The Goodmans and the Bijlanis

From the first date to the honeymoon, and everything in between, these newlyweds have buzzy stories to tell. We wish them the best as they begin their exciting new chapters. 

Allison Levy + Landon Goodman 

After Landon Goodman proposed to Allison Levy while hiking in the wind and rain along the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, they decided an adventure-filled elopement was the perfect way to begin their marriage. The couple opted to forego the big hometown ceremony and reception and instead gathered with their immediate families in Breckenridge, Colorado where they married on skis at the top of an 11,274-foot mountain. 

Pictured, from left: Lisa Levy, Jared Waldrup and Emily Levy, Joni Levy, Steve and Kim Levy (the bride's parents), Allison Levy and Landon Goodman, Mary and Mark Goodman (the groom's parents), Alice Allen, Warner Goodman, and Sandra Allen. (Photo: Gabrielle Stowe, Ski the Day)

Both Landon and Allison grew up skiing with their families and, from the beginning of their relationship, a ski trip to Breckenridge became a yearly or twice-yearly tradition for the couple, as Landon’s parents own a house there. The two enjoy skiing in the winter and hiking and pickleball in the summer. 

Dressed in a wedding gown and tuxedo along with warm layers and ski boots, the bride and groom exchanged vows on a cold and windy, but beautifully sunny, winter day. They spent the day before the ceremony skiing and scoping out the perfect spot and worked with a company called Ski the Day that specializes in ski weddings. Surrounded by their closest family members, Allison and Landon said, “I do,” and then hit the slopes for the rest of the day. 

Allison Levy and Landon Goodman. (Photo: Gabrielle Stowe, Ski the Day)

The couple met in 2018 at the now-closed Bovine & Barley bar in downtown Houston. Landon, the son of Mary and Mark Goodman, grew up in Bellaire and attended Condit Elementary, Pershing Middle School, and Bellaire High School before earning a Bachelor of Business Management degree from the University of Arkansas. He is now in a sales position with Special Maintenance Products. Allison, daughter of Kim and Steve Levy, grew up in Kingwood and holds Bachelor and Master of Accounting degrees from Texas A&M University and is now employed as a consultant with Embark. 

Mr. and Mrs. Goodman took a minimoon in Mexico right after they eloped and are planning a European honeymoon for this summer. Allison and Landon say this wedding suited them perfectly, and Allison offers some advice to other engaged couples. “Save yourself the time and effort and money of planning a [big] wedding,” she said, explaining that it was special for them to get married in a place that they love, doing something that they love.  

“You can actually see our favorite peak to ski, the Imperial Lift, in the background of our ceremony spot,” Allison described. She said they’re excited to know that for all future ski trips, they can ski to their ceremony spot – solo or with friends or family – and reminisce about their ceremony on the slopes. 

PALACE IN PORTUGAL Diana Dang and Rahul Bijlani married in Lisbon, Portugal at Palácio Nacional de Queluz. The couple honored their Vietnamese and Indian backgrounds throughout the wedding events. (Photo: Miguel Soria)

Diana Dang + Rahul Bijlani

Portugal was the chosen location for Diana Dang and Rahul Bijlani to blend their Vietnamese and Indian backgrounds in a festive wedding with family and friends. Heritage and culture are important to both the bride and groom, and they wanted to create a marriage ceremony that honored the best of each of their experiences. 

Wedding guests gathered in Lisbon, Portugal for a two-day celebration that kicked off with a Sangeet sunset sail on the Tagus River (a Sangeet is a celebratory event during an Indian wedding that involves singing and dancing). Diana is an avid sailor and selected an evening catamaran ride to welcome family and friends with hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, dinner, and dancing. She surprised her groom by performing a traditional Indian dance, in a nod to Rahul’s family tradition. 

Diana Dang and Rahul Bijlani married in Lisbon, Portugal at Palácio Nacional de Queluz. (Photo: Miguel Soria)

The wedding took place along Neptune’s Lake at Palácio Nacional de Queluz. Guests made their way through the palace’s historic rooms and joined the Dang and Bijlani families for high tea, before taking their seats for the wedding. After the couple exchanged vows, it was time for cocktail hour in the Malta Gardens followed by a multi-course dinner and dancing. 

To celebrate their multicultural heritage, Diana went through several outfit changes during the evening. She started with a traditional, Western-hemisphere wedding gown. Next, she wore an Indian lehenga (long, flared skirt) and then a Vietnamese áo dài (tunic over pants). Finally, she donned a festive cocktail dress to dance the night away at the reception. 

Diana Dang and Rahul Bijlani. (Photo: Miguel Soria)

During each night of the wedding festivities, a strawberry moon appeared in the sky. This type of full moon, named by Native American tribes, appears in June during the strawberry harvest season. In both Indian and Vietnamese cultures, a strawberry moon is considered a sign of love, abundance, and fortune. 

Diana graduated from Lamar High School and University of Houston. She earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from University of Texas School of Dentistry and now works as a general dentist. Rahul was raised in Pune, India. He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in economics and computer science from University of Rochester and is now a senior vice president with CBRE Hotel Brokerage and Investment Sales. The couple will soon become a family of three. 

For more on Diana and Rahul’s adventures in Portugal, see this month’s Travel Buzz by Tracy L. Barnett. 

Editor’s note: If you were recently married and would like to submit your wedding to The Buzz, email us at [email protected].