Wedding Traditions that are Surprisingly Only Found in the South [LIST]

I won't lie, I didn't know some of these traditions were strictly southern.

It's been a few years since I got married. It was a fun time planning and celebrating what would be the beginning of the rest of my life. One thing I learned quickly is that everyone has their own opinion of what your big day should look, feel and taste like. Although some suggestions were off the wall (like a dove release in the middle of our December nuptials), there were other things that I thought were just a part of saying, "I do."

Turns out they're considered southern traditions only.

Well, at least that's according to Cosmopolitan. The publication compiled a list of "8 Quirky Wedding Traditions You'll Only Find in the South." I'm trying hard not to take the "quirky" part as a jab. Writer Maria Carter says that bridal portraits are only a southern thing. Call us vain, but I thought putting on that dress and risking it getting ruined to take solo pictures was just a part of the process.

I mean, what else are you supposed to gift your parents and future inlaws.

Nevertheless, this was just one of the items on Cosmo's list that I didn't know was just a southern thing.

Here is Cosmopolitan's list of southern wedding traditions:

1. Burying the Bourbon

This is to prevent rain from falling on your big day. 30 days prior to the nuptials, you bury a bottle of bourbon upside down at the wedding site. I can't imagine every venue is ecstatic about this.

2. Bridesmaid's Luncheon

What good is having a celebration without a ton of food? This is a chance for the ladies of the wedding party to get together as the mother of the bride hosts to say 'thank you.'

3. Bridal Portraits

Maybe it's trial run of hair and makeup or a way to add more decor at the reception, southern women love to have documentation of how gorgeous they are. If it means standing in front of a barn or in a field of bluebonnets wearing white, so be it.

4. Cake Ribbon Pull

At a shower preceding the wedding, hide various charms inside of a cake. Each is attached to ribbon which is then pulled by the attendees. The charms represent different fortunes like good luck, good fortune, a long life, etc.

5. Pounding Party

A house warming party tradition that allows guests to stuff the bride and groom's house with pantry staples "by the pound."

6. Second Line

This happens predominantly in New Orleans. It's a big parade for the bride and groom as they make their way to the reception from the ceremony. And yes, umbrellas are typically involved.

7. Groom's Cake

Old Victorian traditions used to have three cakes at a wedding; one for the guests, another for the bridesmaids and a third for the groomsmen. This is where the groom's cake tradition came from. I typically like the groom's cake more because it tends to be my favorite flavor of chocolate.

8. House Party

You've got groomsmen and bridesmaids, what more could you need? A house party! No, not a redneck reception, but a group of people who are not wedding party, but still help with just about everything involved in the wedding process. I consider ushers and those in charge of the guest book, etc. to be house party.