Mackenzie and Ricky first met at Oklahoma State when he was student teaching and she was in his class. They both noticed each other, but kept things professional at the time.
After graduation, they each moved to Oklahoma City for work. They reconnected at a mutual friend's wedding, then kept running into each other. Local cafes, an alumni tailgate, finally Trader Joe's. That last encounter was when Ricky asked her out.
The venue came from a memory Mackenzie's father never forgot. During a sunset drive together, she mentioned how beautiful Cold Springs Ranch was. Her father quietly asked the owners if they'd consider hosting her wedding there someday. They said yes.
Cold Springs Ranch is a private working cattle ranch in Crested Butte. The valley opens up with the Elk Mountains rising behind it, and the landscape does all the work.
The ceremony site stayed simple. A floral arch, rows of wooden benches, single-stem roses tucked into the earth along the aisle. The backdrop was the valley and the peaks beyond it.
Between moments, the couple walked through fields of wildflowers. The light moved across the mountains, and everything felt cinematic without trying to be.
The day embraced the ranch's spirit. Relaxed lounge furniture created gathering spaces. A cocktail truck served drinks. Paella was served straight from the pan.
Beneath the tent, wildflowers accented clean-lined wooden tables. Every angle framed the mountains. The design let the place be what it already was.
For Mackenzie and Ricky, it was exactly what they wanted. Natural, warm, and surrounded by the people and landscape they love.
This was the most magical day. We are still dreaming about it.
Mack. B.