A Casual Country Wedding at Mustang Creek Ranch in Yoakum, Texas

Malorie Dragna (22 and a clothing designer) and Ben Melson (26 and a legislation director at the Texas State Capitol) met at an ice cream shop where they were both working for a summer. As time went on, the two clicked, and when Malorie went to Austin and Ben to College Station for school, they never fell out of love. After Ben graduated, he moved to Austin to work at the Capitol as Malorie finished school. One cool evening, he brought Malorie to visit the Capitol, and in the middle of the rotunda on the big Texas star, he proposed. The couple had their wedding at Mustang Creek Ranch, a ranch owned by Ben’s father. “It is a place we have always escaped over the years to get some time away from the big city,” says Malorie. “It is a place that means the world to us and where our love truly grew.” The ceremony took place under two trees where the couple has shared many kisses in the past. “It just seemed like the right place to share our first kiss as husband and wife,” says Malorie. “We wrote our own vows—I couldn’t imagine committing my life to Ben without telling him in my own words.” The couple’s color palette of blue and white was inspired by their choice of wedding cake; the bride loved the idea of having blueberries top their cake for the contrast in color and a touch of Texas. The decor included a lot of handmade elements made by the bride and her family. “I tried to surround myself with things that made me think of Ben and I,” says Malorie. “All the music that was played were songs we enjoy listening to together.”