Southern girls naturally develop understanding the way to flirt, be a daddy's girl and speaking that slow southern drawl that has men falling all over themselves to gaze into her beautiful eyes. Indeed, lots of us Southern girls dream of wearing the full antebellum gowns and sipping chilled champagne as we gaze adoringly up into our groom's eyes.

At a young age a lot of us decided that we wanted to be a Southern belle bride total with all of the trimmings of our unique heritage. The southern belle bride is distinctive and her trademark is really a romantic bell shaped gown made of silk and embellished with lace and pearls. A lot of other small goodies total this romantic image. If a girl really has her heart set on being a Southern belle on her wedding day she will generally hold her wedding and reception in a rented old antebellum plantation. Roses, gardenias, magnolia blooms and camellias are the flowers of choice. We enjoy showing off so our wedding favors or are an essential tradition that can't be left out. For a romantic belle bride, bottle stoppers, rose or calla lily sachets, silk fans or old fashioned ice cream scoops make adorable and memorable favors for our guests. Bridesmaids dress in romantic dresses and they may be any color, though from my expertise in dealing with my fellow Southern brides, pink is still the all time favorite shade. The groom and his finest man are garbed in elegant tuxedos that may either be white or black depending on his taste. The reception is held on the verandah where in champagne, iced tea, whiskey and brandy are served to guests and misty eyed relatives of the happy couple. Together with several boisterous toasts, delicious food of the southern tradition is served, roast duck, red velvet cake, pies, shrimp cocktail, steaks and the south's signature food, barbeque, after all we wouldn't have it any other way.

Southern weddings are one of the greatest ways of showing off some of our finest traditions and cuisine besides becoming spectacularly beautiful and romantic. In case you are a girl who has her heart set on being a southern belle for the day, then go for it.