This wedding had fireworks, fairy lights, bourbon, bacon, and a couple of stunning wardrobe choices we simply can't get over. Take a look inside this Birmingham couple's picture-perfect wedding weekend!
It might never have happened if Bobby hadn’t been so eager to show off his cowboy hat.
Avery Burns met Bobby Cope at a mutual friend’s Space Cowboy-themed birthday party in October 2020. “The only reason Bobby showed up was so he could wear his cowboy hat!” recalls Avery. Shortly after meeting, the two had their first date at Bocca in Birmingham. “We both love sports, cooking together, and trying new things,” Avery says.
In October 2021, a year after they met (almost to the day), Avery said “yes” to Bobby’s proposal at Vulcan, overlooking the Magic City… leading to a gorgeous Pursell Farms wedding. Check out all of the stunning details of their big day!
PinBobby and Avery said, “I do,” at the lovely Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Alabama.
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Bobby and Avery kept the annual October milestones going when they set a wedding date of October 22, 2022, at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Alabama. In addition to its stately beauty and scenic views, Avery knew she wanted to make the most of the Alabama autumn. “I had been out to Pursell before and really loved the atmosphere. I knew I wanted a place where people could come for the weekend to relax and play and not have to get back in their car once they arrived,” she says.
To help bring their dream wedding to life, they enlisted the help of wedding planner Mariée Ami, who also designed their exquisite stationery suite.
PinIt was a perfect Alabama fall day for Avery and Bobby to celebrate another October milestone.PinSoft greens and delicate details set the tone for Avery and Bobby’s big day. Invitations by Mariée Ami wowed.
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The festivities began with the rehearsal dinner at Pursell Farms the night before the big day. Avery and Bobby followed the Southern tradition of burying a bottle of bourbon a month before to ward off bad weather. Avery wore a gorgeous white jumpsuit to seamlessly flow from uncovering the bourbon to the rehearsal and dinner.
PinAvery enjoying the start of her wedding weekend as Bobby uncovered their buried bourbon.PinPursell Farms offers fertile burying ground for this time-honored tradition.PinA moment for the jumpsuit, please!
Powder blue Manolo Blahnik slingbacks with a dazzling crystal-embellished buckle accent fit the bill for Avery’s ‘something blue.’ She borrowed her grandmother’s locket, which she incorporated into her bouquet by Marigold Designs. “My ‘something old’ was the handkerchief my mother gave to her mother on her wedding day,” Avery said.
PinSomething blue: Stunning Manolo Blahnik slingbacks; Something borrowed: Avery’s grandmother’s priceless locket.
And as for Avery’s ‘something new’? Her Sareh Nouri gown, of course!
PinAvery’s Sareh Nouri gown from Carriage House Weddingswas precisely what she was looking for. Flowers by Marigold Designs.
“I knew I wanted a ballgown skirt,” Avery tells us, “There are not many times in life where you get to wear a ballgown, and I knew I wanted that in my dress. I wanted something simple, elegant, and easy to move in. I also loved the neckline of the dress.”
PinOnly Avery’s dress could rival the views on the farm.PinThe wedding party got to soak up the lovely Alabama fall day, and the crew’s classic attire made for beautiful photos around the property.
The buried bourbon seemed to do the trick, as the outdoor wedding went off without a hitch. Their 300 guests enjoyed the lovely fall weather and beautiful views on the farm as the bride and groom exchanged traditional vows.
“One of my favorite moments was as my dad and I were walking down the aisle. The sun was setting, the light was filtering down through the fall leaves, and there was an owl that hooted right as we got to the end of the aisle to Bobby, and it was like it was signaling my arrival to him. I have always loved that,” Avery recalls.
PinAvery’s walk down the aisle with her father is still one of her favorite moments of the day.
The ceremony was followed by a cocktail hour featuring an elegant champagne tower before the reception under a blanket of twinkling lights. Passed hors d’oeuvres included a popular bourbon and bacon tray. Dinner stations were also provided, ranging from a Murder Pointe oyster bar to chicken tinga tacos to bacon-wrapped quail with cheese grits, all catered by Pursell Farms.
PinChampagne, anyone?PinThe bourbon and bacon passed hors d’oeuvres were a hit.
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Avery and Bobby’s first dance was to “ABC” by the Jackson 5. “We wanted something upbeat,” Avery says, “and it was fun because my new initials are ABC, and our names together are Avery and Bobby Cope.” Since Father of the Bride is Avery’s favorite movie, she knew she had to have her father-daughter dance to “The Way You Look Tonight.”
Pin“…It’s easy as 1, 2, 3…”
The celebration went well into the evening, with late-night pizza, espresso martinis, and the famous chicken on a stick from the Oxford 4Corners gas station. Avery and Bobby ended the night with a large fireworks show, a tribute to Avery’s late grandfather. “It was something he and I always did at the beach growing up, so we wanted to incorporate that,” she says.
PinA fireworks show honoring Avery’s late grandfather was the perfect end to a perfect day.Cheers to your happily ever after, Avery and Bobby! Big thanks to Rachel & Noah Ray Photography for the photos.
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.
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