Ali & Moss

This originally ran as a Local Love in the 2025 issue.

Wedding Date May 18, 2024

When Alison “Ali” Barton and Moss Amer first met, it was strictly platonic. They had both moved to Baltimore in 2013 and through roommates ended up in the same friend group. “After about three years of friendship, we decided to start dating,” says Ali, an environmental engineer. “Some of our friends like to say they ‘always knew’—but we didn’t.”

While back in Ali’s hometown of Houston over the holidays in 2022, Moss suggested they take their dog, Arlo, on a walk. When Arlo ran off into the bushes, as he frequently does, Moss, a health-care technology professional, took the opportunity to attach an engagement ring to his collar. “It was a rare below-freezing day in Houston, so after I said yes, we headed straight home to warm up,” says Ali.

When they got back, she was surprised by a house full of friends and family waiting with champagne and “Chapel of Love” playing on repeat.

And while Ali loved going home, they both knew they wanted the wedding in Charm City. “We both have grown to love Baltimore over the last 10 years. It’s where we met and started growing our lives together,” says Ali. “We wanted to give our attendees a chance to see our favorite parts of Baltimore—and we had so many people tell us after the wedding weekend that they never expected to like Baltimore so much.”

The entire day at The Butterfly Room in Pigtown was filled with lots of warm earth tones and special touches, like a Taharka Brothers ice cream truck instead of a wedding cake and a horde of flower girls. “We have so many children in our family, so we opted for a flower mob of 14 kids, ranging from three-years-old to 13,” says Ali. They were followed by Arlo as the ring bearer. “With his vital role in our engagement, it only seemed fitting to have him bring the rings down the aisle.”

The wedding also incorporated some of Moss’ favorite Jewish customs. “We opted for a modern interpretation of the Seven Blessings and asked seven groups of people—uncles and aunts and friends from different phases in our lives—to each come up with their own blessing for us,” says Ali. “It was very special to us, and fun to see what everyone came up with.”

The most Baltimore part of their wedding turned out to be when they discovered it was the same day as Preakness. It made finding a hotel block a little difficult, but once they got over that obstacle, they leaned into the tradition. “We even organized a little betting pool for our rehearsal dinner,” says Ali. “With the proceeds going to charity.”

BEAUTY The Brushing Bride (hair); Brushed Beauty (makeup) CATERER Zeffert and Gold Catering  DESSERT Taharka Brothers FLORAL DESIGN Violet Floral Design JEWELER St. John’s Jewelers LOCATION The Butterfly Room at Sandtown Furniture MUSIC Sly 45 Photographer Urban Row Photography TRANSPORTATION Thoroughbred WEDDING DRESS Maggie Sottero at The Bridal Boutique WEDDING PLANNER The Otherside Creatives