Allyson McDonald and Ryan Dice love to travel. He proposed to her in Amsterdam, and they almost tied the knot on St. John. But the Vineyard, where the couple has visited many times over the years, won out as their wedding destination.

“Having all our favorite people in the same place at the same time and [having them travel] to the Island to celebrate with us was amazing,” Allyson said.

While the wedding ceremony and reception took place in Oak Bluffs (the couple’s favorite town), they chose The Newes from America pub in Edgartown for their rehearsal dinner, followed by a welcome party for all the guests. “It was the first time we were seeing most family and friends on-Island, so it was a lot of fun and a great excuse to get people to a new town,” said Allyson, a graphic designer who first met Ryan when they worked together. The couple dated for five years before becoming engaged in early 2017.

When it came to designing their wedding, they “chose a clean, modern look with some industrial touches and a geometric theme,” with a yellow and gray color scheme. To make it truly their own, Allyson created a unique shape inspired by the couple’s relationship that appeared on the save-the-date cards and invitations, the wedding signage, and even the backdrop for the ceremony.

Guests found their seats not by number, but by place: each table was named for a different locale where the couple has lived or vacationed together. Continuing the travel theme, the card box (also designed by the bride) was printed with a collage of concert tickets, plane tickets, menus, notes, and other mementos from their relationship over the years.

With no young nieces or nephews in the family yet, the couple opted for an adults-only wedding and enlisted Allyson’s ninety-year-old grandmother as their flower girl. “She was honored and so excited,” Allyson said.

Though they chose Martha’s Vineyard, the Dices didn’t forget St. John on their wedding day: in lieu of favors, they donated to a foundation to benefit the U.S. Virgin Island’s recovery from hurricanes Irma and Maria.

And while the wedding itself was child-free, the same can no longer be said of Allyson and Ryan: they welcomed a baby girl in August 2019, and she’s already made her first trip to the Vineyard.

Details

Ceremony + Reception: Farm Neck Golf Club
Photographer: Lindsay Vann
Day-Of Coordinator: Blue Lane Events
Caterer: Farm Neck Golf Club
Dessert: Leslie Hewson
Music: Eric Johnson – The Ceremony Music Source
Flowers: Blue Lane Events
Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals
Tent: Farm Neck Golf Club
Transportation: MV Sightseeing
Hair + Makeup: Little White Lies
Accommodations: Summercamp
Rehearsal Dinner: The Newes from America
Honeymoon: Hawaii
Their Best Advice: “Provide your guests with a detailed itinerary and details of how to get on-Island....We created a website and printed itinerary cards so there would be less confusion and less questions and people could just enjoy. Including us!”