After years of building their lives together in New York City, Allison Dyer and Josh Gotlib returned to the bride’s hometown of Houston, Texas, to celebrate the beginning of their marriage in a joy-filled celebration that was entirely reflective of who they are as a couple.

Their love story first began when they were seated beside one another at their very first job after college. “Within a few months, we would be waiting for the other to finish work so we could walk each other home,” the couple shares of their early days together. Over the next four years, their relationship flourished through “countless morning coffee walks, dinner dates, and trips to both the Jersey Shore and Texas,” eventually leading Josh to propose during one of their cherished walks through Manhattan’s East Village.

With help from their wedding planner, Allie Butcher, the couple spent the next year designing a wedding weekend centered on intention, family, and celebration. “The most important thing was at the forefront of the wedding: the two of us,” they explain. The Houston Country Club, where Allison spent much of her childhood, proved to be the perfect setting for their May nuptials. “I always dreamed of getting married there – a place filled with more memories than she can count,” Allison shares.

As 330 loved ones gathered on the lawn overlooking the club grounds, guests were seated in the round to witness the couple’s heartfelt ceremony that beautifully honored both of their faiths. Since Allison is Christian and Josh is Jewish, they carefully hand-crafted every aspect of the service themselves in order to respect one another’s individuality and showcase both of their religions.

Beneath a stunning floral chuppah symbolizing the home they would build together, acoustic-guitar renditions of beloved classics accompanied the procession before the bride’s father read The Lord’s Prayer. To conclude the interfaith ceremony, Josh continued the Jewish tradition of the breaking of the glass after they exchanged vows and rings.

“Yellow is very underused, so we wanted to incorporate a happy color!”

Following their alfresco ceremony, Allison and Josh envisioned a reception that felt fresh, vibrant, and unlike a traditional ballroom celebration. “Yellow is very underused, so we wanted to incorporate a happy color!” explains the bride of the cheerful palette of yellow, blue, lavender, and ivory blooms. Guests entered the ballroom to discover dramatic floral installations, cherry blossom trees, and two fountains positioned atop the dance floor – inspired by the couple’s engagement portraits in Central Park. “The fact that the fountains were placed on top of bar highs insinuated, put your drink down and dance!” Allison smiles.

After a buffet-style dinner service featuring elevated Southern-inspired fare, the newlyweds cut into a classic yellow wedding cake with vanilla icing before heading straight to the dance floor with their guests. Music played a defining role throughout the evening, with Allison’s love of classic rock woven into every moment by their live band, a choice which they affirm reflected their personality. “We never left the dance floor!” they add joyfully.

Later in the evening, guests were surprised with a playful “fake exit” that led into a New York City-themed after-party complete with dueling DJs – a nod to the city where their relationship first began. Despite the incredible entertainment and unforgettable celebration, the bride’s favorite memory remained the quiet intimacy of the ceremony itself. “The calmest I felt all day was standing under the chuppah with Josh,” she reflects. “I’ll cherish that moment more than anything else that day.”