From 6 Fake Proposals to ‘I Do’: A Joyful Birmingham Wedding
From a chance meeting on a college basketball court to a colorful summer wedding, Peyton and Miles Gunn’s love story came full circle in the sweetest way. Image: Rylocreative
Some weddings are memorable because of the setting. For others, it’s the little details that stand out. For Peyton and Miles Gunn, it was both. Their Birmingham wedding paired sunset-inspired flowers and an Italian family-style feast with thoughtful touches. But to understand how it all came together, you have to go back to a college basketball court, a question Peyton almost didn’t ask, and, eventually, six very convincing fake proposals!
Sometimes, the best introductions are the ones you almost don’t make. When Peyton Ward transferred to Samford University, she was getting to know a new group of friends and settling into her sophomore year. Then, during a casual volleyball game, she spotted Miles Gunn playing basketball on the next court and did something a little out of character: She asked a friend who he was.
“I saw him and turned to a friend to find out who he was,” Peyton explains. “I usually don’t do stuff like that, but he was so cute.”
That friend was Sara, who would soon become one of Peyton’s best friends, and, as it turns out, one of the people most responsible for helping Peyton and Miles get to know each other. What started with a question across the basketball court turned into hanging out, getting to know each other, and eventually, dating. By the summer of 2021, the two were official.
Nearly four years later, it was Miles’s turn to ask a life-changing question.
For months, Miles had been quietly planning a proposal in New York City, disguising the trip as a visit to see their friend Ellie, who lives there. But Ellie was in on the secret, helping him scout out the perfect spots around the city. In true friend-group fashion, she and her friends even staged fake proposals at several locations — about six spots in all — so Miles could get a better idea of what each one might look like.
By the time they settled on a spot, the proposal had its own little production crew. “Looking back on those photos now is so fun and funny,” Peyton says. “It’s so sweet how much thought and care our friends put into it with him.”
On April 12, 2025, the group put the plan into motion. Miles took Peyton out for a walk in Central Park, while their friends helped clear the chosen spot and prevented others from wandering in as they made their way there. Though Peyton had a pretty good idea of what was coming by the time they got there, nothing could have quite prepared her for seeing Miles get down on one knee. Or for the cheering that followed!
“We had multiple friends who were there to celebrate, and we also had a crowd of strangers cheering —all the people our friends had to pull away from the spot,” Peyton says. “It was also special because my mom surprised us by being there, too.”
A little more than a year later, the couple traded New York City for Vestavia Hills, where they said “I do” at the church that already held a special place in Peyton’s life. “I work in student ministry at Vestavia Hills Methodist Church, so it made the church a natural choice,” she tells us.
And when it came to the reception, she had another longtime favorite in mind: Windwood Equestrian. “I followed them on social media for a long time,” Peyton says. “I loved the courtyard and thought it was so pretty and fun.”
The June 20 wedding brought together 216 guests for an afternoon that felt distinctly like Peyton and Miles: thoughtful without being overly fussy, colorful without being too trendy, and personal from start to finish. With Bailey Nation helping bring their vision together, Peyton turned her attention to one of the elements she was most excited about: the flowers.
For Peyton, that meant looking to the sunset for inspiration. She knew she wanted shades of pink, orange, and green, but she didn’t have every detail figured out just yet. Her florist, Boxwood and Bows, helped bring the vision into focus, even taking her to Davis Wholesale to see the flower options for herself.
Together, they landed on a colorful mix that felt playful and personal without leaning into the big wedding trends. “I thought the sunset colors really represented us so well,” Peyton says. “I’m obsessed with the flowers.”
Peyton had a clear vision for her dress, and she didn’t have to search long to find it. On her first visit to Bella’s Bridal, she found a gown with the fit and embellishments she had envisioned.
The couple kept that same easygoing approach throughout the reception. During cocktail hour, a saxophone player provided the soundtrack, then followed the guests into the reception, transitioning the party with a little extra energy before turning it over to DJSZN.
At the reception, the couple opted out of a traditional plated dinner. Instead, guests enjoyed a family-style Italian meal from Salice, a choice that offered the structure of a catered dinner with the easy, pass-the-dishes feel of a home-cooked meal.
“I loved the feeling of it being homey — more like a family dinner than a traditional wedding meal,” Peyton says.
For their first dance, Peyton and Miles chose “Fly Me to the Moon,” one of their favorite songs. “It’s a fun and upbeat song, more relaxed rather than overly formal,” Peyton says. “We both really like it, so it just felt right.”
The night ended with a streamer-filled sendoff before the newlyweds headed to Portugal for a 13-day honeymoon.
RESOURCES
- Wedding ceremony: Vestavia Hills Methodist Church
- Cocktail hour and reception venue: Windwood Equestrian
- Photographer: Ryland Lovelorn of Rylocreative
- Bridal gown: Bella’s Bridal
- Bridesmaids’ dresses: Revelry
- Groom’s and groomsmen’s formalwear: Men’s Wearhouse
- Flowers: Boxwood & Bows
- Catering: Salice
- Entertainment: Chris Rowell (saxophonist at cocktail hour), DJZN (reception)
- Cake: Publix
STYLEBLUEPRINT RESOURCES:
Planning a wedding? Check out StyleBlueprint’s two Wedding Resource Guides. (More to come!):
- StyleBlueprint Nashville’s Wedding Resource Guide
- StyleBlueprint Birmingham’s Wedding Resource Guide
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Paige Townley
Paige Townley is a Birmingham native with a soft spot for good stories, interesting people, and beautifully made things. When she's not writing about places that inspire or people who shine, she's likely spending time with her family, planning her next adventure, or cheering on the Crimson Tide.
