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!
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.
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.
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.
And as for Avery’s ‘something new’? Her Sareh Nouri gown, of course!
“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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Cheers to your happily ever after, Avery and Bobby! Big thanks to Rachel & Noah Ray Photography for the photos.
RESOURCES
Venue: Pursell Farms
Photographer/Videographer: Rachel & Noah Ray Photography
Bride’s gown: Carriage House Weddings
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
Hair & Makeup: Kerri Bunn
Groom’s & groomsmen’s formalwear: Mr. Burch
Planning, Design & Paper: Mariée Ami
Flowers: Marigold Designs
Catering: Pursell Farms
Entertainment: Compozitionz
Cake: Barb’s Cakes
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