Wilmington N.C. is filled with historic mansions, debutantes, riverfront festivals, and the somewhat famous,once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Azalea Belles.Towards the end of my senior year I was lucky enough to be chosen for this honor.
As the winter frost thins and the chirping of the birds increases, southern girls around the city eagerly await to see the envelope from the Cape Fear Garden Club with a letter inscribed with the words " You have been selected." With this acceptance, comes a one month process where 120 girls are transformed from everyday high school seniors to elegant Azalea Belles.
The Azalea Belle history dates back to almost 50 years ago in the year 1969. Mrs.Harley Vance,Cape Fear Garden club president during the time, introduced the belles as a way to represent our yearly Azalea Festival.The festival occurs one weekend in April right at the time that our azaleas bloom. And what better way to represent such an event than to have the belles, in their antebellum gowns welcome both townees and visitors to the various events.What was started out as seven girls in hoop skirts, has increased to more than 120 girls who have come to symbolize the festival season as much as the flowers they represent.
The experience that I had as an Azalea Belle was very much awe-inspiring. We started out in the beginning, in a large sanctuary at a church. We were handed our schedules that ranged from garden parties to the annual Azalea Festival parade. Then we were given a lesson in the do's and dont's of Azalea Belles or essentially, an etiquette class. The next step in the process was one of the most anticipated events; gown fittings.
Three designers are in charge of designing the antebellum-era gowns for all the girls.The best piece of advice we received was "make sure you are one of the first to choose your dress." Everyone wants the best dress because those give you access to the special events like the celebrity banquet that took place. Everything after that was a whirlwind. Many a Saturday and even Fridays, in which we got to skip our classes, were spent at various teas and gatherings, group pictures, and the ever important garden tours.Many owners of historic downtown had prepped their gardens all year long for a chance to showcase them during the festival.The Belles job at these gardens were to smile, take pictures, and represent the beauty of the festival. My friend and I would race from our second block class to downtown Wilmington or Greenfield Lake, where many of the events would occur. We had the opportunity to be interviewed and shown on TV for our parents and family to see.It was very much a star moment.
Going through my Facebook feed, I see posts of girls at my High School who are currently Seniors, going through the same process posing in their dresses and smiling at the camera. I reminisce at one of the best opportunities that I had in high school, and I desperately wish I could rewind those few weeks in March and April where I truly got to feel like a Southern Belle.
Renee, great post! I think you explored such an interesting part of southern culture that I had never heard of before. And I love all of those beautiful dresses!
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