On March 25, Evan and Melissa Tate of Rockwall, Texas hosted a huge state fair-themed wedding reception at a 700-acre horse and cattle ranch owned by the groom’s family.
“We started hosting weddings to the public [at the ranch] a couple of years ago. I knew I wanted to get married on the farm but I didn’t want to lose the connection to the state fair ― so we just brought it here!” she added.
The big day featured all the Texas state fair essentials: A Ferris wheel, Fletcher’s Corny Dogs and livestock, too.
The couple even set up their own creative arts building. “That’s where people place their entries for photo contests, art contests and sculptures,” Melissa explained to ABC News.
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“It’s in this really poorly lit building, and it’s just old school,” she said.
Instead of art entries, the space was filled with pictures of the couple, each bearing a prize ribbon to fit in with the theme.
The newlyweds couldn’t be more thrilled with how their big day panned out.
“We really just wanted to throw a party for our friends that reflected our love and our relationship,” Melissa told HuffPost. “And we wanted to celebrate that with them.”
A week prior to the blowout bash, the Tates exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony outside of the house where the groom grew up, with only about 50 family members present.
“This is the second marriage for both of us and I wanted it to be intimate, giving us time to really engage with our families,” she said. “I knew that wouldn’t happen at a party of the size we wanted for our reception.”
The Bloody Mary bar was perfect for the brunch fete.
The couple, who met in 2014 through a mutual friend, actually got engaged at the State Fair of Texas last year.
“It was so busy, and the whole crowd saw what was happening, and I dropped to my knee,” Evan told ABC News. “She said yes, and then the crowd broke into cheers all around. It was wonderful.”
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