Avery Thames Burns and Robert Paterson Cope were united in marriage Saturday, October 22 at five thirty in the afternoon, at Hamilton Place, Pursell Farms Sylacauga, Ala. The service was officiated by the Reverend David Seamon of Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham.
The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Howard Joseph Burns of Jackson. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herchell Finnis Waltman of Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. Howard and Sybil Burns of Burns. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Duke Paterson Cope of Birmingham. He is the grandson of Mallory Forbes Miree of Birmingham and the late Dr. Miree and Mrs. Robert Emmett Lee Cope of Montgomery and the late Mr. Cope III.
The ceremony was held outside with the backdrop of an arbor covered in white rose, and caramel antique garden roses, antique green and burgundy hydrangea, white and blush butterfly ranunculus, pomegranate, chocolate artichoke, pepper berry and fern. Antique church pews were draped with magnolia garland and ivory satin ribbon.
Nuptial music was provided by the Samford String Quartet and soloist, Payton Cato.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a designer gown of Italian Silk Mikado. The gown featured a sweetheart neckline, cap sleeves, a ballgown skirt with a cathedral train. The dress was accented with buttons to the end of the train. She wore her mother’s cathedral tulle veil adorned with hand sewn seed pearls.
The bride carried a garden bouquet in shades of whites and creams, consisting of garden roses, ranunculus, Juliet Garden roses, white freesia, white scabiosa, and Queen Anne’s lace. Wrapped around the bouquet was an ivory, linen, hand stitched handkerchief her mother gave to her grandmother on her mother’s wedding day. An antique locket of her maternal grandmother was pinned to the handkerchief.
Maid of honor was Abbey Veith. Matrons of honor were Catherine O’Malley and Lindsay Warden. Bridesmaids were Caroline Burke, Mary Stewart Hurst, Abby King, Savannah Stewart, Allison Walker, Price Waltman and Lily Waltman. The bridesmaids carried a fall tonal bouquet of peach ranunculus, Juliet Garden roses, isianthus tied with ivory ribbon. They wore an evergreen midi velvet dress.
The bridegroom’s father and brother were the best men. Groomsmen were Caleb Carroll, Sam Centeo, Black Chaffe, Hartson Harmon, William Hepner, Drew Herndon, John Kampakis, Jack Luckie, Turner Martin, Edward Morris, Austin Parrish, Talbot Ritchey, Brian Stringer, David Turner, and Peter Waller.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception at Hamilton Place. The evening was kicked off with a champagne toast from the bride and bridegroom. Once entering the tent decorated with sparkling lights guests were served bourbon and bacon along with oysters and passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour. The bride’s cake was a traditional five tier cake with a petal shaped bottom tier. The cake featured a buttercream bead trim around the seams, each layer was separated with white orchids, hydrangeas and garden roses. The layers were French vanilla almond, carrot, and lemon with cream cheese filling. The bridegroom’s cookie cake was three tiers of chocolate chip cookies separated by white, chocolate and peanut butter filing. The cake was decorated with his favorite hobby, golf and a University of Alabama flag. The cake also included the couple’s dog, Rory, wearing an Ole Miss bandana.
Guests danced to the music of Compzition. The couple departed to a fireworks display and a tunnel of rose petals.
On the eve of the wedding the bridegroom’s family hosted a seated dinner at the Barn at Pursell Farms.
After a wedding trip to St. Lucia the couple is at home in Birmingham.
