitation center, and he’s director of real estate for Burlington Coat Factory.
They spoke little to their friends about their feelings while they spent alternating weekends visiting each other to see where the relationship would go. They connected daily via phone, text and email and found they had so much in common. They enjoyed city festivals, concerts and time at Drew’s family’s beach house in Margate, N.J. Even Danielle’s Yorkie, Avi, warmed up to Drew.
They knew they were in it for the long haul, and after Danielle’s graduation in May 2009, she moved to New Jersey to be near Drew, now 30.
They married March 23, 2013 at The Belvedere. Drew’s former family rabbi, Rabbi Ari Goldstein, officiated. About 200 guests enjoyed the Reform ceremony and lively celebration that followed.
“It was one big dreamlike experience,” says Danielle, 27. “I remember walking down the aisle and making eye contact with Drew. I was so happy and ecstatic and so in love, and I still am.”
In all of the excitement, they forgot to bring Drew’s sneakers and the pair he ordered for Danielle that had “Yes” on one shoe and the engagement date on the other. In the end, these were happily added to Drew’s collection.
Linda L. Esterson is an Owings Mills-based freelance writer. For “Beshert,” call 410-902-2305 or email Linda.Esterson@verizon.net.
